Tag: Vikings

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 TJ Hockenson might not be ready for Week 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson provided an update on his surgically repaired right knee Friday, indicating he’s made good progress but has a long way to go.

Hockenson, the eighth overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 2019, suffered ACL and MCL damage in a Week 16 loss to Detroit and had surgery delayed until Jan. 29 because of swelling.

“They (the team) haven’t really put a timeline on it,” Hockenson said this week via NFL Media. “We’re just kinda taking it day by day, week by week. There’s just so many variables that you can go through in this process.

“I’m doing really good right now. We’re attacking each process. I’m attacking each one and it’s been awesome. The progression has been incredible.”

NFL.com speculated Hockenson might miss the season’s first few weeks but the two-time Pro Bowler might be ready to take the team flight to London for a Week 5 matchup with the New York Jets.

Traded to Minnesota by the Lions during the 2022 season, Hockenson had 60 catches, three of them touchdowns, for 519 yards in those 10 games with the Vikings.

He became a major component of the Minnesota offense last season, with 95 receptions for 960 yards, scoring five touchdowns in 15 games before his season was cut short.

Hockenson’s four-year, $66 million contract runs through 2027.

The team signed veteran tight end Robert Tonyan on Thursday.

-Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; London United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) walks off the field after an NFL International Series game against the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL International Series: Jaguars play 2, No. 1 pick in London

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Sao Paolo to London to Munich, the NFL International Series dots the world map with games in three countries featuring two appearances by the Jacksonville Jaguars and an England visit for No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.

The NFL released the international portion of its schedule Wednesday morning with the full 2024 schedule due out later in the day.

Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets play the Minnesota Vikings in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Oct. 6, a Week 5 matchup that marks Rodgers’ second career NFL game overseas.

One week later, the Jaguars and Bears are at the same location in Jacksonville’s 12th international game. The Bears chose Williams at the top of the 2024 draft to pilot the rebuilt offense with weapons aplenty, including new additions Keenan Allen (via trade from the Los Angeles Chargers) and No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze at wide receiver.

Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 pick in 2021, is 3-1 in international games. He’ll be packing for two weeks because the team extends its England visit through Week 6 to play the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20. It could be another duel with a rookie quarterback. The Patriots are under new management with Jerod Mayo at head coach and drafted quarterback Drake Maye third overall in April.

Germany is hot to the final international series game of the season on Nov. 10 pitting the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.

A Friday night Week 1 affair in South America was confirmed by the league weeks earlier with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles meeting in Corinthians Arena in Brazil on Sept. 6.

–Field Level Media

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy misses the trophy to celebrate 34-13 win over Washington at the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

Vikings make first trade of draft to take QB J.J. McCarthy

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Rather than wait one more pick and risk another team jumping them in the order, the Minnesota Vikings moved up from No. 11 to No. 10 in the NFL draft to take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Thursday night in Detroit.

The Vikings made the first trade of the draft by swapping spots with the New York Jets. Minnesota sent New York a fourth-rounder (No. 129 overall) and a fifth-rounder (No. 157) while receiving a sixth-rounder (No. 203) from the Jets in the deal.

McCarthy was the fifth quarterback off the board, following Caleb Williams (Chicago), Jayden Daniels (Washington), Drake Maye (New England) and Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta) at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 8. Moments later, the Denver Broncos took Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12 for an unprecedented glut of QBs in the first 12 picks.

McCarthy helped guide Michigan to a national championship in 2023 by passing for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He added three touchdowns on the ground.

The Vikings bade farewell to Kirk Cousins this offseason and entered the draft with Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall on the QB depth chart.

With the 11th pick, the Jets drafted Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips walks on the field before a game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings suspend OC Wes Phillips for 3 weeks

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The Minnesota Vikings suspended offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for three weeks following the legal resolution of his December 2023 traffic stop in Minneapolis.

The suspension began on Tuesday and he can return to work on April 23. He will miss the first week of the offseason strength and conditioning program that begins on April 14.

Phillips, 45, was stopped by police on Dec. 8 and charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence.

Police said he showed signs of impairment and he subsequently registered a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent. The limit in Minnesota is 0.08 percent. He was booked in Hennepin County jail and released a few hours later after posting $300 bond.

On Feb. 15, Phillips pleaded guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor careless driving and paid $378 in fines and court costs. He also was assigned eight hours of community service.

Phillips is heading into his third season as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. He is the son of former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Wes Phillips has coached in the NFL since 2007 with the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington franchise, Los Angeles Rams and Vikings.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) misses a pass in the end zone against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson among stars of Netflix’s ‘Receiver’

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Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson and three other big-name pass catchers are starring in Netflix’s docuseries called “Receiver,” the streaming service announced Tuesday.

