Tag: Minnesota Vikings

Sep 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (7) runs after the catch against the Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Chargers survive cliff-hanger with Vikings on end zone pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. made a game-saving interception in the end zone with seven seconds to go, and the Los Angeles Chargers escaped with a 28-24 win over the host Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Justin Herbert completed 40 of 47 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns for Los Angeles (1-2). Keenan Allen caught a career-high 18 passes for 215 yards, and he threw a touchdown pass on a trick play to fellow wideout Mike Williams.

Kirk Cousins completed 32 of 50 passes for 367 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for Minnesota (0-3). Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown, and Josh Oliver and K.J. Osborn caught one touchdown apiece.

The Chargers led 28-24 with less than two minutes remaining when they opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 24-yard line. Joshua Kelley took the handoff but he was stuffed on a run up the middle to give the Vikings a chance to win.

Minnesota marched to the Chargers’ 6-yard line in the final seconds. Cousins tried to fire a pass to T.J. Hockenson, but the ball was deflected and Murray came down with it in the end zone.

Allen surpassed his previous career high of 16 catches, which he recorded in 2020. He also moved into No. 2 on the franchise all-time list with 9,689 receiving yards, surpassing Lance Alworth (9,584) and trailing only Antonio Gates (11,841).

Los Angeles led 14-10 at the half thanks to two touchdown passes from Herbert to Donald Parham Jr.

The Chargers moved ahead 21-10 when Herbert zipped a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Allen, who planted his feet and lobbed a deep ball to a wide-open Williams for a 49-yard score.

Minnesota fought back to grab a 24-21 lead with 11:20 remaining. Jefferson caught a pass across the middle, evaded a would-be tackler and outraced the Chargers’ secondary for a 52-yard touchdown.

The Chargers responded with a touchdown on the next drive to go ahead 28-24. Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans nearly intercepted Herbert, but the ball bounced off his hands and into the arms of Joshua Palmer for a 30-yard touchdown.

The Chargers might have sustained an important loss despite winning the game. Williams injured his left knee late in the third quarter and needed to be carted toward the locker room. He finished with seven catches for 121 yards and a score.

–Field Level Media

Jun 14, 2023; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers (3) during minicamp at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

RB Cam Akers passes physical, trade to Vikings official

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Running back Cam Akers passed his physical Thursday, making his trade to the Minnesota Vikings official.

The Los Angeles Rams moved Akers to the Vikings on Wednesday in exchange for a swap of 2026 draft picks. The Rams gave up a conditional seventh-round pick and will acquire a conditional Vikings’ sixth-round selection.

To make room on the Vikings’ active roster, wide receiver Jalen Nailor was placed on injured reserve with hamstring discomfort.

Akers lands on a Vikings team that is still coping with the offseason loss of Dalvin Cook. He is expected to be active for Sunday’s home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, joining running backs Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin. Mattison has rushed for 62 yards in two starts.

Akers, 24, requested a trade last season after being dissatisfied with his role with Los Angeles. He returned to the team after the Rams failed to find a suitable trade partner.

Akers started in Week 1 for the Rams, rushing for 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a win at Seattle. But he was a healthy inactive last week against the San Francisco 49ers.

He has 360 carries for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 30 career games (15 starts) since being selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State.

Nailor, 24, has played primarily on special teams in two games this season. He had nine receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown as a rookie with the Vikings last season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Vikings assistant Mike Smith on leave since training camp

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Minnesota Vikings outside linebackers coach Mike Smith has not been with the team since training camp for personal reasons, team officials said Monday.

Smith, who also coaches the pass rush specialists, is on personal leave that is ongoing and not a legal matter, officials told media outlets.

Assistant head coach Mike Pettine will assume Smith’s duties for the season and home opener Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Defensive assistant Imarjaye Albury also will help Pettine coach the positions, according to reports.

