Tag: wes phillips

Vikings suspend Wes Phillips without pay

The Minnesota Vikings have suspended offensive coordinator Wes Phillips following his arrest in 2023.

The Minnesota Vikings have suspended offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for three weeks without pay following his arrest in 2023.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported the suspension on Tuesday. He is eligible to return to work on April 22.

Phillips was charged with DWI initially. He agreed to a plea deal that reduced the charge to careless driving. According to Hennepin County court documents, Phillips admitted to the following offense: “I drove a vehicle in a careless manner when I was driving over the posted speed limit after consuming alcohol. My actions endangered myself and others on the roadway.”

Phillips did not miss any time with the Vikings following the arrest as they allowed the legal process to play out. Now that a plea has been agreed to, the team decided to carry out its punishment.

Vikings OC Wes Phillips comments on recent misdemeanor arrest

Phillips spoke to the media on Tuesday on his recent arrest for suspicion of DWI

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips spoke for the first time since his arrest Friday night.

“Aside from the standards I have for myself, I do understand that as a coach in this league there are cartain standards from the NFL and from the Minnesota Vikings, and I didn’t live up to those standards,” he said.

The coach was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DWI. He was released on bond soon after. Phillips was able to travel with the team on Sunday, and head coach Kevin O’Connell commented after the game on the decision, along with the situation as a whole.

“‘When that information came in, Wes immediately informed the team and everybody that he’s required to inform. … I was incredibly disappointed, there’s no question, but we want to allow the facts (to emerge) and do our due diligence from that standpoint. The league is clearly involved as well,” O’Connell said Sunday.

“It’s going to be something we’ll continue to evaluate, but with it being late on Friday and gathering more information on it, I made the decision after circling up with our leadership and everybody that Wes would travel and ultimately coach today. … We’ll continue to process the information as we move forward and work through whatever discipline there may be at that point.”

Vikings OC Wes Phillips arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DWI

Phillips will travel with the team after being released on bond

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested on Friday night in Minnesota and charged with misdemeanor DWI. He has been released on bond.

The Vikings released a statement on the matter that was also shared by Seifert.

“Wes immediately notified the team following his arrest last night. This morning we contacted the NFL, and after internal discussion, made the decision Wes will travel with the team to Las Vegas this afternoon. We will continue to gather information regarding the incident and have further comment at the appropriate time.”

This isn’t a good thing for either the Vikings or Phillips. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08, but drivers can be arrested for lower levels in their system.

Minnesota’s legal alcohol-concentration driving limit is 0.08 — but motorists can be arrested for DWI at lower levels. The consequences for driving impaired will vary for each DWI offender, but a typical penalty for a first-time offender is potential jail time and loss of license for a minimum of 30 days up to a year.

Phillips could be punished by the league under the personal conduct policy after the case plays out in the legal system. We at Vikings Wire will keep you informed of any updates.

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Wes Phillips anticipates Vikings name starting QB Wednesday

The starting quarterback job for Sunday’s game against the Raiders could be announced on Wednesday

After spending the bye week in quarterback purgatory, the Minnesota Vikings have a decision to make ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

In speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said that he anticipates the Vikings confirming their starting quarterback on Wednesday afternoon.

That is a smart play by the Vikings. Doing so on Wednesday will give one of Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens or Josh Dobbs the entire week of practice running with the first team to pregame for the game against the Raiders.

The Vikings will go through a walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon shortly after 2 p.m. CT and head coach Kevin O’Connell will speak to the media at 1:50 p.m. CT. O’Connell would likely announce it then.

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Vikings still believe in Alexander Mattison

The Vikings still have confidence in Alexander Mattison

Despite the Minnesota Vikings trading for Cam Akers on Wednesday afternoon, that hasn’t changed how they feel about starting running back Alexander Mattison.

In his weekly media availability on Thursday, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips expressed that they still have all the confidence in the world in Mattison.

“We haven’t lost confidence in Alex Mattison. I will say that.” 

This trade tells us one of two things. They are either trying to jumpstart the running game by bringing in outside talent or they saw an opportunity to bring in a talented player for a very inexpensive cost.

The running game has been paltry at best for the Vikings so far this season. They have ran the ball 25 times for a paltry 69 yards rushing. Of that, Mattison has 19 rushes for 62 yards.

While Mattison hasn’t been great, the issue hasn’t been just with him. The scheme, play calling and commitment to the running game hasn’t been there.

With Akers now in the fold, will that change? Time will tell.

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Wes Phillips weighs in on Jordan Addison’s catch

Although the pass was ruled incomplete, Vikings OC Wes Phillips offered some praise on Jordan Addison’s catch in the preseason opener.

Jordan Addison made an outstanding sideline catch on Thursday as the Minnesota Vikings took on the Seattle Seahawks in their preseason opener.

