Tag: Pat Jones II

2025 NFL Free Agency: Projected value of Pat Jones II’s next contract

The idea of losing Pat Jones II is perhaps less on the mind of Vikings fans, but should it be?

The Minnesota Vikings have many difficult questions to answer this offseason before they prepare for the 2025 season. One that no one wants to think about is, “Will Pat Jones II be back in Minnesota for 2025?”

The idea of losing Pat Jones II is perhaps less on the mind of Vikings fans, but should it be?

Pat Jones II had a breakout year for the Vikings, while their entire defense had a season to remember. He set career highs in sacks (7), tackles (39), and QB hits (12). He is still just 26 years old, so having a breakout year at this age and going into free agency couldn’t be more perfect for him.

This brings us to the question: What will his next contract be, and should the Vikings pay it?

Overthecap speculates that his contract value on the open market would be around $3.1 million. In 2024, his base salary was $1.3 million, so that is a nice raise for him, but it remains a manageable amount for the Vikings.

For what the Vikings have shown to like on defense, having him on the rotation for the next couple of years at the price is well worth it for the Vikings.

The Vikings are projected to have just $77 million dollars, before any adjustments, in their salary cap this offseason. Getting back someone who is coming off a career year for just a slim margin of that money almost seems like a no-brainer. So many teams have a rotation of pass rushers and he would fit on any of them, so why not stay with Minnesota?

Kevin O’Connell provides injury updates on key players after Week 17

Kevin O’Connell gave injury updates on two key players who left Sunday’s game.

The Minnesota Vikings have had relatively good health throughout the 2024 season. Outside of Christian Darrisaw being lost for the season with an ACL injury, most of the roster was healthy heading into Week 17’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

However, the Vikings did have two notable players leave Sunday’s game due to injury. EDGE rusher Pat Jones II left the game after a low block from Packers tight end Tucker Kraft.

“It’s a right knee injury,” Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “Hopefully, we avoided a super long-term injury, but I won’t know more than that until he gets [thoroughly] evaluated. [I expect him] to miss a little bit of time.”

But the team got good news on Monday. According to Sports Illustrated‘s Will Ragatz, O’Connell believes Jones will “have a chance to even possibly make it this week.”

According to O’Connell, Aaron Jones was held out for most of the second half with a quad contusion.

On Monday, O’Connell said that Jones is “doing well,” according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. O’Connell added that the injury “should not keep him from participating this week.”

This is good news, as the Vikings face a Lions team that has had more than its fair share of injuries.

 

Pat Jones II injury vs Packers: Latest news on Vikings OLB

Minnesota Vikings’ outside linebacker Pat Jones II was injured in the first half against the Green Bay Packers and is questionable to return

The Minnesota Vikings are playing their biggest game of the season so far, with their position in both the NFC North and the NFC playoff picture on the line against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. So far, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for the Vikings, as they have the lead in the second quarter.

However, it hasn’t been all good for the Vikings, as they may be without one of their pass rushers for the remainder of the game. Outside linebacker Pat Jones II took a shot to the legs from Packers tight end Tucker Kraft and went down immediately.

Pat Jones II injury update

After the low hit from Kraft — which was technically a legal block, as the contact occurred inside the tackle box — Jones was down on the field for several minutes while being attended to by the Vikings’ medical staff. Jones eventually left the field under his own power for further evaluation.

After further evaluation, Jones has officially been listed as questionable to return to the game with a knee injury.

How long will Jones be out?

Jones was seen limping on the sidelines, but didn’t seem to be in a terrible amount of discomfort. He was able to put some weight on the leg at the very least, so it’s like that his “questionable” designation is more out of an abundance of caution than the severity of the injury.

We’ll keep you updated on Jones’ condition if it comes out that the knee injury will impact his availability heading into next week’s season finale against the Detroit Lions

Vikings outside linebacker depth chart

With Jones questionable to return to the game, it shouldn’t impact the Vikings’ defensive gameplan terribly much. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are the main outside linebackers and will continue to be. The injury affects the rotation, meaning those two may be on the field more today than initially planned.

The injury could also open the door for more playing time for players like Jihad Ward and the first-round draft pick Dallas Turner.

Vikings’ Pat Jones II is setting himself up for massive payday in 2025

If the Vikings decide they cannot afford him, edge rusher Pat Jones II has earned himself a massive payday somewhere in 2025.

