Tag: c.j. ham

Minnesota Vikings injury report: Two DNP, four limited

The Minnesota Vikings’ Wednesday injury report is looking a little worrisome for the offensive line.

Minnesota’s offensive line has been pretty good recently.

In wins over the Packers and Lions, the Vikings ran the ball right through opposing defenses. Dalvin Cook had big days and Minnesota controlled the games for the most part.

The Chicago game was different in that the Bears run defense was pretty stout. However, Minnesota was still fairly good in pass protection, allowing for Kirk Cousins to make plays and move the chains — with the help of Justin Jefferson, of course.

Basically, the offensive line and blocking has improved a lot since the start of the year. But now, Minnesota’s injury report leading up to the Cowboys game is a little concerning as of Wednesday. Here’s the list:

Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr., FB C.J. Ham ‘trending in the right direction’ to play

Vikings OC Gary Kubiak seemed optimistic about the playing chances of Minnesota TE Irv Smith Jr. and FB C.J. Ham.

The Vikings offense has been dominant in the last two games, and the run game has been the biggest reason why.

With Dalvin Cook, Minnesota has imposed its will on both the Lions and the Packers defense, en route to two consecutive victories. But it hasn’t all been Cook.

Minnesota has also been stellar at blocking for him. With the offensive line, C.J. Ham and Irv Smith Jr. — the Vikings have been giving Cook a chance to make big plays.

So it’s a pretty big loss if Ham and Smith Jr. weren’t available to play Monday vs. Chicago. The two did not practice on Thursday and Friday, per the team’s injury report.

Despite that, Gary Kubiak gave a quote that should give Vikings fans a bode of confidence. The offensive coordinator said that Ham and Smith Jr. are ‘trending in the right direction’ to play on Monday night, per Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune.

“If nothing else, I think playing Monday gives us a chance with a couple guys that have been nicked up,” Kubiak said, via Krammer. “We’ll see what happens, but I never worry about those guys being ready to play (mentally).”

Minnesota Vikings injury report for Week 10: two DNP, one player limited

See the Minnesota Vikings’ injury report on Thursday!

Game after game, the Vikings have had to deal with injuries. That might sound pretty ordinary for an NFL team, but last season, Minnesota was the least injury-prone team in the league last season, per Football Outsiders.

Based on the injuries at several key positions for the Vikings, it seems like Minnesota is in store for some regression when it comes to that stat in 2020. An already young secondary has had to deal with consistent absences due to injuries from players like Mike Hughes, Cameron Dantzler and Holton Hill.

The Vikings have released an injury report on Thursday, and it bodes well for the cornerback unit as a whole. You can read the Vikings’ injury report here:

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talks about the blocking for Dalvin Cook

The Minnesota Vikings have been good in the run game. That’s because of Dalvin Cook, but it’s also on account of the offensive line.

Minnesota has utilized Dalvin Cook quite often in the running game.

The Vikings have put Kirk Cousins in the back seat of the offense for the most part, as Cook has ran through opposing defenses the last several games.

It’s probably no coincidence that the Vikings have won two in a row. Minnesota has gone to an offensive style that works.

While predictable, the team’s style has been effective. I think it’s hard for a defense to stop Cook when the Minnesota running back has holes to run through. That’s exactly what’s been happening lately.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer recently spoke with reporters about the blocking. He said that the team has changed up schemes for blocking and that those schemes have been working.

“They’re getting on the right guys, getting up to the second level, getting some guys on the ground and creating some space for the runners,” Zimmer said, via the Vikings. “But it’s always a combination of the tight ends being able to do a good job in either cutting a guy off or getting him reached to the front side. Then C.J. [Ham] has done a great job, as well.”

Zimmer also talked about the offensive line as a whole.

“Riley Reiff is playing really well right now, Garrett Bradbury, I think Dakota [Dozier’s] been playing well. I think [Ezra] Cleveland’s been doing a nice job since he’s been in there, and [Brian] O’Neill just keeps improving each and every week and year, as he’s continued his progression,” Zimmer said, via the Vikings  “They’re doing really well. Dalvin helps them, too, just as much as they help Dalvin. It’s a combination of things, I think.”

If the offensive line keeps playing like this, it will be difficult to switch anything up, even if Pat Elflein comes back.

Three Vikings players that Madden 21 got wrong

Here are some Minnesota players who Vikings Wire thinks were unfairly rated by Madden 21.

EA Sports released the Madden 21 player ratings recently, and the inevitable discourse surrounding who’s overrated and underrated ensued.

