Tag: Minnesota Vikings

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is injured against the Houston Texans in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Reports: Vikings await MRI on QB Sam Darnold (knee)

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold will have an MRI on his left knee Monday, according to multiple reports.

Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 34-7 win against the Houston Texans, former Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter was flagged for roughing the passer after wrapping up Darnold’s legs.

Darnold left the field under his own power and appeared to be in pain on the sidelines before returning to the game after sitting out just one snap, briefly replaced by Nick Mullens.

“It’s good, and that’s as much as I’m gonna say about that,” Darnold told Pro Football Talk about the status of his knee on Sunday night.

Darnold, 27, finished with 181 yards and four touchdown passes as the Vikings improved to 3-0 with the victory in Minneapolis.

In his first season with Minnesota, the former No. 3 overall draft pick has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 657 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Vikings play the NFC North rival Packers (2-1) in Green Bay on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (24) carries the ball against New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (obscured right) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

With Christian McCaffrey’s status uncertain, 49ers battle Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Christian McCaffrey is optimistic that he will make his season debut when the San Francisco 49ers play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Then again, McCaffrey suggested the same things a week ago before he sat out the 49ers’ season opener because of a calf injury and Achilles tendinitis.

“My mindset is I’m going to play no matter what I’m going through on Wednesday or Thursday in practice,” McCaffrey said. “And on the game day, you’ve got to make a decision. … My mentality is I’m playing this week.”

San Francisco (1-0) has a backup plan just in case. The 49ers turned to second-string running back Jordan Mason on Monday, and he had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown to lead the team to a 32-19 win over the visiting New York Jets.

Meanwhile, Minnesota (1-0) is looking to play the role of spoiler in its home opener. The Vikings are coming off a decisive 28-6 win over the New York Giants in Week 1 that marked the team debut for Sam Darnold at quarterback.

Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to register a 113.2 passer rating. He now will go up against the 49ers, with whom he played last season as a backup to starter Brock Purdy.

A season on the sidelines was a blessing in disguise, Darnold said.

“Being able to prepare and be ready like I was the starter, but just sit back and watch everything that was going on in the organization, how things were run there, (really helped),” Darnold said. “I really did learn a ton from Brock and the way he prepared, his quiet confidence that he had every single day.

“He’s not the rah-rah guy, not going to lead the team in breakdowns at the end of the year, but he’s just as steady as they come.”

Purdy proved steady last week as he completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards. He also had one rush for 11 yards in the victory.

Both teams’ defenses will look to repeat impressive performances in Week 2.

San Francisco held the Jets to 266 total yards and spoiled the opener for Aaron Rodgers, who passed for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Leonard Floyd recorded a sack for San Francisco.

The Vikings also shined in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system. Free-agent acquisition Andrew Van Ginkel had an interception return for a touchdown, and veteran safety Harrison Smith baited Daniel Jones into another interception.

Minnesota racked up five sacks, including a pair from linebacker Patrick Jones II. Van Ginkel also notched a sack, as did rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner.

San Francisco wideout Brandon Aiyuk is hoping for better production in his second game back from a long delay over a contract dispute. Aiyuk caught two passes for 28 yards in Week 1 but said he felt like he was in good game shape.

“It felt good,” Aiyuk said. “(I felt) a little sore. (I was) solid though.”

Vikings wideout Jordan Addison did not take part in practice to start the week because of an ankle injury that he sustained in Week 1. Addison had three catches for 35 yards before he left the game in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Sam Darnold shines in Vikings debut as Giants fall flat

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Sam Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a 28-6 season-opening win over the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J.

Aaron Jones had 14 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota. Justin Jefferson added four catches for 59 yards and a score.

Daniel Jones completed 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards and two interceptions for New York. Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers caught five passes for 66 yards in his NFL debut.

The Vikings outgained the Giants 312-240.

New York fans booed Jones and his teammates after turnovers and stalled drives in the second half. Jones finished with a 44.3 passer rating, compared with Darnold’s 113.2.

The Giants opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal by Graham Gano midway through the first quarter.

Minnesota pulled in front 7-3 with 3:56 left in the first quarter. Jones scampered left for a 3-yard touchdown run in his first game since joining the rival Vikings after a seven-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers.

Jefferson hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass to increase the Vikings’ lead to 14-3 with 6:58 to go in the first half, capping an 11-play, 99-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. It marked the first score for the star wideout since he signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension in the offseason.

