Minnesota Vikings Injured List

On the injury front, the Minnesota Vikings have had a rocky first seven games of the season. Injuries have  thoroughly thrashed the continuity, consistency, and play of the offensive line. The rebuilt group was a significant reason for team optimism as the season approached. The projected starting five has yet to take a snap together in the seven games. The lack of continuity, consistency, and play of the group is a significant reason starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed five games with an ankle injury and backup quarterback Carson Wentz is now done for the season with a shoulder injury. The offensive line isn’t the only position group that’s had to deal with injuries. It’s been a team-wide issue but the offensive line has been especially hard hit. The international travel and short-week demands of a ridiculous, early-season schedule haven’t helped the rest and recovery in dealing with those injuries. All of it is why the Vikings injury report is a must-read every week. On that front, things are looking up as the Vikings prepare for their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions.

Wednesday

Christian Darrisaw, OT (Knee) - Full Practice

C.J. Ham, FB (Hand) - Did Not Practice

Jeff Okudah, CB (Concussion) - Did Not Practice

Josh Oliver, TE (Foot) - Did Not Practice

Brian O’Neill, OT (Knee) - Limited Practice

Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Shoulder) - Limited Practice

Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Ankle) - Limited Practice

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Full Practice

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Full Practice

Thursday

Christian Darrisaw, OT (Knee) - Did Not Practice

C.J. Ham, FB (Hand) - Did Not Practice

Jeff Okudah, CB (Concussion) - Did Not Practice

Josh Oliver, TE (Foot) - Did Not Practice

Brian O’Neill, OT (Knee) - Limited Practice

Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Shoulder) - Limited Practice

Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Ankle) - Full Practice

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Full Practice

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Full Practice

Last week’s short week, with a Thursday night game halfway across the country against the Los Angeles Chargers, was the reason Christian Darrisaw played only nine snaps and Brian O’Neill didn’t play at all. Both elite tackles are navigating knee injuries. Both need a full week of maintenance. Two days and a day traveling isn’t enough time for the necessary maintenance. It isn’t close. For that reason, the league’s scheduling and need for Thursday night money impacted the game as much as the Chargers defense. Darrisaw’s injury maintenance has included resting Thursday after practicing Wednesday. So, his “DNP” yesterday isn’t concerning. As for O’Neill, his “LPs” are also part of his injury maintenance. I expect him to play, probably with a brace on his knee. 

The best news of the Vikings injury report this week is the probable availability of outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. Van Ginkel has only played in two games this season. He played the bulk of the season-opener against the Chicago Bears. He played a handful of snaps in the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. His impact on the Vikings defense can be seen in the two sacks he had in the handful of snaps against the Bengals. He’s an instinctive problem-solver for the team. The strength of the Vikings defense is its versatility and it isn’t the same without Van Ginkel. His return would be a game-changer. Greenard’s availability may never have been in doubt. He was injured late in the Chargers game. After being helped off the field, he jogged to the blue tent. That was a little reassuring. It’s an ankle injury and those can be worrisome. I don’t recall Kevin O’Connell mentioning Greenard in his postgame injury recap so maybe it wasn’t a concern even from the start. Personally, I was concerned until I saw his “FP” yesterday. Having Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard on the field against the Lions would be outstanding. We haven’t seen much of the terrific duo together this season. 

I’m guessing the handling of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is more precautionary than concerning. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. 

The most concerning injuries on this week’s injury report are those to corner Jeff Okudah and tight end Josh Oliver. Concussions are always concerning and this is Okudah’s second of the season. A second concussion put center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve earlier this season. With a few extra days “gifted” by the Vikings Week 8 Thursday game, perhaps Okudah is cleared before Sunday. But a football game is secondary when dealing with concussions. Simply in terms of game availability, Oliver’s injury is the most concerning. He might be the most underrated player on the team. His versatility, and especially his blocking, is so important to the Vikings offense. Adjustments are plenty when he’s not out there and he won’t be out there against the Lions. Hopefully, his return from the foot injury is quick.

Finally, I can not wait to see J.J. McCarthy back on the field. 

Also, I’ll miss C.J. Ham’s stabilizing presence. There’s something reassuring about #30 being on the field. 

