Tag: Minnesota Vikings

With little at stake, Packers and Vikings take aim at goals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A pair of division rivals have differing agendas as they prepare for their regular-season finale.

The Green Bay Packers want to get healthy heading into the playoffs, where they already have clinched a wild-card berth. This weekend’s game will do nothing to change their No. 7 NFC playoff seed.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings want to put a final stamp on this season as they look toward 2026. They see the final game of this season as an opportunity for players to make a case for prominent roles next season.

So, in the big picture, Sunday’s game between Green Bay (9-6-1) and Minnesota (8-8) in Minneapolis means little in the standings but could mean a lot for both teams and their futures, be it short term or long term.

“We’re still in that wildly significant time where any and all reps and experience (matter),” said Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, whose team is on a four-game winning streak. “It’s another home game at U.S. Bank Stadium. All those things are important.”

Nothing is more important than health for the Packers.

Green Bay has no shot at the NFC North division title after the Chicago Bears claimed that last week. The Packers know they will open the playoffs on the road next weekend, with the opponent and starting time to be determined.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love participated in practice to start the week but remained in the league’s concussion protocol. Backup Malik Willis, who has started with Love out, was limited to start the week with a shoulder injury.

The dual injuries prompted Green Bay to sign quarterback Desmond Ridder to its practice squad on Wednesday. Ridder, 26, has not played this season but has appeared in 25 games with 18 starts across parts of three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur was tight-lipped when asked about his starting quarterback for Sunday.

“Here’s what I told the team,” LaFleur said. “We have 53 spots on our roster. You can have two call-ups. You have 48 dressed on game day. So there’s going to be some starters that aren’t going to play. Shoot, they may not suit up, they might suit up. And then you’re going to have some starters that are going to play. So, basically, you guys will find out on Sunday who’s playing.”

There is far less mystery in Minnesota, where J.J. McCarthy is set to make his 10th start in his first season of NFL action. McCarthy missed all of last season because of a knee injury.

The 22-year-old has shown flashes of his ability this season, but he also has struggled with consistency. He has passed for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first nine games, and the regular-season finale could help the Vikings determine how much competition they want to bring in to challenge for the starting role in 2026.

McCarthy’s top target is Justin Jefferson, who needs 53 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth straight season. Jefferson also is looking for his first touchdown since Nov. 2.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs is 71 rushing yards shy of a 1,000-yard campaign, but he has dealt with a knee injury in recent weeks and could be a candidate to rest. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Backup running back Emanuel Wilson has 452 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season.

–Field Level Media

QB J.J. McCarthy out (hand) vs. Lions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions with a hairline fracture in his right hand, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Tuesday.

McCarthy appeared to injure his hand near the end of the first half of Sunday’s 16-13 win over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. He was hit hard by Giants pass rusher Brian Burns and fumbled the ball. Giants safety Tyler Nubin returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Further imaging beyond an initial X-ray showed what O’Connell called “a very, very small hairline fracture.”

The Vikings coach said he did not think the injury would require surgery.

“Recovery is kind of similar to a bone bruise,” O’Connell said.

Whether McCarthy, the Vikings’ first-year starter, plays in the final week of the season — a visit from the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 4 — will be determined at a later date.

“He’s dialed in,” O’Connell said. “He wants to stay 100 percent locked and loaded in the hopes of returning next week, hopefully. But obviously we’re gonna be smart with him and see where it takes it.”

This marks the third time this season McCarthy will have missed time with an injury. He missed five games after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2, returning a week earlier than initially anticipated. He then sat out a sixth game while in concussion protocol following a Week 12 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

He also missed all of last season due to surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee.

O’Connell had high praise for the 22-year-old out of Michigan amid the injuries.

“I’ve been really, really happy and proud of the way J.J. — through the kind of final stanza of the season here — has really, really took some big steps and grown, and it’s been a blast being with him every day and kind of being along that ride with him,” O’Connell said.