The Vikings’ defense has played a major role in their success in 2024. Brian Flores’s schemes for packages and pressure have him being considered for a head coaching job in 2025, but he isn’t the only one who may get a chance elsewhere.

If the Vikings decide they cannot afford him, edge rusher Pat Jones II has earned himself a massive payday somewhere in 2025.

The Vikings pass rusher has taken his time developing, but he is in his fourth year in the NFL. Entering this year, he had just five sacks in his career, but through ten games in 2024, he has seven. He has a chance to add to that total with seven games left on the schedule, and that is where he can parlay it into a bigger contract.

With the draft of Dallas Turner, the team isn’t likely to want to pay him that much or for the long term. Instead, his potential departure just means that Dallas Turner should see a jump in performance in 2025.

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.

Stock up, stock down in Vikings 30-24 loss vs. Lions

During their 30-24 loss against the Detroit Lions, some players saw their stocks rise, while others fizzled in the heat of the moment.

This isn’t fun anymore.

The Minnesota Vikings concede the NFC North to the Detroit Lions with a 30-24 loss at home. They found another way to lose late as they lost the turnover battle four-to-one, but more importantly, they lost their firm grasp on their playoff future. At 7-8, the Vikings are on the outside looking in the NFC playoff picture as both the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks sit at 8-7.

The Vikings’ defense stayed on the field for almost 40 minutes of game time, while the offense couldn’t sustain any momentum long enough to be a consistent threat. This season is starting to get away from the Vikings, and there needs to be more self-reflection as they go into these final two weeks.

As Minnesota traverses these final two weeks, some players stepped up and had their stocks rise, while some players let their stocks fall in one of the more pivotal moments of the season.

Vikings’ D.J. Wonnum leaves on cart with leg injury

OLB D.J. Wonnum had to leave on the medical cart with an apparent left knee injury

Minnesota Vikings edge rusher and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum leaves the game with an apparent left knee injury. Unfortunately, it may have been a non-contact injury as he injured himself as he planted to make a pass-rush move up the field. The medical cart was brought out to take him off the field.

D.J. Wonnum was having one of his best seasons since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of the University of South Carolina. Wonnum has 58 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits and 8.0 total sacks in the first 14 games this season.

With this injury, the Vikings will have to rely on Pat Jones III and possibly rookie Andre Carter II to make up the production. Wonnum is the third Vikings to be ruled out as he joins wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live game updates.

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Vikings Game: Live updates from Vikings at Broncos in Week 11

Follow along for live updates throughout Sunday night football as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Denver Broncos.

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

Throughout the game, we will be breaking down the big moments on each drive, keeping you updated throughout if you can’t watch the game live.

Follow along all night as the Vikings look to extend their winning streak to six games.

Analyzing final Vikings injury report vs. 49ers

The 49ers will be missing one of their best players on Monday night

The Minnesota Vikings are going to be desperate for a win on Monday night when they take on the San Francisco 49ers. Sitting at 2-4, they are only a game out of a wild card spot and that isn’t too bad considering the circumstances.

The play of the Vikings so far this season has been quality. The underlying metrics believe that the Vikings are a good football team and their play has matched that. The biggest factor of the Vikings’ poor start? Turnovers.

The Vikings have turned the ball over 13 times with a negative seven turnover differential. Going into Monday night’s matchup, they will need to play disciplined football and will be without one of their best lineman.

Vikings/49ers injury report sees some changes

The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers injury report is out for Friday and there were some slight changes

The initial injury report for the Minnesota Vikings had four players on it Thursday afternoon. When the latest injury report came out on Friday afternoon, they didn’t see any changes.

  • LG Ezra Cleveland (foot)-Did not practice
  • CB Akayleb Evans (oblique)-Limited
  • OLB Pat Jones II (shoulder)-Limited
  • WR Jalen Nailor (hamstring)-Limited

With Cleveland missing his second-straight practice, it’s looking more likely that Dalton Risner will get the start on Monday night.

The 49ers saw improvement from both left guard Aaron Banks and linebacker Dre Greenlaw both saw some improvement, going from no practice to being limited.

  • LG Aaron Banks (ankle)-Limited
  • LB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring)-Limited
  • RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique)-Did not practice
  • WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)-Did not practice
  • CB Isaiah Oliver (knee)-Limited
  • S George Odum (quadricep)-Full

The big three on the injury report in running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams all did not practice. They are all considered day-to-day and can still play on Monday night.

Saturday afternoon’s injury report will be revealing for both teams.

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