Wentz’s Injury

In another example of media and fans needing a reason to bitch and point fingers, the Minnesota Vikings and especially head coach Kevin O’Connell received a great deal of heat over the handling of injured quarterback Carson Wentz. The injury goes back to the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns in London. Just before the half, Wentz injured his left shoulder. The injury was significant enough that he had to leave the game and immediately head to the locker room. Backup Max Brosmer took the final snap of the first half. It felt as if it would not be the day’s final snap for Brosmer. With a separated shoulder, torn labrum, and a broken socket, Wentz returned in the second half and guided his team to a comeback win over the Browns. Even without the injury, it was an inspiring effort. Considering the injury, it was heroic. A separated shoulder, torn labrum, and broken socket sounds serious and is serious. It’s an injury that requires surgery to repair. It’s not a rest and rehab deal. Doctors, trainers, coaches, and Wentz, especially Wentz, decided that it was an injury with which he could play. It’s his non-throwing shoulder and he apparently couldn’t hurt it further. It was a pain deal and whether Wentz could deal with the pain and discomfort that was sure to come. The Week 6 bye did little more than give Wentz time to get used to the pain and discomfort. The injury wasn’t going to get better with rest. A physical game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 didn’t help and a brutal game on a short week against the Los Angeles Chargers brought an end to Wentz’s season. Whether it’s truly the case, it’s easy to think that Wentz was intentionally carrying the team until J.J. McCarthy was healthy enough to return. If that goal and hope was hatched in the London locker room during halftime of the Browns, it’s a goal and hope Wentz managed to reach. Even though we all knew the severity of his injury, he was greatly criticized for his inconsistent play on the field the past two games. Once we all saw the pain he was experiencing during the brutal game against the Chargers, that criticism was redirected to another target. The heat directed at the team and O’Connell came from Wentz still being on the field in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Chargers. It was apparently a much bigger deal than the blowout loss to the Chargers. 

The fired-up fans and media seemed to ignore the simple fact that Wentz wouldn’t have been on the field if he couldn’t handle the pain and if he didn’t want to be there. Ultimately, playing was his decision. Oh, the critics said that the coach should’ve taken better care of his player, should’ve been the voice of reason to the player’s desire to play. Where was the outrage when rookie guard Donovan Jackson played against the Cincinnati Bengals with a wrist injury from the week before? Team and player knew the injury would require surgery but he played that game. He had the surgery the day after he played against the Bengals. Is it less of a deal because Jackson is a guard and Wentz is the quarterback. Is it because we didn’t see Jackson’s pain splashed across television screens. Who knows? Players play with injuries all the time. Some of those injuries are significant. Some will require surgery. It’s not a normal deal for those that don’t play the game. It is a normal deal for those that do. Wentz said yesterday “I’m not an idiot. I knew what I was doing, going out there. Nobody was forcing me, pressuring me, any of those things.” He knew that his opportunities to play this game are closer to the end than the beginning. Whether for himself or for his team, the pain was less than his desire to play. Anyone that thinks that the Vikings or O’Connell forced Wentz to play is really just looking for a reason to bitch and point fingers. 

Through all of this puzzling outrage from the media and fans, I couldn’t help but think of all of the examples of the same critics romanticizing players that plow through the pain of injuries. Jack Youngblood playing with a broken leg. Emmitt Smith playing through a shoulder injury. This was an injury perhaps similar to that of Wentz and Smith had to use his somewhat useless arm. Ray Lewis playing with a torn triceps. Those three easily come to mind. Each instance of playing through pain might’ve helped each player reach Canton. It certainly didn’t hurt. I can’t recall criticism leveled on the coaches that “forced” each of those players on the field. Injuries will always be an unfortunate part of football. Even with the rules that are intended to make the game more safe, football is a brutal game. It always will be. Players will play with injuries and it’s no one’s fault that they do. 

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Room

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback room has changed a bit in the past few days. The entire offseason has seen changes in that room. There’s what it was supposed to be. There’s what it was. There’s what it’s become as the Vikings get ready to play the Detroit Lions in Week 9.

When the 2024 season ended, there was a lot of optimism that the Vikings 2025 quarterback room would start with this trio.

J.J. McCarthy 

Daniel Jones

Brett Rypien

As an often overly optimistic Vikings fan, I was certain that the team’s depth would be topped by those two quarterbacks. It was a terrific situation. Unfortunately, the possibility faded early in free agency as Daniel Jones opted for a starting opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts. It was an excellent decision for him and the Colts. It was very disappointing for the Vikings. 

From the time Jones bolted for the Colts and the draft, the Vikings quarterback room numbered two, J.J. McCarthy and Brett Rypien. A veteran was obtained in a draft day trade and a rookie was signed following the draft. Four quarterbacks were brought to training camp.

J.J. McCarthy

Sam Howell

Brett Rypien

Max Brosmer

Through practices and preseason games, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer outplayed veterans Sam Howell and Brett Rypien. Brosmer was a keeper. Howell and Rypien were not. For the third time since the start of the offseason, the Vikings needed a veteran quarterback. They found that veteran quarterback in Carson Wentz. Hindsight is an often unfair thing but it’s a damn shame that the Vikings didn’t sign Wentz months earlier. If they had, maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t be where they are now. Wentz, with months of preparation in the Vikings system with the Vikings coaches, would be a very different quarterback than the one that took the field in Week 3. That’s not what happened and the Vikings entered the 2025 season with the following quarterbacks. The veteran backup had barely unpacked. 

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

It’s an intriguing group. As the optimist, I was excited for the group. A young quarterback loaded with potential and promise. A solid veteran quarterback. And a poised and intriguing rookie. 

