Tag: Byron Murphy Jr.

6 contracts Vikings can adjust to create salary cap space

From Justin Jefferson to Harrison Smith, these six Minnesota Vikings could have their contracts adjusted to create salary cap space.

The Minnesota Vikings’ competitive rebuild approach has been a major talking point among analysts. Why not just tear it down and rebuild from the ground up? Well, if you haven’t been paying attention, they did that while winning 20 games over the last two seasons.

In order to keep things moving in the right direction, the Vikings will need to continue adjusting the cap to meet their needs. The salary cap just went up $30 million, a near 14% increase year over year, something that hasn’t been seen prior to this season.

If they want to create even more cap space to make a huge splash in free agency, they absolutely can do that. What contracts could be modified to fulfill that goal? These six players can have their contracts modified in different ways to create cap space in 2024.

2024 NFL draft: Vikings mock draft roundup 3.0

From Jayden Daniels & Michael Penix Jr. to Laiatu Latu, the latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft Rouondup for the Minnesota Vikings is mostly defense

Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!

What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 545 mock drafts and that included a whopping 54 different players. With the Minnesota Vikings set to pick 11th overall, there will be a lot of discussions surrounding the quarterbacks in this draft along with trading up.

We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Vikings.

Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Vikings final defensive PFF grades for 2023 season

The final Pro Football Focus grades for the Minnesota Vikings defense shed light on a unit that over achieved due to scheme.

With the first weekend of the 2023 NFL playoffs now complete, we are looking back on the season that was for the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite a 7-10 record, the Vikings played well during the 2023 season. The defense improved from 31st in the National Football League to 16th in a very impressive turnaround. The scoring defense also improved to 13th in the NFL, which would have easily been top 10 in the league if it weren’t for the unit imploding at the end of the season.

There is a lot of hope for the future, as the unit was overall really good despite having a talent void.

The final grades from Pro Football Focus are in and reflect a unit that played well despite their late-season struggles.

Byron Murphy Jr. suffered Grade 3 MCL sprain vs. Bengals

The extent of Murphy Jr.’s injury isn’t good but he should be just fine for 2024

The Minnesota Vikings have dealt with injuries all season and we now have some clarity on the injury to cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.

According to The Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer, Murphy told him that he suffered a grade three MCL sprain on the third play of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He played with the injury but didn’t practice or play since.

This makes all the sense in the world. Murphy hasn’t practiced once since the injury occurred and missed the final three games of the season. Usually, a grade three MCL sprain takes at least six weeks to heal, so Murphy playing nearly a full game after the injury is an impressive feat.

Knowing about what the injury is, Murphy should be just fine heading into offseason workouts and ready to go for week one.

[lawrence-related id=88981,88980,88972,88969,88967,88966,88961]

Vikings vs. Lions injury report sees one player added

Darrisaw joins the injury report for Sunday’s game against the Lions

The Minnesota Vikings added one player to the injury report for week 18 against the Detroit Lions. That player is left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who didn’t practice due to illness.

  • CB Byron Murphy Jr. (knee): Did not practice
  • WR Jalen Nailor (concussion): Did not practice
  • RT Brian O’Neill (ankle): Did not practice
  • DE Jaquelin Roy (ankle): Did not practice
  • LT Christian Darrisaw (illness): Did not practice
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder): Limited
  • RG Ed Ingram (shoulder): Limited
  • S Theo Jackson (toe): Limited
  • TE Nick Muse (knee): Limited
  • S Harrison Smith (shoulder): Limited

The illness distinction is a difficult one as it can mean a lot of different things. Oftentimes, players with illness designations end up missing the game.

Another element at play is both Murphy and Nailor continuing to not practice. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings place Nailor on injured reserve on Friday and sign someone like Trishton Jackson or Lucky Jackson to the active roster to preserve them for the offseason program.

Friday’s injury report will tell us much more about who will and won’t play on Sunday afternoon.

[lawrence-related id=88784,88852,88840,88837,88835,88785]

Vikings release first injury report for Week 18 vs. Lions

The Minnesota Vikings released their first injury report on Wednesday afternoon and it has nine players on it.

The Minnesota Vikings released their first injury report ahead of their week 18 matchup against the Detroit Lions and it has nine players on it.