Minnesota made it 21-3 on the opening drive of the second half. Darnold connected with Jalen Nailor for a 21-yard touchdown.

Gano drilled a 50-yard field goal to cut the Giants’ deficit to 21-6 midway through the third.

The Vikings’ defense got on the scoreboard with 4:26 remaining in the third. Andrew Van Ginkel picked off a pass by Jones and returned it 10 yards into the end zone to make it 28-6.

Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison left the game in the third because of an ankle injury and did not return. He finished with three catches for 35 yards, all on the drive that led to Jefferson’s TD.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan (18) reacts after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings sign veteran TE Robert Tonyan

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The Minnesota Vikings announced the signing of veteran tight end Robert Tonyan on Thursday.

Tonyan, 30, caught 11 passes for 112 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (six starts) for the Chicago Bears in 2023.

He previously played for the Green Bay Packers (2018-22) and spent time with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2017, giving him a sweep of the NFC North by joining the Vikings.

Tonyan has 148 career catches for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns in 85 games (24 starts). His 11 touchdown grabs in 2020 tied for fifth in the NFL.

Minnesota waived undrafted rookie linebacker Donovan Manuel to make room for Tonyan on the 90-man roster.

He joins a tight ends room that includes two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, Trey Knox and Sammis Reyes.

–Field Level Media

January 1, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (90) reacts after San Francisco 49ers place kicker Robbie Gould (9) misses a field goal during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Vikings signing DT Jerry Tillery

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The Minnesota Vikings are signing defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to a one-year, $3.75 million deal, NFL Network reported Thursday.

The Las Vegas Raiders released the former first-round pick with the start of the new league year on Wednesday.

Tillery, 27, tallied two sacks and 31 tackles in 17 games (six starts) for the Raiders in 2023.

He has 12.5 sacks, 41 quarterback hits and 147 tackles in 79 games (39 starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers (2019-22) and Raiders. The Chargers selected him with the 28th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) looks on before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings release former starting RB Alexander Mattison

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings on Monday released running back Alexander Mattison, who had started the first 13 games last season before losing that role to Ty Chandler in December.

Mattison, 25, signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Vikings last spring. He was due to carry a $4.6 million cap hit in 2024.

He rushed for 700 yards on 180 carries for 3.9 yards per attempt but failed to run for a touchdown. He caught 30 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

He was a third-round draft pick by the team in 2019 out of Boise State, and after four seasons as a sidekick and occasional substitute for Dalvin Cook, Mattison was given the starting job in 2023 after Cook was released.

In 75 games (19 starts) over five seasons with the Vikings, Mattison rushed 584 times for 2,370 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added 100 catches for 718 yards and six scores.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson, DL D.J. Wonnum out for season

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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with both ACL and MCL injuries.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Hockenson’s status Tuesday, as well as a season-ending injury to edge rusher D.J. Wonnum, who tore a quadriceps muscle. Both will have surgery.

Hockenson, 26, took a direct hit to his right knee in the third quarter after catching a pass in Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions and did not return.

In his first full season with the Vikings, Hockenson caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts).

After playing his first 3 1/2 seasons with Lions (2019-22), Hockenson has 341 career receptions for 3,547 yards and 23 TDs in 72 games (60 starts). He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2020 and 2022 seasons.

Wonnum, 26, departed in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss. He had 62 tackles and eight sacks in 15 games (14 starts) this season. In 62 games (31 starts) over four seasons with Minnesota, he has 171 tackles and 23 sacks.

Wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) was ruled day-to-day after he was injured in the second quarter against the Lions. Addison has 63 receptions and nine touchdowns in 15 games (12 starts) of his rookie season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Vikings LB D.J. Wonnum (torn quad) out for season

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Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum will miss the rest of the season with a partially torn quad, NFL Network reported Monday.

Wonnum left Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions after sustaining the non-contact injury to his left leg while he was attempting to rush the passer in the fourth quarter.

The 26-year-old veteran is having his best season since the Vikings drafted him in the fourth round in 2020, posting a career high in tackles (62) in 15 games (14 starts). His eight sacks tie his career high. He returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown in a Week 4 win at Carolina.

Wonnum has recorded 23 sacks, 49 quarterback hits, 11 passes defensed and 171 tackles in 62 games (31 starts).

The Vikings (7-8) will have to rely on Pat Jones II and perhaps rookie Andre Carter II for their two remaining games against the visiting Green Bay Packers (Sunday) and the host Detroit Lions (Jan. 7).

–Field Level Media