Unfortunately, nothing has gone as hoped with the Vikings quarterbacks this season. Not a lot has gone as hoped with the entire team but that’s a whole other story. J.J. McCarthy exited the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury. The injury was a week-to-week deal with a month absence a near certainty. After only a couple of weeks with the team, Carson Wentz would be the Vikings quarterback for a few games. It started great with an easy win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Things didn’t go great when the Vikings headed overseas for a Week 4 game in Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Week 5 game in London against the Cleveland Browns. With a wildly inconsistent, “who’s next?” offensive line in front of him, Wentz was often dodging pass rushers. He came out of the Steelers game with tender ribs. He came out of the Browns game with an even more serious injury. Just before the half, he seriously injured his left shoulder. With a separated shoulder, torn labrum, and a broken socket, Wentz returned in the second half and guided his team to comeback win over the Browns. On the team’s final possession, he was perfect on the drive to a game-winning touchdown toss to Jordan Addison. It’s not a high bar but that drive is probably the highlight moment, so far, of the Vikings season. The past two games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers haven’t been so great. With each of those games, the pain Wentz was experiencing became more and more apparent. He put team ahead of pain as he guided the Vikings while McCarthy recovered. Now, Wentz’s season is over. The surgery that he’s needed since the injury will finally happen. 

For the fourth time since the end of last season, the Vikings needed a veteran quarterback. They filled that need this morning with the signing of John Wolford. With three seasons on an active roster, four starts and seven appearances, he is a veteran quarterback. He’s not a very experienced veteran quarterback as he only has twice as many starts as J.J. McCarthy. Most significant in Wolford’s three seasons, all with the Los Angeles Rams, is that two of them were with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell on the coaching staff. O’Connell knows Wolford. That’s a good place to start. Wolford has also experienced training camps with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

So, the Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Room now includes the following:

J.J. McCarthy

John Wolford

Max Brosmer

Carson Wentz - injured

Until, John Wolford gets up to speed with his new team, Max Brosmer is certainly the backup to J.J. McCarthy. Hopefully, Brosmer isn’t needed and McCarthy never again has to deal with an injury in his long and ridiculously successful Vikings career. 

Wentz Is Done

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz will have surgery on his left shoulder. The surgery will end his season as the Vikings placed him on injured reserve yesterday. 

Carson Wentz has started the past five games while J.J. McCarthy recovered from an ankle injury. Wentz guided the Vikings to an easy win over the Cincinnati Bengals in his first start in Week 3. Then came the Week 4 and Week 5 international games against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin and Cleveland Browns in London. The Steelers game was a loss. Wentz’s most dynamic moment in his five-game run as the starter was the game-winning drive against the Browns. It was in that game that he suffered the shoulder injury that wouldn’t end his season until three weeks and two games later. Just before the end of the first half against the Browns, Wentz came off the field in obvious pain and discomfort. Rookie Max Brosmer took the final snap of the half and it really looked like he might have to finish the game. It was something of a surprise that Wentz returned in the second half. While he had an up-and-down second half against the Browns, he was brilliant on the final, game-winning drive. The Vikings had a Week 6 bye after the return from overseas. Following the much-needed bye, the Vikings and Wentz struggled in losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers game was a particularly brutal game for Wentz as he was sacked five times and hit repeatedly. His pain was obvious. It was after that game when we learned the severity of the injury he suffered against the Browns. Wentz had been playing through a dislocated shoulder that included a torn labrum and fractured socket. His struggles at times in the Eagles and Chargers games make sense as it took a warrior’s effort to simply suit up for those games. He did all that he could to get the Vikings to McCarthy’s return. 

The Vikings must keep their starting offensive line on the field or Carson Wentz won’t be the last quarterback to need season-ending surgery. Due mostly to the wildly inconsistent lineup of offensive linemen, Vikings quarterbacks have been sacked and hit and an unsustainable rate. That must change and that change must start with this week’s game against the Detroit Lions. One of the biggest reasons for optimism this season was the rebuilt offensive line. The five projected starters have yet to take a snap together. Instead, it’s been a “who’s next” situation at every position but right guard. Will Fries is the only lineman to take every snap. That must change. The offensive line starters must get on the field and stay on the field. If the Vikings are to rebound from their 3-4 start, the team needs offensive line consistency. J.J. McCarthy definitely needs it. 

Get healthy, Carson. 

This Damn Schedule

I wasn’t a fan of the Minnesota Vikings schedule when it was released in the spring. It’s easy to not like a schedule that includes an international game. The Vikings had two of those, back to back. The NFL’s schedule hacks sent the Vikings overseas for a two-week stay. There was a game in Dublin and a game in London. Not only were the Vikings sent out of the country for two weeks, they had to travel between countries during the trip. They had to deal with weekly roster maintenance from afar. Between the games, the Vikings needed an insurance offensive lineman was needed. It was a significant ordeal getting that offensive lineman to the UK. Any new player needed a passport and significant travel just to get to the team. That isn’t normal operation. It was a difficult two-week stay. There’s a routine to a NFL season and this trip completely disrupted that routine. The Vikings were the victim in the NFL’s dream of having a team play in two different countries in consecutive weeks. Why would the league even have that dream, let alone, act on it? Yes, it was easy to not like the Vikings schedule in the spring. I like it even less eight weeks into it. 

