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Irv Smith Irv Smith On track for camp
Tue, Apr 19, 2022, 1:57 PM
Smith (knee) didn't run routes at Tuesday's offseason practice, but he expects to be a full participant in training camp this summer, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Smith is limited in his on-field work, three weeks after Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said the team would "be smart" about the tight end's spring workload. Smith missed the entire 2021 campaign with a meniscus injury, but it sounds like he's a big part of the plan for 2022 under a new coaching staff, especially after fellow tight end Tyler Conklin signed with the Jets earlier this offseason. O'Connell remained optimistic Tuesday, noting that Smith remains "right on schedule" in the rehab process, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. |
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Irv Smith Irv Smith Won't be rushed back
Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 9:07 AM
Coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday that the Vikings are "going to be smart" with Smith (knee) during spring practices, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Smith may not handle many on-field reps during spring activities, but O'Connell said "there's no reason why he can't hit the ground running from a mental perspective." After missing the entire 2021 season due to a meniscus injury, for which he had to undergo surgery, Smith appears primed to headline Minnesota's tight end room for the 2022 campaign, as long as he can indeed return to full health. With Tyler Conklin having moved on to the Jets, only depth options Johnny Mundt (knee), Ben Ellefson and Zach Davidson can currently offer competition for the top TE gig, which may indicate confidence from the Vikings regarding Smith's recovery trajectory. |
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Sean Mannion Sean Mannion Back in Minnesota
Tue, Mar 22, 2022, 9:54 AM
The Vikings re-signed Mannion on Tuesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Analysis: Mannion, who started one game for the Vikings last season, now returns to the team to provide competition for the backup gig behind Kirk Cousins. That said, 2021 third-round pick Kellen Mond would appear the likeliest candidate to hold the No. 2 role Week 1, even if no more names are added to the quarterback room. |
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Adam Thielen Adam Thielen Agrees to restructure deal
Fri, Mar 18, 2022, 9:29 AM
Thielen (ankle) is slated to restructure his contract with the Vikings, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Thielen's restructure is expected to lower his 2022 cap hit, possibly by converting a portion of his salary to a signing bonus. The veteran wideout is recovering from ankle surgery that he underwent in late December, but he is expected to be ready for spring workouts. By all accounts, Thielen is primed to play out his age-32 season in Minnesota as the No. 2 wideout alongside Justin Jefferson, and his restructured deal could make it easier for the team to maneuver in free agency. |
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Johnny Mundt Johnny Mundt Signs with Vikings
Wed, Mar 16, 2022, 4:16 PM
Mundt signed a contract with the Vikings on Wednesday.
Analysis: Mundt appeared in six games with the Rams in 2021 and played a minimal role, hauling in his lone target for nine yards. He sustained a torn ACL in mid-October but will compete for a depth role with the Vikings when healthy. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Agrees to one-year extension
Sun, Mar 13, 2022, 6:44 PM
Cousins signed a one-year, $35 million contract extension with the Vikings on Sunday.
Analysis: Cousins drew some trade interest during the offseason as several other veteran quarterbacks were dealt recently, but he'll remain under contract with Minnesota through the 2023 season on a deal that includes a no-trade clause. His $35 million salary is fully guaranteed and will free up nearly $14 million in cap room for the Vikings heading into free agency. The 33-year-old completed 372 of 561 passes for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing 29 times for 115 yards and a touchdown during the 2021 campaign, and he drew praise from new head coach Kevin O'Connell in February. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Gets vote of confidence from new HC
Thu, Feb 17, 2022, 4:36 PM
New Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that he anticipates that Cousins will be a part of the team's plans in 2022, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Analysis: Cousins is entering the final year of his contract with the Vikings and has been linked to trade rumors early in the offseason, in part because of his $45 million cap hit that he carries in 2022. However, he's been a consistent player under center across his first four seasons in Minnesota, as he's passed for at least 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in three of those four years while throwing no more than 13 interceptions in any season. O'Connell previously worked with Cousins when he was the quarterbacks coach in Washington during the 2017 campaign, and the offensive-minded coach plans to call plays for the first time to begin his tenure with the Vikings. |
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Tyler Conklin Tyler Conklin Minimal role in season finale
Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:40 PM
Conklin caught two of four targets for six yards during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: With Irv Smith (knee) lost for the year before the season began, Conklin came into 2021 with a bigger role than expected. He fared admirably, notching multiple catches in all but one game and finished the 2021 campaign with 61 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns -- all career highs. Conklin is set to be a free agent this offseason, so he may draw some interest from around the league after his career year, which in turn would make it difficult for the Vikings to bring him back. |
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Dede Westbrook Dede Westbrook Plays just five snaps in finale
Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:07 PM
Westbrook played five offensive snaps but didn't record any counting stats during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: Westbrook finished the 2021 campaign with 10 catches for 68 yards. However, he did have some solid contributions as the primary punt returner, notching at least 20 return yards in four games. Regardless, he's set to be a free agent this offseason and isn't likely to return to the Vikings. |
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K.J. Osborn K.J. Osborn Four targets in Week 18
Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 12:22 PM
Osborn caught one of four targets for 21 yards and one score during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: Osborn finished the 2021 campaign with 50 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. He started the season off hot with 12 receptions for 167 yards through the first two weeks, but he took a backseat as Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen demanded the majority of Kirk Cousins' attention. However, after Thielen went down with a high-ankle sprain in Week 13, Osborn once again stepped up his game. Over the last six contests of the year, Osborn totaled 19 catches for 290 yards and five touchdowns -- including one in each of the Vikings' last three games. |
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Sean Mannion Sean Mannion Draws one start in 2021
Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 12:10 PM
Mannion started his only appearance for the Vikings during the 2021 campaign.