The star wideouts of the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, respectively, will be joined by the San Francisco 49ers duo of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle as well as Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The eight-episode series is scheduled to start in the summer.

“Receiver” is a continuation of Netflix’s relationship with the NFL that first began with “Quarterback” in 2023. The production is a joint endeavor with NFL Films, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Patrick Mahomes’ 2PM Productions.

“The natural progression is from a pass to a catch, so we’re excited to dive into the ‘Receiver’ world after the success of our ‘Quarterback’ series,” Netflix executive Gabe Spitzer said. “NFL Films, Omaha Productions and 2PM Productions have delivered again in finding unique and dynamic athletes who will further highlight the drama of this sport on and off the field.”

Manning said he was “excited” to give fans a closer look at some of the best receivers in the NFL.

“As we did with ‘Quarterback,’ we look forward to telling the stories of five incredible receivers, each with their unique personality, skillset and motivation for what drives them to be the best.”

–Field Level Media

Browns quarterback Josh Dobbs warms up before playing the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 in Cleveland.

Reports: 49ers sign QB Joshua Dobbs to 1-year deal

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The San Francisco 49ers have a new backup quarterback, signing veteran journeyman Joshua Dobbs on Monday.

Dobbs and the Niners agreed to a one-year contract for $2.25 million with another $750,000 in playing-time incentives, NFL Network and ESPN reported.

Dobbs is projected to be the No. 2 behind Brock Purdy after Sam Darnold left for the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.

Dobbs, 29, is coming off a unique season that saw him traded twice and make more starts than he ever had in his NFL career.

The Cleveland Browns dealt Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals at the end of training camp while the latter was still waiting on Kyler Murray to return from injury. Dobbs started eight games there, going 1-7, before the Vikings acquired him before the trade deadline after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles.

Dobbs subbed in for an injured Jaren Hall in his first game with Minnesota and guided the Vikings to a 31-28 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons. He ended up being the starter for four additional games, going 2-2.

Across those 13 games (12 starts), Dobbs threw for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He had two starts at the end of the 2022 season for the Tennessee Titans, the first two of his career.

–Field Level Media

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy celebrates after the 34-13 win over Washington to win the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

Vikings acquire No. 23 overall pick from Texans

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Minnesota added another first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, acquiring the 23rd overall pick from the Houston Texans on Friday, according to multiple reports.

The trade gives the Vikings a pair of first-rounders with their own selection at No. 11 and No. 23. They gave up their 2024 (No. 42 overall) and 2025 second-round picks along with their sixth-round pick (188th) in 2024.

Houston also sends a seventh-round pick in 2024 — No. 232 overall — to the Vikings.

The Vikings previously traded their 2024 second-round pick to the Detroit Lions to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Reports indicate the Vikings are weighing a move up in the draft. Minnesota hasn’t drafted in the top 10 since 2014, when they selected linebacker Anthony Barr. They last drafted a quarterback in the first round in 2011, using the 12th overall pick on Christian Ponder.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins left on the first day of free agency for a deal too rich for Minnesota’s liking — four years, $180 million — prompting the Vikings to sign 26-year-old Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal. He has 56 career starts with three teams since being drafted by the New York Jets as the No. 3 overall pick in 2018.

“I’m not going to call him a bridge quarterback, but he’s a quarterback that’s on our roster under contract for a year,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said of Darnold. “Ultimately at the end of the day, the position is about how do you run Kevin’s offense? How do you overcome when the play is not there? There’s different skill sets that go into the position. That’s how we evaluate it. The contract itself is a series of options to stay or go.”

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said he first met Darnold when he was coaching a 7-on-7 camp, and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is also familiar with Darnold.

O’Connell didn’t show his hand on the larger plan at quarterback or vision for the pecking order at a position that was problematic without Cousins in 2023.

“The most important thing is that alignment and the understanding that our plan’s in place. Kwesi’s used the word contingency plans, but those are all discussions and paths and avenues we can take at a very, very important position,” O’Connell said. “In the end, as much as I would’ve maybe liked to have Kirk here, the right thing moving forward for our team is where we are today.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins delivers video goodbye to Minnesota

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Quarterback Kirk Cousins recorded a video farewell to Minnesota after officially signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday afternoon.

Cousins agreed to the contract on Monday, choosing Atlanta’s offer — with a reported guarantee of $100 million for the 35-year-old coming back from a torn right Achilles — over a similar deal from the Vikings.

“Today’s a little bit of a bittersweet day for me. I’m in Atlanta now and a little later today I’m going to be signing a contract with the Falcons to officialize the agreement we made,” Cousins said. “But that also means I’ve got to say goodbye to Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings. That’s what makes today tough.”

Cousins offered direct thanks to “tremendous teammates, coaches, support staff, management and ownership of the Minnesota Vikings for the way they’ve come along side me and supported me. … I had great people around me. I don’t take that for granted. It was a privilege to be quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’d also just like to say thank you to the people in Minnesota, the people in the Twin Cities and the people we did life with on a daily basis.”