Here’s that schedule.

Minnesota Vikings 2025 Schedule

Week	Day	Date	Opponent	Time (PT)
1	Monday	Sept. 8	@Chicago Bears	5:15 PM
2	Sunday	Sept. 14	Atlanta Falcons	5:20 PM
3	Sunday	Sept. 21	Cincinnati Bengals	10:00 AM
4	Sunday	Sept. 28	@Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin)	6:30 AM
5	Sunday	Oct. 5	@Cleveland Browns (London)	6:30 AM
6	Sunday	Oct. 12	BYE
7	Sunday	Oct. 19	Philadelphia Eagles	10:00 AM
8	Thursday	Oct. 23	@Los Angeles Chargers	5:15 PM
9	Sunday	Nov. 2	@Detroit Lions	10:00 AM
10	Sunday	Nov. 9	Baltimore Ravens	10:00 AM
11	Sunday	Nov. 16	Chicago Bears	10:00 AM
12	Sunday	Nov. 23	@Green Bay Packers	10:00 AM
13	Sunday	Nov. 30	@Seattle Seahawks	1:05 PM
14	Sunday	Dec. 7	Washington Commanders	10:00 AM
15	Sunday	Dec. 14	@Dallas Cowboys	5:20 PM
16	Sunday	Dec. 21	@New York Giants	10:00 AM
17	Thursday	Dec. 25	Detroit Lions	1:30 PM
18	TBD	TBD	Green Bay Packers	TBD

There was a time when I was a big fan of prime time games for the Vikings. For a fan from California, it was a guaranteed viewing. As a Sunday Ticket subscriber since the turn of the century, every game is a guaranteed viewing. Waiting the entire day for a Vikings game isn’t always a fun deal. It just feels like I’m waiting so damn long for the game. By the time it kicks off, I’m already wiped out. With that in mind, waiting until Monday night for the season-opener against the Chicago Bears was excruciating. Following that with a Week 2 Sunday night game was more of the same. I wasn’t a fan of the long waits for prime time games before this season. I was even less of a fan after Week 2. Week 3 was such a relief. The Vikings hosted the Cincinnati Bengals with a 10:00 am start time. Glorious! It was made even better when the Vikings played their best game of the season. Their reward? A two-week, overseas business trip for the Weeks 4 & 5 games. Week 6 is way too early for a bye but it was necessary after the ridiculous international trip.

As bad as the two prime time games and overseas games were, the Vikings post-bye schedule may have been even worse. I’ll always have a problem with the league forcing teams to play international games. I have an even bigger problem with Thursday games. Three days is not enough time for teams to recover from the previous game to play the next game. The league can post all of the massaged injury data they want, three days is not enough time for proper recovery. It isn’t enough time for players with no injury issues. It definitely isn’t enough time for teams managing various injuries. That was especially evident last week when the Vikings had to spend one of their three recovery days traveling halfway across the country to play the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8. Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw has been navigating this season while managing his return from the ACL injury that ended his 2024 season. He’s been on a snap count for the games he’s played. With only two days and a travel day to recover from the Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Darrisaw played only nine snaps against the Chargers. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill has been managing a knee injury he suffered in the London game. With only two days and a travel day to recover from the Eagles game, O’Neill didn’t play against the Chargers. If the game was played on Sunday, both tackles likely would’ve been available for a full game. Seeing as Carson Wentz spent much of the game running from a modest Chargers defensive front, Darrisaw and O’Neill on the sidelines put the Vikings at a significant competitive disadvantage. It was all because the league sees the dollars from another prime time game as more important than the health of the players. 

A Summary of the Vikings 2025 schedule, so far:

Week 1: @Chicago Bears - Monday Night - Sucks

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons - Sunday Night - Sucks

Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals - 10:00 am start - Lovely

Week 4: @Pittsburgh Steelers - in Dublin - Sucks

Week 5: @Cleveland Browns - in London - Sucks

Week 6: Bye - Too early, but necessary

Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles - 10:00 am start - Lovely

Week 8: @Los Angeles Chargers - Thursday Night - Sucks

The eight-week, seven-game tally: 5 Sucks

With this shitty schedule, it’s no surprise the season is in the balance with a 3-4 record. The Vikings aren’t 3-4 because of their shitty schedule. The Vikings are 3-4 because they haven’t played well. They could easily be 1-6. They are fortunate they aren’t 1-6. Injuries to the offensive line has probably been a bigger issue than the shitty schedule. Those injuries were a significant reason the quarterback plan with J.J. McCarthy was disrupted with his ankle injury. The ideal situation had the young quarterback hitting his stride about this time in the season. That ideal was tossed when he was injured in Week 2. Now, it’s as if he’s starting all over in Week 9. 