Addison adjusted his body to be almost parallel to the ground as he dragged both feet and finished the catch through the turf. The catch was unbelievable enough that the referees ultimately ruled that Addison could not have pulled it off and ruled it incomplete.

During his media session, Wes Phillips weighed in on Addison and whether he should have thrown the challenge flag.

“It was a fantastic catch and you guys know, it’s on us to get those things right up in the box,” Phillips said. “Head coaches get all the questions about it but we’re the ones with the TVs and the hawk eye view.”

It is preseason, so it’s understandable why the Vikings didn’t inevitably throw the challenge flag. Still, a catch this remarkable does seem on-brand to be Addison’s first catch of his NFL career. Phillips later went on to discuss the talent that the rookie receiver has.

“As far as how rare, for a guy to have that body control, I think the talent is there and was there. It’s like JJ [Justin Jefferson] coming in and doing what he’s done. That body control was already there,” Phillips explained. “Just giving him some opportunities and learning within our system. How Keenan [McCardell] has coached him and gotten him up to speed, even with missing some of the spring, I think he’s done an impressive job learning our system and continuing to grow.”

Vikings OC Wes Phillips offers update on Trishton Jackson’s injury

Vikings wide receiver Trishton Jackson was carted off during Tuesday’s practice with an apparent leg injury.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Trishton Jackson left Tuesday’s training camp session on a cart following an apparent leg injury.

While the presence of a cart doesn’t automatically signal a serious injury, it’s never a good sign for the player.

However, it seems like Jackson may have avoided the worst-case scenario.

On Wednesday, Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips offered an update on Jackson’s injury, mentioning that Jackson avoided any ligament damage to his knee.

The full extent of Jackson’s injury has not been released, but avoiding ligament injury is generally a positive prognosis, especially for a player fighting for a spot on the Vikings’ 53-man roster for the regular season.

Jackson, 25, signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020. The following year, Jackson signed with the Vikings, where he spent two seasons on the practice squad. He has yet to appear in a regular season game for either team.

In his senior season with Syracuse, Jackson totaled 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns on 66 catches.

Wes Phillips: “They’ll be talking about him (Christian Darrisaw) as one of the elite tackles”

On Thursday, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips believes Christian Darrisaw will be talked about as an elite tackle

One player that didn’t get enough credit in 2022 for his performance was Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw. He was the second-ranked tackle behind Trent Williams and played some dominant football both before and after his mid-season concussions.

During his press availability on Thursday afternoon, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips spoke highly of Darrisaw.

“If anyone hadn’t noticed him yet, I know the players who play agianst him certainly notice him. I think across the league they’ll be talking about him as one of the elite tackles for year to come.”

Incredibly high, yet deserved praise from Phillips, who mentioned Darrisaw’s mindset and work ethic, including his late-night lifting sessions at the team facility.

Darrisaw has started to receive some recognition, including being named a top-five tackle in the NFL. An extension is looming for Darrisaw as early as January and he will be deserving of every dollar.

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Ravens request to interview Brian Angelichio for offensive coordinator

Angelichio is the third Vikings’ staffer to be requested for an interview this week

The Minnesota Vikings had an excellent offensive season and with a good season comes other teams wanting to bring in your coaches. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Baltimore Ravens have requested permission to interview Vikings passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio for their offensive coordinator position.

Angelichio is the third Vikings assistant to be requested for an interview with Wes Phillips and Jerrod Johnson being asked by the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this week.

After being the Ravens’ offensive coordinator for five seasons, Greg Roman was relieved of his duties after the season. While they search for their next candidate, there doesn’t seem to be a direction for where they want to go with their offense.

Angelichio has been in coaching since 1996 and worked his way up from small schools in New York to the NFL where he got a chance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. He has been a tight ends coach in all 11 seasons in the NFL with this past season being his first as the passing game coordinator.

In his career, Angelichio worked under both Mike Pettine with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and 2015 along with Kevin O’Connell in 2019 with the Washington Commanders.

Report: Vikings’ Wes Phillips declines Chargers’ interview request for offensive coordinator position

The Chargers are looking for their next offensive coordinator, but it will not be Vikings’ Wes Phillips.

The Chargers are looking for their next offensive coordinator, but it will not be Vikings OC Wes Phillips.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Phillips turned down Los Angeles’ interview request and will stay with Minnesota in the same position.

Phillips has over 15 years of NFL coaching experience.

Phillips moved to the Vikings from the Rams with Kevin O’Connell when he was hired as the head coach in Minnesota last year.

Phillips spent three years with the Rams as their tight ends coach and passing game coordinator.

Before making the move to Los Angeles, Phillips was a quality control/ offensive assistant, offensive line coach and tight ends coach with the Cowboys and a tight ends coach with the then Redskins.