Category: Minnesota Vikings news

Cardinals top draft pick in 2024 set to make NFL debut against Vikings

The former first-round draft pick is on track to suit up against the Vikings.

Rookie defensive lineman Darrius Robinson has yet to play in a regular season game for the Arizona Cardinals since they selected him with the 27th overall pick during the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Missouri Tiger suffered an ankle injury during preseason which has sidelined him all season — up until now.

Cardinals’ head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters recently that Robinson was on track to play this weekend in Minnesota. Arizona had hoped Robinson would play last weekend against the Seahawks, but he was ultimately ruled out.

“Yeah, we’ll take it day by day. But yeah, he’s on track to play,” Jonathan Gannon told reporters when asked if Robinson was looking good for this week.

Robinson also spoke with reporters and he appeared to be in good spirits with getting on the field in the horizon.

“Doing great. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I just pray about it. I have great teammates to support me. Everybody in the Cardinals from Mr. Bidwill, Monti [Ossenfort], JG [Jonathan Gannon], my coach, like everyone’s done everything to support me, and I’m just so thankful for them,” he said

Vikings make a small jump ESPN Power Rankings after Week 12

After beating the Bears, Minnesota see a slight rise up the power rankings for ESPN.

Following the thrilling 30-27 overtime win over the Chicago Bears, the Vikings saw a slight rise in their ESPN power ranking. Entering Week 12, Minnesota was ranked No. 6, but after beating the Bears, the Vikings entered Week 13 as the fifth-best team in the NFL.

The FPI accurately puts the Vikings’ defense at the top of the reasons the team is in an excellent position for a playoff berth. Coordinator Brian Flores’ group bamboozled opposing quarterbacks early this season and has continued to find ways to pile up takeaways (22) and sacks (38). . . The Vikings have gotten far more from quarterback Sam Darnold, including 21 touchdown passes, than anyone could have expected.

On Sunday, the Vikings will host the Arizona Cardinals, who just lost to the Seahawks. According to ESPN, Arizona is the 14th-ranked team. The Cardinals are currently 6-5 on the year.

The game will go a long way for both teams attempting to earn a division title.

Vikings are signing former Giants QB Daniel Jones

The Vikings are signing Daniel Jones, the 6th overall pick in the 2019 draft, following his release from the Giants

Following his release from the New York Giants, Daniel Jones has found a new home. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Jones is signing with the Minnesota Vikings after clearing waivers Monday and becoming a free agent.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network later reported that Jones is signing to the Vikings’ practice squad, not their 53-man roster.

It didn’t take Jones long to land with another team, and there were reportedly multiple suitors – including the Ravens and 49ers. But he chose the Vikings, where he’ll back up Sam Darnold for the rest of the season.

Jones was benched by the Giants after throwing just eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 10 starts this season, getting replaced by Tommy DeVito. He asked the Giants to waive him rather than sitting on the bench in New York for the rest of the year, and he was granted his release.

In six seasons with the Giants, Jones threw 70 touchdown passes and 47 interceptions. He had a 24-44-1 record in the regular season and went 1-1 in the playoffs when the Giants made it in 2022.

Jones was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Duke.

Two Vikings nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Week

Following the thrilling win over the Bears, two Vikings are nominated to win Player of the Week.

After the Vikings’ thrilling overtime win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, two Minnesota players have been nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Week for fans to vote on.

Quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jordan Addison are up for the vote in their respective categories. Contending with the two Vikings are Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, and Packers’ Josh Jacobs.

Darnold was 22-of-34 for 330 yards and two scores during the win over the Bears. He helped orchestrate several scoring drives and made crucial throws in the late going to give the Vikings a chance to win the game.

His favorite target in the afternoon was Addison. The second-year receiver hauled in eight catches for 162 yards and a score. With Justin Jefferson having an off game, Addison really stepped up and made several big-time plays for the Minnesota offense.

You can go in and vote for both Darnold and Addison to bring home the award.

Jets to use The 33rd Team, Rick Spielman for HC and GM search

The Jets will need help with their head coach and GM search. They will use The 33rd Team to help.

The New York Jets are sorting through their issues during the 2024 season. Even with Aaron Rodgers behind center, New York is having another down year and the franchise fired Robert Salah early on.

After Joe Douglas’s firing, the Jets are searching for a new head coach and general manager.

New York is retaining The 33rd Team to help the Jets find new leaders. Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Vikings general manager Rick Spielman will lead the project for the NFL Technology and Media company. The 33rd Team will use its data analysis and experience to assist the Jets in their search for new leadership.

As Viking fans remember, Spielman was the General Manager from 2012 to 2021. During his tenure, the Vikings won four NFC North titles and made the playoffs six times. Spielman helped Minnesota draft Adrian Peterson and current wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Mike Zimmer coached the Vikings under Spielman.

WATCH: Bears muffed punt leads to Vikings touchdown

The Bears thought they would get the ball back down seven, but the Vikings ended up two scores after Chicago’s mistake.

After the Vikings took a 17-10 lead, Minnesota and Chicago both remained stagnant offensively and neither team could move the ball much let alone score. But things changed after Sam Darnold missed Justin Jefferson on a third down.