The schedule is rough the rest of the way but the scheduling is much better. All but two of the remaining ten games are Sunday morning or afternoon games. There’s the Week 15 Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys and the Week 17 Thursday (Christmas Day) game against the Detroit Lions. Thanks to the NFL’s schedule hacks, that second short week starts with a Week 14 game @New York Giants. At least the return flight to Minnesota won’t take one of those three vital recovery days. The Vikings remaining 10 games are tough due to the teams they play. It isn’t made even more difficult by the scheduling. Fortunately, the scheduling difficulties came in the first seven games and those are behind them. 

Flea Flicker Week 8 Predictions

It’s already Week 8. Here are guesses at the games. 

Byes: Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars

Nearly 20% of the teams aren’t playing this week.

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Falcons

Here are two teams heading in different directions. 

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Bengals

Jets are still looking for that first win. 

Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

Patriots are looking for their fifth consecutive win.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia

Pick: Eagles

The Eagles put the upstart Giants in their place. 

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Bills

After two consecutive losses, the Bills finally win again. 

Chicago Bears @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens continue to dig out of the hole they dug. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans

Pick: 49ers

The 49ers continue to find a way.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Buccaneers

The Buccaneers roll.

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Cowboys

Rematch of Super Bowl XII. Same outcome.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts roll.

Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Packers

The Packers thrash their old friend.

Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

How did the Chiefs lose to the Jaguars?

Minnesota Vikings Week 8 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings clearly weren’t ready for a game on two days rest and a travel day. Their 37-10 destruction by the Los Angeles Chargers was arguably the worst played game in Kevin O’Connell’s three-plus years as the head coach. As a result of the horribly played game in all phases, finding superlatives is a difficult task. 

Offensive Player of the Game

Justin Jefferson, WR

Even in the most difficult games, Justin Jefferson often shines.

7 catches

74 yards

Carson Wentz played his worst game in his five games as the Vikings starter. His accuracy was hit-and-miss, mostly miss. Jefferson was routinely open. So were Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and the rest of the Vikings pass catchers. Wentz either couldn’t hit them or find them. It was a rough game. It wasn’t all on Wentz. A depleted offensive line allowed some easy rush lanes for a modest Chargers front. 

Defensive Players of the Game

Jonathan Greenard, OLB

Jalen Redmond, DL

Josh Metellus

The Chargers moved the ball with ease all night so there weren’t a lot of Vikings defensive standouts. It’s a stretch to anoint any with superlatives. However, I did like the play of the above three players. Like Justin Jefferson, Jonathan Greenard is always an impact player. He’s relentless. Chargers excellent, young offensive tackle John Alt returned from injury for this game. Greenard gave him fits. A sack and three tackles for loss were the standout plays. Alt often relied on holding to slow Greenard. It was rarely called. Jonathan Greenard was relentless all game and has been all season. 

Jalen Redmond is an emerging defensive line star. I believe he tipped the pass that Josh Metellus intercepted. Metellus makes the list for his first interception of the season.

Special Teams Player of the Game

Myles Price, Returner

Four losses in seven games is the most annoying aspect of the Vikings season. The next most annoying aspect is the silly number of special teams penalties. Is it coaching? Is it simply mind-numbing decisions by the players? Who knows? It must stop. Myles Price opened the game with a 46-yard return. Tyler Batty was called for holding. Instead of starting the game at the 46-yard line, the Vikings started the game at their own 16-yard line. A 30-yard loss. With the Chargers scoring so often, Price had five return opportunities without penalties. He returned those five kicks for 135 yards. A 27-yard average. I’m convinced that Price will return a kick or punt for a score this season. Hopefully, more than one. He’s been one of the bright spots in a wildly inconsistent start to the season. 

***

It’s easy to come out of this game with a sour attitude. This isn’t about a single game. Thursday night games are a horrible idea. Three days, two days if one is a travel day, simply isn’t enough time for players to recover from the previous game and get ready for the next game. I don’t care about the massaged injury data the league uses to support these games. The quick turnaround is a tough deal for healthy players. It’s nearly impossible for players dealing with injuries. If Thursday’s game against the Chargers was a Sunday game, Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw would’ve played the entire game rather than nine plays. Right tackle Brian O’Neill would’ve played. Both players are navigating knee injuries. It’s manageable with a normal week of recovery. It isn’t on two days. The league’s ridiculous infatuation with Thursday night games and clear greed helped decide this game before it started. There’s so much proof that the league values money over the health, present and long term, of the players. Thursday night games are easily the most obvious examples. 

If the league really wants to create a competitive balance in these ridiculous Thursday night games, maybe they should have the home team travel the week before. While the Vikings had to spend one of their three recovery days traveling halfway across the country, the Chargers had been comfortably sitting at home since October 12. 11 days of ease. 

Vikings - Chargers

The Minnesota Vikings were rolled by the Los Angeles Chargers, 37-10. It really wasn’t that close. 