Smith, 42, is in his second year with the Vikings after three seasons (2019-21) with the Green Bay Packers. Smith worked with Pettine with the Packers and the New York Jets (2010-12).

The Baltimore Ravens selected Smith in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech. He played linebacker in 14 games (one start) over two seasons for the Ravens (2005-06). Pettine was an assistant with the Ravens from 2002-08, including a linebackers coach in 2005-07.

Pettine, 56, is a former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who went 10-22 under him from 2014-15. He also has been the defensive coordinator of the Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013) and Packers (2018-20), and a senior defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears (2021) before assuming his current title with the Vikings in 2022.

Also Monday, Minnesota signed wide receiver N’Keal Harry to its practice squad and released center Alan Ali from the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) tackles Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune (15) to cause a fumble in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Defense rallies Cardinals past Vikings, 18-17

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David Blough and Clayton Tune combined to pass for 158 yards and a touchdown as the visiting Arizona Cardinals used a second-half rally to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 18-17 on Saturday in the preseason finale for each.

Arizona’s Matt Prater made two field goals, including a 27-yarder with 6:20 remaining to put the Cardinals ahead for good. Arizona’s defense recovered from a slow start to hold the Vikings scoreless in the second half and three points over the final three quarters.

Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall was 16 of 27 for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Blake Proehl caught five passes for 45 yards for Minnesota. DeWayne McBride had 37 yards rushing for the Vikings, including a 1-yard TD run to open the scoring in the first quarter.

Blough’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Davion Davis with 7:54 remaining in the third quarter got Arizona within 17-9. Blough then scored on a 5-yard run with 10:50 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to 17-15.

Vikings kicker Greg Joseph missed a 54-yard field-goal attempt with 2:28 remaining that would have given Minesota the lead.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Titans helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Titans to sign DL Trevon Coley

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Defensive lineman Trevon Coley is expected to sign a deal with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network reported Monday.

Coley, 29, who has not played in the NFL since 2020, has 100 career tackles over 44 NFL games (31 starts) in four seasons for the Cleveland Browns (2017-18), Indianapolis Colts (2019) and Arizona Cardinals (2020).

Coley was a starter during his two seasons with the Browns before he was waived before the 2019 season.

In recent years, Coley was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets in December of 2020 but did not play with the team. He was in training camp with the Titans in 2021 but went on injured reserve before the season began, and was on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad last season.

–Field Level Media

Feb 25, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta'amu (10) warms up before the game against the Vegas Vipers at Cashman Field. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

XFL says QB Jordan Ta’amu signed with Vikings

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The XFL announced on Friday that D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

As of Saturday morning, however, the Vikings had not yet announced a deal with the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Ta’amu, 25, guided the Defenders to a 9-1 regular-season record before losing to the Arlington Renegades in the XFL Championship Game on May 13.

He completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,894 yards with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also rushed for 298 yards and three scores and ranked second in the league in total offense (215.2).

Ta’amu, 25, played at Ole Miss before going undrafted in the NFL in 2019. He spent time with the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Washington and the Carolina Panthers but has never appeared in an NFL game.

He played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL in 2020 and for the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022, leading that league in passing yards and touchdowns.

Minnesota’s quarterback depth chart includes starter Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens and 2023 fifth-round draft pick Jaren Hall.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Tanner Vallejo (51) against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Vikings sign free agent LB Tanner Vallejo

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The Minnesota Vikings signed free agent linebacker Tanner Vallejo, NFL Network reported Sunday.

Vallejo, a noted performer on special teams, declared free agency in March after playing three-plus seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

A sixth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2017, the 28-year-old has 114 tackles over 82 career games (eight starts) with the Bills (2017), Cleveland Browns (2018), Washington (2019) and the Cardinals. He has three forced fumbles, including one last season, and recorded 2.5 sacks.

Vallejo was on the field for 82 percent of the Cardinals’ special-teams snaps last season, and participated in 859 special-teams snaps with Arizona over 45 games going back to 2019.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) runs with the football during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Report: RB Kareem Hunt visits with Vikings

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Free agent running back Kareem Hunt visited the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, NFL Network reported.