Cousins jumps into the QB1 role with the Falcons, who hired Raheem Morris as head coach to run a form of the same offense the Vikings ran the past two seasons under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The Vikings agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Sam Darnold to fill the spot Cousins vacated.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Vikings remake backfield, to add QB Sam Darnold, RB Aaron Jones

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Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract and bolstered the backfield with another addition as the franchise moves on from quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Former Packers running back Aaron Jones, released Monday, agreed to a $7 million contract for 2024 with Green Bay’s NFC North rival, according to multiple reports.

ESPN and NFL Network first reported details of the Darnold deal, which can become official when the league year begins Wednesday.

Cousins agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons within hours of the start of the free agency negotiating period on Monday. Cousins, who turns 36 in August, and the Vikings discussed his return but the price range escalated beyond the franchise’s comfort zone.

Jones and the Packers split following the pending signing of free agent running back Josh Jacobs. The former Raiders first-round pick is set to sign a reported four-year, $48 million deal to replace Jones in Green Bay.

Keeping both would’ve been too expensive and Jones took a paycut to stay with the Packers before the 2023 season.

With 5,940 rushing yards, Jones ranks third in team history, but his next employer will be visiting Lambeau Field as a guest.

“As good of a player as Aaron is on the field, he is an even better person,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “When I arrived in Green Bay as a first-time head coach, he was instrumental in establishing our winning culture and always served as the greatest example of what it meant to be a Packer. Aaron will always be one of the best players I had the opportunity to coach. He, his son, Junior, his mom, Vurgess, and his family will be missed.”

Jones’ cap number for 2024 would’ve been $17,575,824 with Green Bay after missing six games due to injuries last season.

The Vikings released running back Alexander Mattison before free agency began. He started the season as the No. 1 running back but was ineffective, ceding the spot to Ty Chandler. Mattison rushed for a career-best 700 yards in 2023.

In Darnold, the Vikings would add an experienced starter looking to prove he’s deserving of that role again after a one-year stint as Brock Purdy’s backup with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold, drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in 2018, will be playing for a fourth NFL team in five seasons. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Darnold, 26, is relatively young for a seventh-year pro. He’s one year and one day older than Steelers 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett, for example, and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU — a likely first-round pick in 2024 — will be 24 years old in December.

Darnold worked under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. Shanahan was Cousins’ initial offensive coordinator in the NFL and runs a derivative of the same offense Minnesota employs under Kevin O’Connell, whose coaching roots trace to Shanahan comrade Sean McVay.

Cousins was largely a backup for three seasons in Washington before he became a starter in his fourth season. He spent the past six seasons with the Vikings, throwing for more than 4,200 yards four times with 26-plus touchdowns in each of his five full seasons.

Cousins was tied for the NFL lead with 18 touchdown passes when he suffered a ruptured right Achilles eight weeks into the 2023 season.

Minnesota acquired journeyman Joshua Dobbs days later to beat the NFL trade deadline and went through a musical chairs rotation at quarterback without the reliable Cousins at the helm, trying Nick Mullens and 2023 fifth-round pick Jaren Hall when Dobbs faltered after leading a stirring win over the Falcons.

Darnold started the Week 18 regular-season finale in Purdy’s place with the 49ers’ playoff position locked up, completing 16 of 26 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in a 21-20 loss to the Rams.

The Vikings are expected to be in the market for a quarterback in the draft and have the No. 11 overall pick.

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Agent congratulates QB Kirk Cousins on 4-year deal with Falcons

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Quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, his agent announced on X on Monday afternoon.

Cousins joins a third team in his career, leaving the Minnesota Vikings to join Atlanta while recovering from a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season.

Agent Mike McCartney congratulated Cousins for “agreeing to a 4-year deal” with the Falcons. ESPN reported it was a four-year, $180 million deal — $45 million per season — with $100 million guaranteed.

Cousins will be 36 before playing his next regular-season snap. A fourth-round pick in 2012, he was tied for the NFL lead with 18 touchdown passes when he suffered the Achilles injury eight weeks into the 2023 season.

The Vikings struggled without Cousins last season and are expected to add at least one quarterback.

Cousins is 1-3 all-time in the postseason. He has 270 touchdown passes and 110 interceptions in his career.

He reunites with Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris, who was on the Washington staff during Cousins’ first three NFL seasons from 2012-14.

The Falcons failed to find a suitable starter since shedding Matt Ryan’s massive salary off the books and went 7-10 three consecutive seasons under since-fired coach Arthur Smith.

Ryan was 36 in 2022 when the Falcons traded him to the Indianapolis Colts.

–Field Level Media