The Vikings simply didn’t look ready to play an NFL game. One might even say that they looked disinterested in playing an NFL game. This is the sort of thing that occasionally happens with these ridiculous Thursday night games. Two days of rest and a day of travel isn’t enough time for players to recover between games. Human bodies, no matter how finely tuned, do not respond that way. It’s even more difficult for players working their way through injuries. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, working through a knee injury from a few weeks ago, couldn’t rebound in time. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, working through his return from last year’s torn ACL, gave it a go but left the game after only nine plays. In perfect health, playing on a short week is a tough deal. In less than perfect health, it’s nearly impossible.  Since the NFL puts money above all else, these Thursday night games aren’t going away. Even shitty games are giant paydays for the league. At the very least, the league should make the home team travel the Sunday before the game. The Chargers have been resting easy at home since October 12. 

Carson Wentz has probably thrown his last pass for the Vikings. He’s been the starter since J.J. McCarthy came out of the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury. With a 2-3 record, Wentz hasn’t been terrible but he hasn’t been good. Granted, he’s been placed in a tough spot with the injuries throughout the offensive line. Against the Chargers, backup tackles Justin Skule and Walter Rouse couldn’t keep the edges safe. With the one-sided score, depleted offensive line, and no concern for the Vikings running game, the Chargers pass rushers could tee-off on a spot and target Wentz. With five sacks and consistent pressure, Wentz was battered in this game. Nursing a left shoulder injury, he was sore coming into the game. He was more sore coming out of the game. Through his run as the Vikings starter, his accuracy has been inconsistent. Through the first four games, he’d have enough on-target throws to keep the Vikings offense frisky. That wasn’t the case last night. The Vikings offense was rarely frisky. The only touchdown was sent up by a Josh Metellus interception at the Chargers 26-yard line. Even with excellent field position, the Vikings needed a couple Chargers penalties to get enough shots to finally put the ball in the end zone. 

The Vikings were terrible against the Chargers. This loss rivals the 40-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 as the worst in the three-plus years Kevin O’Connell has guided the team as the head coach. Here are the Vikings offensive possessions against the Chargers.

1. 6 plays, 25 yards - punt

2. 3 plays, -9 yards - punt

3. 9 plays, 35 yards - field goal

4. 3 plays, 8 yards - punt

5. 5 plays, 24 yards - missed field goal

6. 5 plays, 12 yards - punt

7. 6 plays, 26 yards - touchdown

8. 2 plays, 12 yards - interception

9. 4 plays, 2 yards - downs

10. 6 plays, 34 yards - end of game (thankfully)

The Vikings offense was terrible. The defense rarely slowed the Chargers offense. Things were so easy for the Chargers offense that they never punted. Their only non-scoring possessions ended with a missed field goal and the Metellus interception. About the only positive in the game for the Vikings was that they were even in the turnover margin and +4 in points off of turnovers. Nice!

The best thing about this sad Thursday night game is that the Vikings now have 10 days to recover before their Week 9 game at the Detroit Lions. Hopefully, that game brings the return of J.J. McCarthy, a fully healthy offensive line, and the return of outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. 

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Chargers tonight. I’ll be in those SoFi Stadium stands. Skol! The Chargers have an interesting history. They started in Los Angeles in 1960 as an original member of the American Football League. After a single season in Los Angeles, the team moved to San Diego and stayed there until their recent return to Los Angeles. The Chargers were an immediate AFL power with legendary coach Sid Gillman. They played in the 1960, 1961,1963, and 1964 AFL title games, winning in 1963. The Don Coryell-led Chargers of the late 1970s and early 1980s were fun, explosive teams. While their lone Super Bowl appearance was in the 1990s (the San Francisco 49ers took them apart in Super Bowl XXIX), the Chargers best days were those early AFL days, the Coryell years, and the 2000s with Philip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates. Despite the lack of an NFL title, the Chargers have a strong, fun history. Here are some of the best players in Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers franchise history. 

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

Dan Fouts

Running Back

LaDanian Tomlinson

Fullback

Keith Lincoln 

Wide Receivers

Lance Alworth

Charlie Joiner

Tight End

Kellen Winslow 

Offensive Tackles

Ron Mix

Russ Washington

Offensive Guards

Walt Sweeney

Ed White

Center

Nick Hardwick

Defense

Defensive Ends

Leslie O’Neal

Joey Bosa

Defensive Tackles

Ernie Ladd

Gary Johnson

Linebackers

Junior Seau

Chuck Allen

Shawne Merriman 

Cornerbacks

Gill Byrd

Speedy Duncan

Safeties

Eric Weddle

Derwin James

Special Teams

Kicker 

John Karney

Punter

Darren Bennett

Returner

Darren Sproles

Some Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore Fun

It’s strange that big mountain carvings in South Dakota have become a thing in pop culture. It’s probably how some now know about that tourist attraction. Mount Rushmores are a fun sports debate. It’s fun to pick and debate the four best of anything. It’s tough to pick only four. Here are swings at some Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmores. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore

Alan Page 

Cris Carter

John Randle

Justin Jefferson

These are my favorite players in Vikings franchise history. Alan Page has been my favorite Vikings football player since my first day as a Vikings fan. He may even have been the reason this little kid from California became a Vikings fan. He was certainly a big reason for my falling for the team. Perhaps the worst day in all my days as a Vikings fan was the day that Page was waived. I didn’t understand it then. I don’t understand it now. The first NFL game and first Vikings game I ever attended was later in that 1978 season. I dreamed of seeing Alan Page in person. I dreamed of seeing all of those Vikings players and coaches in person but especially Page. Instead of playing the Raiders in Oakland, he had played the day before in Washington for the Chicago Bears. Sad. Very, very sad. 