“Although we’ve lost time to continue that throughout the season, and we’re experiencing it again here on a fast opportunity-type short week, that doesn’t take away from the growth we’ve seen from J.J.”

McCarthy completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards and an interception Sunday before his injury. He also ran for a 12-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the first half.

Overall, McCarthy has passed for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in nine games this season. He also has rushed for four scores.

Following the injury, he was replaced by rookie Max Brosmer, who O’Connell said will start the Christmas Day matchup against the Lions in Minneapolis.

–Field Level Media

Vikings rebound from shutout with 31-0 win as Commanders’ Daniels hurt

Posted on | by Field Level Media

JJ McCarthy completed 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings cruised to a 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Josh Oliver had two touchdown receptions and T.J. Hockenson caught the other for Minnesota (5-8), which snapped a four-game losing streak. Jordan Mason added a rushing touchdown.

Jayden Daniels completed 9 of 20 passes for 78 yards and one interception before he left with an injury for Washington (3-10). Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels and completed 2 of 4 passes for 30 yards and an interception as the Commanders lost their eighth straight contest.

The Vikings, who lost 26-0 to the Seattle Seahawks last week, became the first team since the 1992 Denver Broncos to follow up a shutout defeat with a shutout victory.

Daniels’ injury marked another low point in a season filled with them for the Commanders. In the third quarter he threw an interception to Vikings pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and chased after him, but Vikings defensive back Isaiah Rodgers blocked Daniels with a hard shove.

The shove sent Daniels to the turf, where he landed on his left elbow that he had dislocated earlier in the season. He missed the last three games because of the injury and returned Sunday after being cleared for contact only two days earlier.

Minnesota set the tone with a touchdown on its first drive of the game. McCarthy connected with Oliver for an 18-yard score to grab a 7-0 lead.

The Vikings made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter. Mason darted left for an 8-yard rushing touchdown that capped off a 19-play, 98-yard drive that took 12:01.

A 45-yard field goal by Will Reichard made it 17-0 midway through the third quarter.

Oliver hauled in his second touchdown reception of the day in the third quarter. His 6-yard score made it 24-0.

McCarthy continued his bounce-back performance as he looked right and hit Hockenson for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 31-0 with 11:26 remaining.

Daniels was not the only Commanders player who went down with an injury.

Tight end Zach Ertz leaped to try to make a catch in the second half and was drilled in his right leg by Vikings defender Jay Ward. The 35-year-old Ertz was helped to a cart on the sideline, where he was emotional as teammates came to offer encouragement.

–Field Level Media

Emanuel Wilson, Packers stifle Vikings to begin NFC North gauntlet

Posted on | by Field Level Media

GREEN BAY — Injury replacement Emanuel Wilson ran for a career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Green Bay Packers to a 23-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North matchup Sunday.

Wilson, filling in for injured starter Josh Jacobs, was the first 100-yard rusher this season for Green Bay. Jacobs, who injured his knee last week against the Giants, was limited at practice, then declared inactive shortly before the game.

Green Bay (7-3-1) entered a half-game behind division-leading Chicago and a half-game ahead of defending division champion Detroit. The game against Minnesota was the first of five against division rivals in a seven-game span.

Minnesota (4-7) managed just 145 yards of total offense in its fifth loss over the last six games.

J.J. McCarthy, making his sixth career start, completed 12 of 19 passes for 87 yards and two interceptions with a passer rating of 34.2. McCarthy was under near-constant pressure and sacked five times.

Jordan Love completed 14 of 21 passes for 139 yards for Green Bay. Christian Watson had five catches for 49 yards.

The Packers capitalized on a muffed punt by Myles Price on the first series of the third quarter to go in front 17-6. Green Bay recovered at the Vikings 5-yard line and two plays later, Wilson scored from 1 yard out.

Brandon McManus added field goals of 30 and 40 yards to extend the lead to 23-6.

Will Reichard’s 59-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half pulled Minnesota within 10-6.