  • CB Byron Murphy Jr. (knee): Did not practice
  • WR Jalen Nailor (concussion): Did not practice
  • RT Brian O’Neill (ankle): Did not practice
  • DE Jaquelin Roy (ankle): Did not practice
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder): Limited
  • RG Ed Ingram (shoulder): Limited
  • S Theo Jackson (toe): Limited
  • TE Nick Muse (knee): Limited
  • S Harrison Smith (shoulder): Limited

Once again, both Murphy and Nailor didn’t practice. They have missed the last two and three games, respectively, due to injury. O’Neill being on the report is likey due to wanting to rest his injured ankle, as he already played last week against the Green Bay Packers.

Muse, Smith and Ingram are all new additions to the report. Ingram left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury. The progress throughout the week will determine whether or not they play on Sunday.

[lawrence-related id=88792,88790,88786,88781,87195,88730,88731]

Vikings final Week 17 injury report analysis: 4 out, 3 questionable

The final injury repot has seven Minnesota Vikings highlihgted

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on their NFC North division rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.

Ahead on Sunday’s game, the Vikings released their final injury report on Friday afternoon. Here is everything you need to know.

Vikings inactives vs. Lions highlighted by Brian O’Neill

Byron Murphy Jr. and Brian O’Neill highlight the Minnesota Vikings inactives

The Minnesota Vikings released their inactive list ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Detroit Lions.

  • CB Byron Murphy Jr.
  • TE Nick Muse
  • G Chris Reed
  • RT Brian O’Neill
  • WR Jalen Nailor
  • QB Josh Dobbs (emergency third QB)

The biggest miss here is O’Neill. He suffered an ankle injury against the Las Vegas Raiders and has only practiced once. The hope is that he will be ready next week against the Packers.

Both Nailor and Murphy were known to be out on Friday’s injury report. Harrison Phillips, Jordan Hicks, Alexander Mattison, Ivan Pace Jr. and Jonathan Bullard are all active despite being listed as questionable.

The Vikings and Lions kick off at noon CST.

Vikings initial Week 16 injury report has 9 players

Danielle Hunter and Harrison Phillips highlight the initial injury report

The Minnesota Vikings have a lengthy injury report heading into their week 16 winter whiteout game against the Detroit Lions. Their practice was a walkthrough so the report is an estimation.

  • OLB Danielle Hunter (illness): Did not practice
  • RB Alexander Mattison (ankle): Did not practice
  • CB Byron Murphy Jr. (knee): Did not practice
  • WR Jalen Nailor (concussion): Did not practice
  • RT Brian O’Neill (ankle): Did not practice
  • NT Harrison Phillips (back): Did not practice
  • DE Jonathan Bullard (ankle): Limited
  • NT Sheldon Day (ankle): Limited
  • ILB Jordan Hicks (shin): Full

The holdovers from last week are Nailor, O’Neill and Mattison. All three of them not practicing is important in their attempt to come back.

Hunter is the one to keep an eye on, as an illness is something that is difficult to measure and predict.

Murphy and Phillips are both new and didn’t appear to be injured against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hicks returned to practice after having his practice window open up this past Monday. There is real optimism he can play on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions have eight players listed on their initial injury report.

  • CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring): Did not practice
  • TE Brock Wright (hip): Did not practice
  • LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder): Limited
  • FB Jason Cabinda (knee): Limited
  • DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee): Limited
  • DT Levi Onwuzurike (knee): Limited
  • RT Penei Sewell (shoulder): Limited
  • C Frank Ragnow (knee/back/toe): Full

The reports on Thursday and Friday afternoon will tell us more about the status of each player.

[lawrence-related id=88052,88081,88027,70231,88053]

4 Vikings defensive keys in Week 14 vs. Raiders

The Vikings have a chance to make a statement on defense against the Raiders

After a week of well-needed rest, the Minnesota Vikings go on the road to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CST.

Minnesota has had a lot of changes throughout the year, new quarterbacks,  pass catchers have had to step up, but one change that can be felt from game to game is the vast improvement of this Vikings’ defense.

At this very moment, Minnesota is eighth in EPA allowed per play and ninth in defensive success rate. They’re top-ten in defensive passing DVOA (10th), defensive rushing DVOA (6th) and total defensive DVOA (8th).

Compare that to last season’s 27th-ranked defensive passing DVOA, 18th-ranked defensive rushing DVOA and 24th-ranked total defensive DVOA.

This defense has been the engine on this team’s path to the playoffs and will have to continue to be as they look to crash the dance this season.

The Raiders have been playing better as an offensive unit but there are still areas that defensive coordinator Brian Flores can exploit. To get this team back on track, the defense must follow these four keys to victory against a Raiders team looking to play spoiler.