I’ve always been particularly fond of receivers. It was the position I played. It’s the position that routinely draws my attention. I’d been a huge fan of Cris Carter since his Ohio State days. It was his hands. I’ve never seen better hands. I hoped that the Vikings would select him in the Supplemental Draft. I was very disappointed when they didn’t. I was thrilled when they grabbed him off of waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. I’ve never been more ecstatic over a Vikings waiver claim. I can’t imagine I ever will be. Carter was a fantastic receiver. I attended a Vikings-49ers Monday Night game in 1995. As a fan of receivers, the game was a dream pass-catching duel between Carter and Jerry Rice. The 49ers jumped all over the Vikings from the start. It was 21-0 after the first quarter. Sitting in the stands, it felt like Carter then put the team on his back and hauled them back into the game. It was 27-20 at the half. Sadly, the 49ers held on for a 37-30 win. With Steve Young throwing to Rice and Warren Moon throwing to Carter, it really was a pass-catching dream. The crazy thing was the final receiving numbers. This truly felt like a duel between two of the best to ever catch a football. Carter vs Rice. It was 1995. It was long before everybody had a computer in their hand. It was even before fantasy football took over as a passion parallel to the real game. Statistics weren’t blasted to everyone in the stands. I had no idea what sort of numbers Carter and Rice were posting. It truly felt like Carter and Rice were doing a bit of “anything you can do I can do better.” So, I was stunned to see the game statistics in the Tuesday morning newspaper. 

Cris Carter:

12 catches

88 yards

2 TDs

Jerry Rice:

14 catches

289 yards

3 TDs

I learned a lot about statistics that night. Watching the game from the stands, I never would’ve guessed that Rice had gained 200 more yards than Carter. It did not feel like the one-sided receiving duel found in the statistics. That’s because every one of Carter’s catches meant so much to the team. Every catch moved the chains. The Vikings had to really grind for every yard they gained. Every Carter catch was crucial. For the 49ers, defending Super Bowl champs, everything came so much easier. Anyway, other than the score, it was a beautiful night for a fan of receivers. That night, Cris Carter joined Alan Page as my favorite players in franchise history. 

John Randle also became a franchise favorite of mine while watching a prime time game from the stands. I was in the Oakland Coliseum stands in 1996 for a Sunday Night game against the Raiders. In a game the Vikings would win in overtime, John Randle took over the game in the fourth quarter. It felt like he was in the Raiders backfield as often as Jeff Hostetler. Randle had two sacks in the game. He harassed Hostetler with such frequency that it felt like he had 10 sacks. Randle was so easy to like. He’s probably a favorite of every Vikings fan that lived through the 1990s. His social media presence today only enhances his appeal. I looked forward to his “Purple Friday” posts. 

I never thought a Vikings receiver could ever approach Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Then along came Justin Jefferson. Everything about his first five years in Minnesota has been ridiculous. So ridiculous that I still can’t believe that he’s already one of my four favorite Vikings in franchise history. Instead of rationalizing it, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy his ridiculous Vikings career. 

More Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore Fun:

Greatest Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore

Alan Page

Randall McDaniel

Randy Moss

Adrian Peterson

Other than the first one, all of these Mount Rushmores are going to be very subjective. Alan Page, Randall McDaniel, Randy Moss, and Adrian Peterson are in the conversation for the best to ever play their respective positions. That helps me in selecting each as the greatest players in Vikings franchise history. Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tingelhoff, Joey Browner, Chris Doleman, Cris Carter, John Randle, Steve Hutchinson, and Justin Jefferson are in the conversation but I’m sticking with the above four.

Most Important Minnesota Vikings Rushmore

Jim Marshall

Bud Grant

Jim Finks

Fran Tarkenton

I often include this “Most Important Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore” so I can have Jim Marshall on it. He wasn’t the best player on the Super Bowl teams. He wasn’t the best player on the defense. He wasn’t the best player on the defensive line. He wasn’t even the best defensive end on the team. However, he was the most important player. He was the heart and soul of those great teams. He was their leader. That’s why his Hall of Fame omission is such a sensitive issue for Vikings fans. 

Bud Grant. That’s all that really needs to be said about the best coach in Vikings history. It would take a coach actually winning a Super Bowl to challenge Grant for that title. 

Jim Finks was the architect of the great Vikings teams of the late 1960s and 1970s. The only negative to his great career as a general manager is that he left the Vikings for the Bears and built a Super Bowl champion in Chicago. Finks was the second general manager to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made it before the introduction of the Contributor category. So, he made it while being in voting competition with players. 

