Tag: K.J. Osborn

Studs and duds from Vikings’ week 1 victory over Packers

Lets take a look at the Vikings studs and duds from Sunday’s game against the Packers

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 23-7 in a game that never felt close.

The Vikings came out strong out of the block getting a touchdown on the opening drive to Justin Jefferson. Right after that, they dodged a bullet when Packers wide receiver Christian Watson dropped a surefire 75-yard touchdown pass. After that, the game never felt within the Packers reach.

There were quite a few players who played key roles in the Vikings victory over the Packers on Sunday.

Let’s take a look at the studs and duds from Sunday’s game.

3 bold predictions for the 2022 Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are up against a pivotal season. Here are three bold predictions for 2022.

The Minnesota Vikings are set to see the debut of the Kevin O’Connell era on Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Packers.

With the Vikings having such a wide range of projections across the media landscape, nobody really knows what is going to happen with this team.

There are a lot of different predictions across the board and we are about to join them.

Here are three bold predictions for the 2022 Minnesota Vikings season.

2022 Minnesota Vikings season previews: Wide Receivers

Our preview series continues with the wide receivers

The 2022 season is less than a month away and it’s time to get excited Vikings fans.

In a similar vein to how fans felt when Mike Zimmer took over for Leslie Frazier, the excitement is palpable for the beginning of the Kevin O’Connell era.

While the team prepares for the season, we are doing the same at the Vikings Wire. We will be producing previews breaking down both each position and the team as a whole.

Today, we continue with our preview series by talking about the wide receivers.

Quarterback Preview
Running Back Preview

4 Things to Watch Heading Into Week 2 vs San Francisco

The most important game of the preseason is on Saturday

The second week of the preseason is arguably the most important.

Much like week three used to be before the 17th game was added last year, week two is treated like a dress rehearsal. This game has some game planning involved and gives players and teams a true game week experience.

Usually, the starters will play a significant amount of time. Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, that might not be the case for the Vikings having spent two days facing the 49ers in joint practices.

If they don’t play much on Saturday, it will be great for the young players to get some extra reps in. With the game not meaning anything from a record standpoint, the score is less important than the performance of players and units.

Here are four things that you need to be watching out for during Saturday’s game.

 

Highlights and notes from Vikings final week of OTAs

The Vikings wrap up OTAs

The Minnesota Vikings closed out the final stretch of organized team activities last week with confidence and some concerns.

On one hand, the team is excited about the potential they have to turn things around immediately.

They have responded well to Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and overall, there seems to be a much more loose and exciting vibe from the team, as opposed to how they looked towards the end of the Mike Zimmer era.

However, on the other hand, they’re being reminded of how quickly things can change on the football field. It takes more than talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Injuries have put countless championship teams in the grave before they even started.

Here are some observations as the Vikings wrapped up OTAs.

Highlights and notes from Week 2 Vikings OTAs

Another week in the books for the Vikings

Another week is in the books for the Minnesota Vikings’ organized team activities.

Last week was all about integrating the rookies and veterans on the field together in helmets and shorts. This week consisted of more drills and an attempt towards putting a pretty bow on everything by seeing new concepts in action.

You still have to be careful to not overreact to some of the things emanating out of OTAs since it’s still so early in the process. We’ll have a real sense of where players are at once they’ve actually had time to digest things and the pads come on.

But the buzz in Minnesota right now is undeniable. There’s a different level of excitement surrounding this Vikings team—and for good reason. The hope is that big things are ahead under the guidance of head coach Kevin O’Connell, who knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl. And it all begins with preparation.

Here are some highlights and notes from Week 2 of OTAs.

Patrick Peterson believes K.J. Osborn could be ‘1,000-yard guy’ in 2022

Pat P. sees big things ahead for K.J. Osborn

There’s so much excitement surrounding a healthy Adam Thielen playing across from Justin Jefferson that K.J. Osborn has slipped through the cracks as a difference-maker for the Minnesota Vikings.

Big mistake.