Vikings fans were angry about several players’ ratings. Minnesota is coming off a year where it went 10-6 in the regular season and won its first playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.

Despite that, several big contributors from 2019’s Minnesota team did not exactly earn high marks in Madden 21. Many of those players had productive seasons and have yet to reach an age where decline is expected.

Here are some Vikings players who I think were unfairly rated, followed by the rating I think they should have received:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Report: Vikings FB C.J. Ham agrees to 3-year extension

Ham made his first-career Pro Bowl in 2019 with the Vikings.

The big news on Monday was that the Vikings signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a two-year extension.

You can read more about that here.

The Vikings gave another Pro Bowl player an extension, too.

Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press announced that Ham had signed a three-year, $12.25 million deal. Ham was set to be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Ham, who was born in Duluth, MN, has been with the Vikings since 2017 after  signing with the club as an undrafted free agent.

In 2019, he was a big part of the team’s zone blocking scheme and made his first Pro Bowl team.

Through three seasons, he’s ran 20 times for 38 yards and a touchdown to go with 35 catches for 302 yards and a touchdown.

Fullbacks aren’t as utilized as they once were, but we saw from the 49ers last season with their use of Kyle Juszczyk that it certainly can work and be effective.

Through the first four years of his career, Ham has made $1.8 million per Spotrac.

For those thinking Ham might be getting paid a bit too much, Juszczyk is on a four-year, $20 million deal.

2020 NFL Free Agency: Could Saints poach Vikings fullback C.J. Ham?

The New Orleans Saints will evaluate all pending free agents, including Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham, a restricted free agent.

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The New Orleans Saints are going to be on the hunt for upgrades when NFL free agency begins in just a few weeks, searching all throughout the league for players who can help them remain in Super Bowl contention. That means evaluating every possible addition — including players from the conference-rival Minnesota Vikings, who have dealt the Saints painful playoffs exits in two of the last three years. Here’s who may be available:

  • CB Trae Waynes
  • CB Mackensie Alexander
  • CB Marcus Sherels
  • DE Everson Griffen
  • DE Stephen Weatherly
  • FB C.J. Ham (RFA)
  • K Dan Bailey
  • LB Kentrell Brothers
  • LB Eric Wilson (RFA)
  • OC Brett Jones
  • OG Rashod Hill
  • OT Dakota Dozier
  • P Britton Colquitt
  • QB Sean Mannion
  • RB Ameer Abdullah
  • SS Jayron Kearse
  • SS Anthony Harris
  • SS Andrew Sendejo
  • WR Laquon Treadwell

The number-one target on this list should be Ham, which is difficult because he’s a restricted free agent. Hypothetically speaking, the Vikings can match any contract offers Ham receives, or even ward off suitors with a second- or first-round tender. But if they go with the lowest level option (Minnesota is, for once, working close to the salary cap), the Saints should be all in on Ham. He was one of two fullbacks to play more often than Zach Line (who retired) last year, along with San Francisco 49ers chess-piece Kyle Jusczyk. Line was also once a Vikings standout before the Saints bagged him, and they would do well to pursue Ham if he’s available.

He’s not someone they should sign, but the Saints should closely monitor the interest and contract offers that Anthony Harris gets in free agency. He was one of the few free safeties to intercept more passes (6) than Marcus Williams (4) last season and is projected to earn $13.8 million per year on his next contract. That should set the market for Williams, whose contract expires after the 2020 season.

But let’s circle back to players the Saints should have an interest in signing. They need bodies at cornerback, and both Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander offer starter’s experience at an easier-to-justify rates than Patrick Robinson’s $6.25 million cap hit. Alexander and Waynes are each projected to reel in $8.4 million per year, which could make them attractive options if Robinson is cut (or if negotiations fall apart with Janoris Jenkins over his $11.25 million cap hit, despite him clearly being the best prospect of the bunch).

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Titans sign FB Khari Blasingame from Vikings practice squad

If you recall, Blasingame was competing with C.J. Ham to make the team through training camp and preseason.

Fullback Khari Blasingame is no longer a Minnesota Viking.

On Wednesday, the Tennessee Titans signed Blasingame to their 53-man roster form the Vikings practice squad.

If you recall, Blasingame was competing with C.J. Ham to make the team through training camp and preseason.

Blasingame orginally signed with the Vikings this offseason after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt.

The Vikings practice squad now sits at nine players. Wide receiver Davion Davis, who the Vikings released on Tuesday, is expected to be brought back.