Analysis: With Kirk Cousins on the COVID-19 list, Mannion drew the start -- his only appearance of the season -- for the Vikings in Week 17. He completed 22 of his 36 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown during the 37-10 loss to the Packers. He also added two rushing attempts for 14 yards. The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent this offseason, and rookie third-round pick Kellen Mond is expected to step into the primary backup role to Kirk Cousins next year, so it's unlikely that Mannion re-signs with the Vikings. |
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Kene Nwangwu Kene Nwangwu One touch in season finale
Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 12:00 PM
Nwangwu ran one time for four yards during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: With Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison demanding the majority of touches, Nwangwu struggled to find consistent work out of Minnesota's backfield. He finished the 2021 campaign with 13 rushes for 61 yards and four catches for nine yards. However, he did make a big impact on special teams and was the only player in the NFL this season to record multiple kick returns for touchdowns. The Vikings have Cook, Mattison and Nwangwu all under contract for 2022, so barring drastic change, their backfield is expected to look the same next year. |
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Alexander Mattison Alexander Mattison Takes back seat in season finale
Mon, Jan 17, 2022, 4:41 PM
Mattison ran five times for 18 yards and caught his only target for three yards during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: With Dalvin Cook healthy, Mattison once again took a back seat in Week 18. He finished the 2021 campaign with 134 rushing attempts for 491 yards and three touchdowns while adding 32 receptions for 228 yards and one score through the air. However, the majority of that production came when Cook was sidelined. In four games as the primary running back, Mattison totaled 356 rushing yards, 162 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The 2019 third-round pick is under contract for the 2022 season, so he'll likely garner a similar backup role to Dalvin Cook again next year. |
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Chris Herndon Chris Herndon Taken off COVID list
Fri, Jan 14, 2022, 4:09 PM
The Vikings activated Herndon (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
Analysis: Herndon is healthy for the offseason after missing Week 18. He played in each of Minnesota's first 16 games in 2021, but was targeted only five times while averaging 11.5 snaps per contest. Herndon turns 26 in February, and 60 percent of his career receiving yards (502 of 836) came during his 2018 rookie campaign. He'll become an unrestricted free agent in March if he doesn't re-sign with Minnesota first. |
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Adam Thielen Adam Thielen Expects to be ready for spring
Tue, Jan 11, 2022, 2:53 PM
Thielen expects to be ready for spring workouts after Dec. 28 ankle surgery, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "It's a pretty easy recovery, a few more weeks here and I should be feeling back to normal," he said.
Analysis: Thielen missed two games with an ankle injury and returned in Week 16, but hurt the ankle again which led to surgery and caused him to miss the final two games. He finished the season with 67 receptions for 726 yards and ten touchdowns. While he had double-digit touchdowns for a second consecutive season, he had a career low 10.8 yards per reception. Signed through 2024 and with a $16 million cap hit for 2022, Thielen, 31, looks set to remain with the Vikings even if a new GM decides to overhaul the roster and go with younger players. |
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Trishton Jackson Trishton Jackson Gets futures deal
Mon, Jan 10, 2022, 8:33 PM
Jackson was signed to a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on Monday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Analysis: Jackson joined the Vikings' practice squad after being let go by the Rams during training camp. The Syracuse product will work to stick with the Vikings next season and earn an active roster spot. |
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Ihmir Smith-Marsette Ihmir Smith-Marsette Pair of long receptions
Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 11:09 PM
Smith-Marsette recorded three catches on three targets for 103 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: Smith-Marsette has had the chance for more consistent snaps in the last few games with Adam Thielen (ankle) sidelined. He did not record a target or reception in Week 17, but exploded for huge gains of 44, 40 and 19 yards to record the first 100-yard game of his career in Sunday's win. Even with the explosive effort, Smith-Marsette figures to enter the 2022 campaign buried on the wide receiver depth chart behind at least Justin Jefferson, Thielen and K.J. Osborn. |
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Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins Three touchdowns in return
Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 6:59 PM
Cousins completed 14 of 22 passes for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: Cousins returned from a one-game absence while on the reserve/COVID-19 list to end the season on a strong note. He led an impressive comeback, tossing three lengthy touchdowns that went for 44, 45 and 21 yards to three different receivers. Those explosive plays helped Cousins overcome a lack of volume, as his 22 pass attempts were his fewest on the campaign. Though Cousins is highly scrutinized, he's now reached 30 passing touchdowns and 4,000 passing yards in three of his last four seasons. |
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Justin Jefferson Justin Jefferson Another 100-yard effort
Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 5:05 PM
Jefferson recorded five receptions on seven targets for 107 yards in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: The Vikings possessed the ball for only 23 minutes in the game, which limited volume for all of their skill-position players. Even so, Jefferson tore through the Bears' secondary to record big gains of 45, 26 and 25 yards -- the first of which went for his 10th touchdown of the season. Jefferson concluded the campaign with 1,616 receiving yards on 110 receptions, solidifying his status as one of the top receivers in the league. |
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Dalvin Cook Dalvin Cook Light workload in finale
Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 4:49 PM
Cook rushed the ball 14 times for 79 yards in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Bears. He added one reception for three yards.
Analysis: Cook bounced back from a dismal Week 17 performance to put up a passable line to close the season. He ripped off a gain of 25 yards early in the third quarter to account for nearly one-third of his total yardage, but he was held to single-digit gains otherwise. Despite ultimately winning by a comfortable margin, the Vikings played from behind for the the first three quarters, limiting Cook to under 20 carries for the second consecutive game. Between time on the reserve/COVID-19 list as well as a shoulder injury, Cook was able to suit up in only 13 contests this season. Even so, he posted 1,159 rushing yards and 224 yards as a receiver while finding the end zone six times. |
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