Green Bay stopped Jordan Mason short on fourth-and-1 and responded with a 68-yard drive ending in Brandon McManus’ 32-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 2:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Reichard’s 52-yard field goal on the opening series put Minnesota in front 3-0.

The Packers took a 7-3 lead on their first possession on a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson. Love set up the score with an 18-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks.

–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

Bears regroup, overcome Vikings 19-17 on late field goal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cairo Santos drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired, and the Chicago Bears escaped with a 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Teammates swarmed Santos after the kick, which marked his fourth successful field goal in five attempts for Chicago (7-3). Kyle Monangai scored the lone touchdown for the Bears.

JJ McCarthy completed 16 of 32 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Minnesota (4-6). Jordan Mason rushed for a score and Jordan Addison had a touchdown catch for the Vikings.

The Bears led comfortably for much of the game before the Vikings rallied in the fourth quarter.

Down 16-3, Minnesota started to chip away thanks in large part to a big play on special teams. Myles Price returned a punt 43 yards to the Chicago 24-yard line, and the Vikings offense capitalized on the short field two plays later with a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Mason.

The play cut the Vikings’ deficit to 16-10 with 12:33 remaining.

The Bears had to settle for a field goal attempt on their next possession, but Santos missed a 45-yard kick wide left.

Minnesota remained behind by six until its final possession. McCarthy led the team on a 10-play, 85-yard drive that culminated with a 15-yard touchdown strike to Addison down the left side. That put the Vikings ahead 17-16 with 50 seconds remaining.

McCarthy struggled for much of the game but completed his final five passes for 54 yards, including a fourth-down conversion.

The Bears responded with their own big play on special teams to stun a home crowd that thought it had witnessed a fourth-quarter comeback.

Chicago’s Devin Duvernay caught the kickoff and found an opening as he weaved from left to right. He made it 56 yards before he finally was nudged out of bounds at the Minnesota 40-yard line.

The Bears managed only 9 yards of offense in the next few plays, but that was enough to get Santos in his range. He drilled the 48-yarder as the final second ticked off the clock to lift Chicago to its third straight win.

-Field Level Media

Vikes open 21-day window for C Ryan Kelly (concussion)

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings opened the 21-day practice window Wednesday for center Ryan Kelly, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering two concussions in the first month of the season.

Kelly, 32, started the first two games this season before missing Week 3 in concussion protocol. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 4 but was back in the protocol and placed on injured reserve on Oct. 4.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection during nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2016-24), Kelly signed a two-year, $18 million deal with Minnesota in March.

Kelly has made 124 career starts since the Colts drafted him with the 18th overall pick in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Ravens continue resurgence, take down Vikings 27-19

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Lamar Jackson completed 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens finished strong to secure a 27-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Justice Hill rushed for a touchdown and Mark Andrews hauled in a touchdown pass for Baltimore (4-5), which won its third game in a row after a four-game losing streak. Derrick Henry had 20 carries for 75 yards.

JJ McCarthy completed 20 of 42 passes for 248 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Minnesota (4-5). Jalen Nailor caught five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, and Aaron Jones Sr. scored a touchdown on the ground.

The Ravens outscored the Vikings 18-9 in the second half to grab the lead and secure the win.

Tyler Loop made his fourth field goal of the game to give the Ravens a 12-10 lead with 10:19 left in the third quarter.

Vikings kick returner Myles Price fumbled the kickoff moments later, which gave the Ravens the ball on the Minnesota 23-yard line. Baltimore’s offense took advantage of the short field with a 6-yard drive that ended with Hill’s 1-yard touchdown run to make it 19-10.

Minnesota cut the deficit to 19-13 on Will Reichard’s 43-yard field goal with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The Ravens responded on the next possession. Jackson connected with Andrews for a 2-yard touchdown, and Jackson found Rashod Bateman moments later for a two-point conversion to make it 27-13 with 10:40 to play.

Late in the fourth quarter, McCarthy fired a pass to the back right corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown to Nailor. The Vikings’ two-point attempt failed, which left the score at 27-19 with 3:23 remaining.