Minnesota was forced to punt, and when Ryan Wright punted the ball away, Chicago’s DeAndre Carter muffed the punt, and Vikings’ UDFA Bo Richter recovered the ball at Chicago’s 15-yard line. Darnold then hit Jordan Addison to get closer, and running back Aaron Jones capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run to give Minnesota a 24-10 lead toward the end of the third quarter.

With Jones scoring that touchdown, a wild stat came with it.

That was the Vikings’ first second-half rushing touchdown by a running back in 27 games. They were 4 games away from tying the record held by the Dayton Triangles.

Minnesota is currently up 24-10 at the end of the third quarter. The Vikings will have the ball to start the fourth.

Bears have FG blocked second week in a row – this time by the Vikings

For the second week in a row, the Bears had a field goal blocked.

It’s been a tough week for the Chicago Bears and their special teams. Kicker Cairo Santos had his kick blocked last week by the Green Bay Packers, which caused them to lose to them.

Fast forward one week later, Santos went to attempt a 48-yard field goal against the Vikings, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked Santos’ kick and Brian Asomoah II returned the kick 21 yards in favor of Minnesota.

The Bears had all week to sort through their kicking woes but the Vikings capitalized on a weak spot on the offensive line. Tillery appeared to be in the same spot where the kick was blocked a week ago against Green Bay.

Thanks to a successful Kevin O’Connell challenge, Chicago had to kick the field goal. Caleb Williams threw a 24-yard pass to Keenan Williams onto the Vikings’ six-yard line. But Allen didn’t have two feet in which made it fourth down and forced Chicago to kick.

WATCH: Blazing hot start by Jordan Addison gets the Vikings on the board

Addison gets the Vikings started after catching a score in the second quarter.

It was a typical start for the Vikings at Solider Field. Minnesota drove down the field on its first possession but Aaron Jones fumbled the ball on the Bears’ two-yard line. Chicago then would take the ball down the field and score a touchdown to put the Bears up 7-0.

But thanks to second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison, the Vikings would bounce back. Addison had a couple of stellar catches, including a 45-yard reception to get the Vikings inside the Bears’ five-yard line. Once Minnesota got close to the goal line, the Vikings wouldn’t try to run the football — like last time. This time, Kevin O’Connell turned to his red-hot receiver, and Sam Darnold connected with Addison for a score to tie the game at 7-7.

Addison currently has three catches for 57 yards and a score. His counterpart, Justin Jefferson, has been held catchless so far in the contest. You can guess that the Vikings will try to get Jefferson going here in the near going.

Vikings turnover woes continue against the Bears

The Vikings are leading the league in a category you don’t want to see.

It was a picture-perfect start for the Vikings on Sunday in Chicago against the Bears. Minnesota forced the Bears to punt on their first possession and the Vikings quickly appeared to get things going offensively. Running back Aaron Jones had a 41-yard scamper to get the Vikings inside the Bears’ five-yard line. But Jones would end up fumbling the football and giving it back to Chicago on their own two-yard line.

Jones’ fumble would be the ninth first-possession turnover by the Vikings since the beginning of last season. That’s three more turnovers than any other team in the NFL.

Last season, Minnesota had many turnover issues between Alexander Mattison, Kirk Cousins, and others. But this season hasn’t been much better, with Sam Darnold’s interceptions and the team’s fumbling issues.

The Vikings and Bears are currently tied at 0-0, and Minnesota will have to reduce its turnovers to win in Chicago.

Vikings front office member expected to interview for GM openings

With the Minnesota Vikings having a better than expected season in 2024, could Ryan Grigson be a GM candidate for the New York Jets in 2025?

There are still several weeks of the NFL season left to play, but the NFL’s coaching carousel has already begun. The New York Jets kicked off this year’s cycle by firing their head coach Robert Saleh in early October. The Las Vegas Raiders were next to make moves, clearing out several coordinators but keeping head coach Antonio Pierce — for now.

The Saints followed up by firing head coach Dennis Allen in early November, and the Bears followed by firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron but keeping head coach Matt Eberflus—again, for now.

Then, the Jets kicked off the front-office carousel by firing their general manager, Joe Douglas, kicking their personnel search into high gear. A number of people across the NFL landscape are going to be hot commodities for these positions, and at least one of those people could come from the Minnesota Vikings.

According to ESPN’s NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler, current Vikings senior VP of player personnel Ryan Grigson could be a name to watch for the Jets’ opening or any other openings that become available. Grigson has helped build a Vikings team that exceeded expectations in 2024 and has added a number of high-quality talents to the roster since arriving in 2022.

Grigson also has previous experience as a GM in the league, serving in that position for the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2016. That tenure was notable for the Colts taking former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Luck, along with Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano, immediately turned the Colts’ fortunes around. From a lowly 2-14 team in 2011, they finished second in the AFC South with an 11-5 record in 2012. Grigson’s Colts won their division the next two seasons and made the playoffs.

Ultimately, though, the Colts could never get over the hump during Grigson’s tenure, and Grigson was fired after the Colts turned in back-to-back 8-8 seasons, missing the playoffs in two straight seasons for the first time since the beginning of the Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis.

Enough time has passed since his Colts’ tenure, and the Vikings have done well enough that Grigson will likely get a second chance at a GM gig if he wants it. Grigson’s days with the Vikings could be numbered whether that’s this year or in the near future.