Tag: Akayleb Evans

Studs and duds from Vikings 30-20 loss vs. Lions

Danielle Hunter and Justin Jefferson highlight the final 2023 season of studs and duds

The Minnesota Vikings season ends on a low note with a 30-20 loss to NFC North division rival Detroit Lions.

The game went about as you could have predicted. The Lions offense was able to have their way against a Vikings defense that couldn’t tackle and continuously busted coverages and made mistakes throughout the game.

On offense, the Vikings were able to move the football consistently through the air and even outgained the Lions by 67 yards. Quarterback Nick Mullens kept the Vikings in the game with 396 passing yards but two late interceptions kept the Vikings from finishing the comeback.

In our final rendition of studs and duds for the 2023 season, these stood out like a sore thumb.

Vikings vs. Lions: 4 players to watch in Week 18

From Jordan Addison to Harrison Smith, these are the players to watch on Sunday vs. the Lions

The end of the 2023 NFL season is upon us and Sunday afternoon could spell the end of the Minnesota Vikings season. They only have a 3% chance to make the playoffs after losing their last three games and six of their last seven.

The Vikings had a chance to control their own destiny on multiple occasions but couldn’t make it happen for a myriad of reasons. With the final game coming against a Detroit Lions team that is still raging after feeling screwed against the Dallas Cowboys, their road to the playoffs has become that much more difficult.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, our staff identified four players to watch against the Lions.

Vikings vs. Packers: Defensive PFF grades in 33-10 loss

The PFF grades on defense reflect how poorly the unit played, especially in the tackling department

Dealing with a loss is never fun, but dealing with a loss to your biggest rival is significantly worse, especially when it ends a calendar year.

The Minnesota Vikings are dealing with just that, as they lost to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 33-10. It was a brutal one for multiple reasons and it started with the poor play from the entire team. Pair that with the coaching staff not having this team ready to go and you have a loss that essentially knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs.

Nevertheless, there is still a small modicum of hope for the Vikings to make the playoffs. If they want to make it, they are going to have to show massive improvement.

The Pro Football Focus grades on defense are out and don’t reflect well on what was a really good unit.

4 Vikings players to watch in Week 17 vs. Packers

These players will need a big game if the Vikings want to win on Sunday.

The Minnesota Vikings are a fascinating team to watch the last two weeks of the regular season.

Sitting at 7-8, they no longer control their own destiny for the playoffs, but they are still very much alive for a wild card spot after a 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.

That game also saw multiple season-ending injuries, as both tight end T.J. Hockenson and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum suffered season-ending injuries and were placed on injured reserve earlier this week.

Looking at the Vikings play this season, they are at their best when they don’t turn the ball over and the starts make big plays. These players will need a big game if the Vikings want to win on Sunday.

Kevin O’Connell says Vikings CB Akayleb Evans was removed from game vs. Lions

Evans has a brutal game and ended up being removed

Were you sitting there wondering why rookie practice squad cornerback Jaylin Williams was on the field when he got that illegal contact penalty against the Lions in Week 16? It felt odd, and now we have an answer.

During his media availability after the 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that cornerback Akayleb Evans was removed from the game.

It wasn’t a great game from Evans or any of the other Vikings defenders in the secondary. There were multiple times where Evans was beaten badly in coverage and a couple where his tackling effort was less than suspect.

Is this a sign of a trend? Not necessarily. It could just be a bad game from the second-year player who has shown to be a more than capable starting quarterback.

The Vikings are set to play on New Year’s Eve against the Green Bay Packers, and Evans will likely be starting once again, especially with the injury to Mekhi Blackmon.

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Twitter freaks out over Tee Higgins’ unbelievable touchdown catch

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins made one of the most amazing touchdown catches ever, and Twitter had a lot to say about it.

With 39 seconds left in regulation of Saturday’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings, the Bengals were down 24-17 at the Vikings’ 21-yard line. Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning had already broken the Vikings’ three-game streak of not allowing a touchdown, and now, he was about to double down with receiver Tee Higgins.

Because receiver Tee Higgins made one of the most amazing catches you’ll ever see. First of all, Higgins just Mossed cornerback Akayleb Evans, and he then somehow came down with both feet inbounds as he got the ball beyond the pylon. Just ridiculous. Higgins’ body never broke the plane, but the ball did!

As you would expect, Twitter had a lot to say about it.

 

Analyzing final Vikings injury report for Week 14 vs. Raiders

Justin Jefferson is finally off of the injury report

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon in a must-win game for both teams.

The Vikings currently sit at 6-6 and are the sixth seed in the NFC. They control their own destiny and will have a playoff spot just by winning out. They also can potentially win the NFC North with some help from the Detroit Lions. The Lions currently sit at 9-3 but have a very difficult schedule down the stretch.

The Raiders on the other hand need some help. They are 5-7 on the season and are 2-2 under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. If they get the win this week and next week over the Los Angeles Chargers, they could be within spitting distance of a wild card spot, a position they are currently two games out of heading into week 14.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, the Vikings released their final injury report and it had good news.

Vikings initial injury report includes Justin Jefferson

The initial injury report for the Minnesota Vikings game against the Las Vegas Raiders includes Justin Jefferson.

The Minnesota Vikings listed six players on their initial injury report for week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

  • S Theo Jackson (illness): Did not practice
  • RB Kene Nwangwu (concussion): Limited
  • CB NaJee Thompson (knee): Limited
  • NT Khyiris Tonga (knee): Full
  • CB Akayleb Evans (calf): Full
  • WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring): Full

The good news here is both Jefferson and Evans are not just practicing in full after the bye week, but they are also on track to return against the Raiders.

On the same accord, Tonga is still practicing in full with his knee injury. He hasn’t missed any time, but it’s noteworthy.

Both Thompson and Nwangwu’s injuries are new and noteworthy. We will learn more throughout the rest of the week. If they don’t play, it would be a massive blow to special teams.

Jackson out with an illness could be a myriad of things. It’s not a good thing to be out with an illness. Considering Lewis Cine is now off the injury report, it could be a sign that Cine will get some playing time on defense.

T.J. Hockenson is off the injury report as well, meaning he is all better from his rib injury.

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4 things Vikings must fix during bye week

While on a bye week, the VIkings need to fix these things

We are at the crossroads of the Minnesota Vikings 2023 season.

Sitting at 6-6, the Vikings have both looked dead in the water and like a legit threat to win the NFC North. As things sit right now, they have lost their last two games after pulling out five straight wins, all without superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

The bye week comes at a good time for the Vikings. Jefferson just came off of injured reserve and will play against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 14. It also gives players like Akayleb Evans and Marcus Davenport one more week to get back onto the field.

During the bye week, the Vikings need to fix these things.

Vikings inactives include Akayleb Evans, Lewis Cine to play

After a four week absence, Lewis Cine returns for the Minnesota Vikings as they take on the Chicago Bears on Monday night football.

The Minnesota Vikings have released their inactives for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.

  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • TE Nick Muse
  • ILB Nick Vigil
  • G Chris Reed
  • OT Hakeem Adeniji
  • QB Jaren Hall

Evans is out for the second consecutive game. It’s the smart call with the bye week next week.

Muse is inactive for the 12th-consecutive game and Adeniji is inactive once again as well.

Vigil is inactive due to the health of Brian Asamoah II who returns after a four-game absence.

Hall is the emergency third quarterback and will be behind both Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullens.

The big thing here is that Lewis Cine is active for the first time since the October 29th game against the Green Bay Packers.

The game kicks off at 7:15 p.m. CST.

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