LANDOVER, Maryland — Adam Thielen opened Minnesota's November 2022 slate by recording his 500th career reception.
Thielen did so with a 22-yard reception from Kirk Cousins in the second quarter Sunday at Washington.
He entered the contest with 499 after recording six receptions against the Cardinals and passing Vikings Ring of Honor tight end Steve Jordan (498) for third in team history.
The Minnesota native number ranks only behind Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter (1,004) and Randy Moss (587)—two players he grew up watching.
View action photos from the Week 9 Vikings vs. Commanders game at FedExField on Nov. 6.
Thielen entered Sunday's game ranked sixth in team history in receiving yards (6,317). Sammy White is fifth (6,400), and Jake Reed is fourth (6,433). Anthony Carter (7,636) ranks third. Moss (9,316) and Carter (12,383) rank second and first all-time for the Vikings.
As for touchdown catches, Cris Carter is atop the team leaderboard with 110, followed by Moss 92.
Thielen needed one to tie Anthony Carter (52) for third all-time.
Cousins also reached a milestone earlier in the game, throwing his 136th touchdown pass as a Viking to pass Daunte Culpepper for third in franchise history.
Cousins opened his press conference by congratulating Thielen.
"I wanted to congratulate Adam Thielen on 500 catches as a Viking. I learned only three guys have done that, and the other two guys are Cris Carter and Randy Moss," Cousins said. "So, that's elite company, and it says a lot about, not only Adam as a player, but Adam as a man. You don't do that on accident. You don't do that just because you have a couple of good years.
"The ability to have sustained success over and over and over again says something about you as a person, not just as a player," Cousins added. "I think so highly of Adam. He does everything the right way. I'm excited to see where he takes it from here because I'm so lucky to get to play with him, and I'm grateful that he gets something like this, achievement wise, because he deserves it. He'll go down as one of the best Vikings of all time."
Thielen finished with three catches for 67 yards on Sunday, pushing his career totals to 502 receptions and 6,384 yards.