Jones Sr. opened the scoring with the only touchdown of the first half. He scored on a 4-yard run to the left to finish a seven-play, 86-yard drive.

Loop made a 44-yard field goal to pull the Ravens within 7-3 late in the first quarter.

The Vikings responded with a 49-yard field goal by Reichard to make it 10-3 with 10:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Loop made back-to-back field goals to cut the Ravens’ deficit to 10-9 before the half.

The Vikings finished with 13 penalties, compared with five penalties for Baltimore.

-Field Level Media

Report: Vikings RB Aaron Jones expected to play vs. Ravens

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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is expected to play in Sunday’s home game versus the Baltimore Ravens despite nursing a shoulder injury, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Jones, who is listed as questionable to face the Ravens (3-5), sustained his injury in last Sunday’s 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions.

He did not participate in practice on Wednesday before turning in limited sessions in each of the next two days for the Vikings (4-4).

Jones, 30, has rushed for 139 yards on 27 carries in four games this year. He has seven catches for 79 yards and one touchdown.

He has 7,217 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground in 118 career games with the Green Bay Packers (2017-23) and Vikings.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) throws the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Vikings sign QB John Wolford with Carson Wentz out

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings signed John Wolford to the practice squad on Wednesday, one day after fellow quarterback Carson Wentz was ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Wolford adds depth for the Vikings (3-4) behind returning starter J.J. McCarthy and rookie backup Max Brosmer going into Sunday’s NFC North road game against the Detroit Lions (5-2).

Wolford, 30, made four starts (2-2 record) for the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-22. Since then, he spent time on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars but did not appear in any games.

Undrafted in 2018 out of Wake Forest, Wolford has completed 58.7% of his passes for 626 yards with a touchdown and five interceptions in seven appearances, all for the Rams.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) drops back for a pass during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Jalen Hurts throws for 3 TDs, perfect rating as Eagles outlast Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jalen Hurts tossed three touchdowns, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both had big games and the Philadelphia Eagles held off the Minnesota Vikings for a 28-22 victory on Sunday in Minneapolis.

The Eagles (5-2) ended a two-game skid as Hurts racked up a season-high 326 yards on 19-of-23 passing for a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Brown caught four passes for 121 yards and two TDs and Smith set a career high with 183 yards and a score.

Losing to the quarterback who replaced him in Philadelphia in 2020, Carson Wentz threw for 313 yards but had two interceptions as the Vikings (3-3) repeatedly stalled in the red zone. Will Reichard kicked five field goals for Minnesota and Jordan Addison caught nine passes for 128 yards.

After Reichard’s 35-yarder cut the Eagles’ lead to two with 10:06 left, Hurts’ 26-yard TD to Brown made it 28-19 with 6:35 to play.

With fourth-and-goal at the 11 and 1:57 left, the Vikings opted for a 29-yard Reichard field goal to make it 28-22 but they never regained possession.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni improved to 9-0 against NFC North teams, including playoffs, since taking over in 2021.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 8:01 off the clock, Hurts lofted a 37-yard TD to Brown on fourth down.

Minnesota got to the red zone before a third-down snap sailed over Wentz’s head. Reichard salvaged the drive with a 59-yard field goal.

Wentz was intercepted twice in the second quarter, with Jalyx Hunt returning the first one 42 yards for a TD and a 14-3 lead.

Justin Jefferson’s 40-yard grab put the Vikings back in the red zone, where a penalty nullified a touchdown and Reichard hit a 34-yarder to make it 14-6.

Both sides scored on their first drives of the second half. Minnesota stalled inside the red zone again and settled for Reichard’s 28-yard field goal. Two plays later, Smith scored the longest TD of his career on a 79-yard pass from Hurts for a 21-9 lead.

Minnesota finally found paydirt on its fourth trip to the red zone on Jordan Mason’s 1-yard run to pull within 21-16 with 3:38 left in the third.

–Field Level Media