On Thursday morning, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said that he was “hopeful” Adam Thielen will be able to play in Week 15. Just a day later, things aren't looking so great. The wide receiver didn't participate in practice on Friday, making his chances to play Monday very slim. The Athletic Vikings writer Chad Graff tweeted the news Friday afternoon.

If Thielen is not able to play Monday night, it will be a huge blow for the Vikings' offense. Behind Justin Jefferson, Thielen is one of Kirk Cousins' top offensive targets. The wide receiver has 686 receiving yards and ten touchdowns in 12 games. This includes Week 13, when Thielen recorded zero yards and left early after suffering his ankle sprain.

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The Vikings, Bears matchup is big for the Vikings in a couple of ways. First, Minnesota needs to continue their winning momentum. They gave the brutal Detroit Lions their first win in Week 13, but were able to bounce back and defeat the dominant Green Bay Packers a week later. That being said, the Vikings need to solidify their status in the NFL as something greater than the 1-10-1 Lions.

Second, the Vikings are in a tight race for a playoff spot. Improving their record from 6-7 to 7-7 will set a good foundation for the rest of the season. After Monday, they take on the Rams, the Packers (a Week 14 win), and the Bears again to finish off the regular season.