Fran Tarkenton had a weird Vikings career. It’s weird because he had two distinct and significant stints as the Vikings quarterback. He was an exciting and fun young quarterback for an expansion team from 1961-66. He was also an exciting and fun old quarterback for an annual Super Bowl contender from 1972-78. During the first stint, he had a rocky relationship with head coach Norm Van Brocklin. It was so rocky that he demanded a trade after the 1966 season. The Vikings obliged and traded him to the New York Giants. Strangely, Tarkenton still wanted out of Minnesota even though Van Brocklin resigned about a month before the trade. Grant was named the new head coach three days after Tarkenton was traded. While he was with the Giants, Finks and Grant built and molded the Vikings into one of the best teams in the league. They just needed a quarterback and in 1972 they brought Tarkenton back to Minnesota. Two of the picks the Vikings received from the Giants were used to select tackle Ron Yary and guard Ed White. Those two would form an impenetrable right side to protect a now older Tarkenton. I only got to see the older, post-Giants sabbatical Tarkenton. He was great. As a naive little kid I thought that he’d always be the Vikings quarterback. I didn’t think that he’d ever retire. I didn’t think any of those Vikings greats would retire. Fortunately, I did get to see Tarkenton play from the Oakland Coliseum stands in his last regular season game. He was a great quarterback. 

Some positional Mount Rushmores:

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Mount Rushmore

Fran Tarkenton

Tommy Kramer

Daunte Culpepper 

Kirk Cousins

This feels pretty straightforward. 

Since their first season in 1961, the Vikings have selected five quarterbacks in the first round of the NFL Draft. 

Tommy Kramer (1977)

Daunte Culpepper (1999)

Christian Ponder (2011)

Teddy Bridgewater (2014)

J.J. McCarthy (2024)

It’s an understatement to say that the Vikings have had a frustrating quarterback history since Fran Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season. Tommy Kramer was selected in the first round to be the team’s next quarterback. He was a fun gunslinger. Over his first four years as the Vikings starting quarterback he only missed three starts. Injuries peppered his next seven years in Minnesota. His is a quarterback story of what might’ve been. Daunte Culpepper was on an upward trajectory until a knee injury ended his time in Minnesota. Christian Ponder was drafted in the first round to be a quarterback that he never had the talent to be. As with Culpepper, a horrible knee injury ended whatever future Teddy Bridgewater might’ve had with the Vikings. Each of the four quarterbacks was drafted to be the next great Vikings quarterback. Two showed great potential, one had potential, and the fourth was Ponder. 

Since the Dennis Green years, the Vikings have often relied on bringing in old-timers to quarterback the team. When it’s worked, the results have been exciting. Three of the best, most fun seasons of the past 26 years have been guided by old Randall Cunningham (1998), old Brett Favre (2009), and journeyman Case Keenum (2017). Unfortunately, all three seasons ended painfully, one game short of the goal. Even the old Warren Moon years of the mid 1990s were fun. Moon threw such a beautiful ball. 

Hopefully, J.J. McCarthy cracks this Mt. Rushmore.

Minnesota Vikings Receiver Mt. Rushmore

Cris Carter

Randy Moss

Justin Jefferson

Anthony Carter

The Vikings have a tremendously rich receiver tradition. It’s probably the league’s best. Cris Carter and Randy Moss are easy picks. Justin Jefferson’s five years are already enough to join them. He has a Gold Jacket in his future. There’s certainly debate for the fourth. I’m going with Anthony Carter. For a few of his nine years in Minnesota, he was arguably the second best receiver in the league to Jerry Rice. There was one particular day in which he was the best receiver on the field and Rice was on that field. Carter should be in the team’s Ring of Honor. There are many contenders for that fourth spot. Gene Washington, John Gilliam, Sammy White, Ahmad Rashad, Jake Reed, Percy Harvin, Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs. 

If receiver isn’t the Vikings greatest position tradition, it’s the defensive line. It’s so strong that I’ve separated it into ends and tackles. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive End Mount Rushmore

Carl Eller

Jim Marshall

Chris Doleman

Jared Allen

Three of the four have busts in Canton. There’s an easy argument that Jim Marshall should join them. Danielle Hunter is a very strong Honorable Mention on this Mount Rushmore. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackle Mount Rushmore

Alan Page

John Randle

Kevin Williams

Keith Millard

For me, this one’s easy. Alan Page and John Randle are Hall of Famers. Kevin Williams should be. He has the All-Decade, All-Pro, Pro Bowl, performances, and numbers to get there. I fear that he might have a ridiculous, Carl Eller-like wait. After Richard Seymour made it a few years back, I thought that Williams would be next. I’ve always thought that Seymour and Williams had similar careers. The only difference being that Seymour has Super Bowl rings. That’s why he probably deserved to go first. I believe that Williams will eventually get the bust that he deserves. Keith Millard would have a bust if injuries hadn’t cut his career short. His best years were as good as any defensive tackle I’ve ever seen. He was unstoppable in 1988. He was even better in 1989. That year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year and was third in the MVP voting. Millard was incredible. Like Anthony Carter, he should be in the Vikings Ring of Honor.

That’s enough Mount Rushmore fun. For now.