Hunt, 28, appeared to have a deal with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this week but left town without a contract.

In 49 games over the past four seasons in Cleveland, Hunt produced 1,874 rushing yards, 973 receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns. He was a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 and made the Pro Bowl in his first season when he led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards.

The Vikings moved on from Dalvin Cook this offseason after four straight 1,000-yard rushing campaigns.

Cook, who turned 28 on Thursday, had been set to earn $11 million before being released by Minnesota in June. The four-time Pro Bowl selection remains unsigned.

Alexander Mattison was listed as the starting running back on the team’s first official depth chart this week. His backups are Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride.

A third-round pick by the Vikings in 2019, The 25-year-old Mattison has rushed for 1,670 yards and 11 touchdowns through 59 games (six starts).

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) during warmups before a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Vikings parting ways with RB Dalvin Cook

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The Minnesota Vikings informed running back Dalvin Cook he is being released, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

The salary-slashing move has been widely anticipated since before the NFL draft in April.

Cook, who turns 28 in August, is coming off four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and four Pro Bowl selections.

He also carried a salary cap hit of $14.1 million this season, $15.6 million in 2024 and $13.5 million in the last year of his contract in 2025.

Instead, the Vikings will owe Cook $2 million this season and will take a dead cap hit of $5.1 million in 2023.

ESPN reported that Minnesota will make one last effort to trade Cook on Thursday before processing his official release on Friday.

A second-round pick in 2017, Cook has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns and has 221 receptions for 1,794 yards and five scores in 73 career games (72 starts) in Minnesota.

Rumored landing spots for Cook during the past couple of months have included the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.

Cook is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a shoulder injury that was originally suffered in 2019. His agency said in February that Cook is expected to be healthy for the start of the season.

The Vikings appear prepared to enter the 2023 season with Alexander Mattison as their lead back. The 2019 third-round pick rushed for 283 yards and five scores in 17 games last season. Ty Chandler and rookie DeWayne McBride are also on the depth chart.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings release WR Adam Thielen after 9 seasons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings released wide receiver Adam Thielen on Friday after nine seasons.

The 32-year-old Minnesota native and undrafted free agent from a Division II school became a two-time Pro Bowl selection and the third-leading receiver in franchise history.

Only Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss caught more passes in a Vikings uniform than Thielen (534).

His release is a cost-cutting move for Minnesota, which will save about $6.4 million against the salary cap in 2023 while taking a dead-cap hit of $13.6 million.

“Adam will forever be a part of the Minnesota Vikings family and history,” general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement Friday. “Setting the standard with his play on the field, being a selfless teammate, and making a permanent impact in the community, Adam’s influence is significant. We are grateful for everything he brought to the Vikings organization since arriving in 2013, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to work with him over the last year. He is the best representation of what the Minnesota Vikings should stand for.”

Thielen signed a four-year, $64 million extension in April 2019, with the sides agreeing to restructure the deal in 2021 and 2022.

Thielen has 30 touchdown catches over the past three seasons, fifth-most in the NFL, and should generate interest in a relatively thin receiver market.

The Vikings first signed Thielen to a three-year, $1.485 million deal as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in May 2013.

“Adam’s story is one many know and admire and an incredible example of what a relentless pursuit of a goal can ultimately accomplish,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “For over a decade, Adam honed his craft to become one of the most well-recognized wide receivers in the NFL. Over that same time, he poured so much of his time into his home state, which made it even more special for him to earn our 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination. I personally leaned on Adam for his work ethic, leadership and counsel multiple times to help get our team where we wanted it to be last season.”

Since making his debut in 2014, he has gained 6,682 receiving yards and scored 55 touchdowns in 135 games (101 starts) for the Vikings. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2017 and 2018.

–Field Level Media