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EAGAN, Minn. – Adam Thielen will miss the Border Battle for the first time since he joined the Vikings roster as a special teamer and reserve receiver in 2014.

Thielen was placed on Injured Reserve because of an ankle injury and underwent surgery this week ahead of Minnesota (7-8) visiting Green Bay (12-3) on Sunday Night Football.

He won’t get to play at Lambeau Field, the site of his first four career catches (2014), a 67-yard run on a fake punt (2015 finale), his career-best 202 yards (2016) and a pair of 12-reception days (2016 and 2018).

The Vikings know they have big shoes to fill.

“Yeah, we’ll miss Adam. He’s a leader, and because he’s such a great leader, he’s prepared K.J. [Osborn], prepared Dede [Westbrook], prepared Ihmir Smith-Marsette,” Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak said. “He’s a very unselfish teammate because of the way he is, and now those other guys are going to have a chance to have better success. We will miss him, and now we’re counting on the next ones to step up.”

Justin Jefferson, who ranks second in the NFL with 1,451 receiving yards, fifth with 97 catches and is tied for sixth with nine touchdowns, said “it’s definitely tough to replace him.”

“But the guys on this team, on this receiver corps, we’re definitely confident in,” Jefferson said. “We’ve been confident in K.J. all year, Ihmir stepping up to the plate, Dede stepping up to the plate, so we’re confident in the guys we have on the team.”