The Buffalo Bills have spent much of this season searching for answers at wide receiver-and so far, the results have been underwhelming. Despite bringing back Gabe Davis and signing veteran Brandin Cooks in hopes of stabilizing the position, the production just hasn’t followed.
Cooks managed only a single 13-yard catch in his debut against Pittsburgh, while Davis has totaled just five receptions over the last three weeks. That’s not the kind of impact you need when you're trying to keep pace in a tightening AFC playoff race.
Now, another veteran name has hit the market: Adam Thielen. The longtime Minnesota Viking was released on Monday after a brief and quiet return to the team, and he’s made it clear that he wants to finish his final NFL season with a contender. At 35, Thielen isn’t the same player who once carved up secondaries with surgical precision out of the slot, but the question is whether he still has enough left to help a team like Buffalo.
Let’s start with the numbers. Thielen played in 11 games for Minnesota this season, starting four.
He was targeted just 18 times, catching eight passes for 69 yards and dropping three. That’s a far cry from the player who posted over 100 catches and 1,000 yards just two seasons ago with Carolina.
But it’s also hard to ignore how ineffective Minnesota’s passing game has been across the board this year-so some of Thielen’s lack of production isn’t entirely on him.
Still, Buffalo has to be careful here. The team has already dipped into the veteran pool a couple of times this season without much return.
Davis and Cooks were brought in to be steadying forces, and neither has moved the needle in a meaningful way. Adding Thielen would mean making room on the roster, and based on what he’s shown this season, it’s tough to argue that he’d be a clear upgrade.
That said, the Bills are thin on proven, reliable options at wideout, and Thielen brings experience, leadership, and a deep understanding of route concepts. For a team that’s still trying to find rhythm in the passing game, that kind of savvy could be valuable-if used in the right role. But let’s be honest: if the Bills are hoping for a late-season spark, the answer probably isn’t in a 35-year-old receiver coming off a quiet year.
There’s also the emergence-or at least the hopeful emergence-of rookie Keon Coleman to consider. He’s back in the lineup, and while his two-catch, nine-yard day against the Steelers wasn’t exactly a breakout, he did haul in a touchdown.
That’s something to build on. Buffalo needs Coleman to develop into a reliable target down the stretch, and giving him more snaps might be more beneficial than bringing in another veteran trying to chase one last shot at a ring.
At this point, any move for Thielen would be more about depth and locker room presence than on-field production. Unless the Bills are ready to part ways with one of their current receivers-something that doesn’t seem likely given the lack of standout performances across the board-Thielen probably stays on the outside looking in.
The Bills have decisions to make, and not just about personnel. With the postseason push heating up, it’s time to figure out who they can trust when the lights get brighter. Whether that includes another veteran wideout or not, the answers will need to come quickly.