The third-year receiver took a second-year leap with 50 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns last season. So he’ll be looking to make the jump to the moon in 2022.

During an appearance on the All Things Covered podcast, Vikings star cornerback Patrick Peterson even went as far as calling him a “1,000-yard guy.”

“I think K.J. Osborn will have a really good year this year. I honestly think he could be a 1,000-yard guy,” said Peterson.

That’s a huge vote of confidence from an eight-time Pro Bowler that knows a thing or two about elite receivers.

Osborn exploded when the team needed him most last season under Mike Zimmer, and it only makes sense that he could play an even bigger role in coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

He’ll definitely see a lot of great matchup opportunities with so many other offensive weapons opposing defenses have to account for on the field, including All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson.

The youth movement is in full swing for the Vikings at receiver. Thielen has meant a great deal to the organization, but he’s also turning 32 years old in August. Along with Jefferson, it’s time for the team to start looking to guys like Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette to carry that torch into the future.

In the meantime, Osborn will keep his focus on torching opposing defenses and potentially proving Peterson right.

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Vikings 2022 offseason preview: Where does Minnesota stand at WR?

The firepower at receiver is unreal

For the Minnesota Vikings, the 2021 season was a teaser to what should be one of the best receiving units in 2022 and beyond. It doesn’t matter who starts under center—Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, a rookie or some veteran free agent the Vikings decide to bring into the fold.

Some quarterback will be playing with the Infinity Gauntlet of offensive firepower.

The opportunity will clearly be there for the Vikings to morph into one of the most explosive teams on the field with an offensive-minded head coach like Kevin O’Connell leading the charge.

They aren’t going to be a team afraid to take risks, and they’re going to consistently push the ball downfield. You can also expect plenty of pre-snap movement in order to bait and confuse opposing defenses.

Grab a cold beverage, a bowl of popcorn and pull up a chair. Things are about to reach new levels of excitement in Minnesota.

Here’s where the Vikings stand at wide receiver.

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Epic K.J. Osborn highlight video already has fans hyped for next season

K.J. Osborn could be a monster next season.

K.J. Osborn took flight in his second year with the Minnesota Vikings, and by the time the 2022 season rolls around, the burgeoning receiver will be looking to land on the moon.

A new star was born in 2021.

After going without a single target in his rookie season, it was like Osborn was shot out of a cannon this season with the Vikings. The fifth-round draft pick out of Miami hauled in 50 receptions for 655 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He’s clearly trending towards being a major steal for the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It’s hard not to get excited about the future with Osborn after watching the recent video he dropped on social media highlighting his spectacular year.

There’s a chance Osborn’s numbers could drop next season with a healthier Adam Thielen returning to the field, along with tight end Irv Smith Jr., who missed all of last season with a knee injury, getting back in the mix.

But his mere addition to a receiving group that already has All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson at the top of the depth chart is a scary thought for opposing defensive coordinators. Move over Freddy Krueger, there’s a new nightmare in town.

And it’s the Vikings’ receiving corps.

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One PFF stat proves K.J. Osborn is ridiculously underrated

That man is gooooood!

Minnesota Vikings wideout K.J. Osborn’s name got lost in a year where receivers were breaking records and being mentioned in MVP conversations. But one stat from Pro Football Focus put everything into perspective of what was clearly a breakout season for the second-year receiver out of Miami.

When targeting Osborn in the slot, the passer rating soared to 147.4, which is the highest in the entire league. It comes in a year where the former fifth-round draft pick hauled in 50 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns.

Osborn’s emergence just adds to the fact that the Vikings are ridiculously loaded on the offensive side of the ball. It should also generate some level of excitement heading into next season, especially with former All-Pro receiver Adam Thielen returning to the field.

The trio of a much-improved Osborn, Thielen and All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson would be as good, if not better, than any other receiving group in the league. And who knows? A fourth spot might need to be added to that group if there’s more where this came from in rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

Add running back Dalvin Cook to that concoction and the rest of the league is going to have a big problem on their hands.

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