Thielen expects to be ready for spring workouts after Dec. 28 ankle surgery, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "It's a pretty easy recovery, a few more weeks here and I should be feeling back to normal," he said.
Thielen missed two games with an ankle injury and returned in Week 16, but hurt the ankle again which led to surgery and caused him to miss the final two games. He finished the season with 67 receptions for 726 yards and 10 touchdowns on 95 targets. While he had double-digit touchdowns for a second consecutive season, he had a career low 10.8 yards per reception. Signed through 2024 and with a $16 million cap hit for 2022, the 31-year-old looks set to remain with the Vikings even if a new GM decides to overhaul the roster.