Minnesota Vikings Pre-Bye Superlatives

After an unprecedented 10-day, two-country, two-game business trip, the Minnesota Vikings have a Week 6 bye. They have a week off to rest, recuperate, and get healthy. The Vikings were very much up-and-down over the first five weeks of the season. The manner in which they arrived at their 3-2 record shows that. Win-Lose-Win-Lose-Win. Over the final 12 weeks of the season, the Vikings must shatter that pattern. They must play with better consistency. They must avoid the injuries that have disrupted the roster and completely dismantled the offensive line. That’s post-bye week stuff. This is a look at the pre-bye games and some of the players that helped the Vikings win more than they lost. 

Most Valuable Player

Justin Jefferson, WR

Stat-wise, Justin Jefferson has been a player of note to most football observers (fantasy football aficionados) for just the past couple games. He broke the 120-yard barrier in each of the overseas games. Those were his first and second 100-yard games of the season. Seeing as he makes that mark routine, some have had the ignorant thought that he’s having a down season. Jefferson has been the player and, most importantly, the leader he’s always been. Jefferson is the Vikings best player and he’s played and acted like it. As great as he’s always been, the best is still always out there. 

Offensive Player of the Pre-Bye

Will Fries, G

Vikings fans approached this season with a lot of optimism. Much of that optimism was due to the Vikings decision-makers finally making the improvement of the offensive line a priority. With excellent tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill already in place, the Vikings overhauled the interior. Center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries were signed as free agents. Guard Donovan Jackson was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Darrisaw returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season, the Vikings were cautious and eased him into the lineup. That meant holding him out of the first two games and keeping him on a snap count over the next three games. Center Ryan Kelly has missed more than half of the first five games due to two concussions. He’s now on injured reserve over serious concerns over those concussions. Donovan Jackson had wrist surgery following the Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Brian O’Neill suffered a sprained PCL at the end of the opening drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a result of those injuries, the rebuilt Vikings offensive line has yet to take a snap together. That’s been a major factor in the offense’s inconsistencies. The only offensive lineman to play every game and take every snap is Will Fries. For that reason, he’s the Offensive Player of the Pre-Bye games.

The good news on the offensive line injury front is that Brian O’Neill and Donovan Jackson could return as soon as the Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive Player of the Pre-Bye

Isaiah Rodgers, CB

Isaiah Rodgers was a free agent target for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. As a result, Rodgers was signed within hours of the start of the NFL’s tampering window. As the season approached, many Vikings beat-writers and national pundits targeted the team’s cornerbacks as a position of great concern. The lack of further corner additions was an indication the Vikings didn’t share those concerns. They really liked their Isaiah Rodgers-Byron Murphy Jr. corner pair. Through five games, Flores and the Vikings were right and the outsiders were wrong. Rodgers has been excellent. The highlight of his first five games was the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had one of the best games ever played by a corner. It’s arguably one of the best games ever played by any defensive player. His first big play was a pick-6. His second big play was a forced fumble with a targeted punch, a recovery of the fumble, and a touchdown return off of that recovery. Those two defensive scores were the start of what turned into a 48-10 demolition of the Bengals. The big plays were the highlights of his big day but they were really just the start. He had another punch out that fellow corner Jeff Okudah recovered. That turnover was immediately turned into more Vikings points. Rodgers also knocked away a potential touchdown toss to Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. In coverage on the day, Rodgers allowed only one catch for two yards. For his brilliant play through five games, Isaiah Rodgers is an easy choice for Defensive Player of the Pre-Bye games. 

Special Teams Player of the Pre-Bye

Will Reichard, K

The kicker has only one job. Many people say that to minimize the difficulty of football’s kicking position. Through five games, other than a London kick that was deflected by a camera wire, Will Reichard has been perfect. 

PAT: 11/11

FGs: 8/8

Official NFL stats will have Reichard at 8/9 on field goals. His 51-yard attempt against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in London was deflected by a camera wire. He should’ve had another shot at it but the deflection was missed the officials on the field. It was apparently only discovered later. Prior to the wire-deflection, Reichard was 3/3 from more than 50 yards. One of those was from 62 yards. It’s a damn shame that his perfect start to the 2025 season isn’t “officially” perfect. 

Comeback Player of the Pre-Bye

Christian Darrisaw, OT

There’s really only one player up for this award. Christian Darrisaw’s return from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season has been remarkable. Even the offseason’s most optimistic hopes didn’t have Darrisaw ready for training camp, let alone, the start of the 2025 season. The easing of Darrisaw into the lineup was frustrating because of how remarkable his recovery had been. When he’s on the field, the offense operates at a whole other level. Hopefully, the snap count that he’s currently on is coming to an end. As long as it doesn’t jeopardize his future availability.