It will be difficult for the Minnesota Vikings to become a competitive club in the NFC North again. Naturally, the Detroit Lions are the defending division winners, but the Green Bay Packers are a team on the rise as a result of quarterback Jordan Love’s ascension.
With the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback Caleb Williams was selected by the Chicago Bears. They recently extended DJ Moore and added wide receiver Keenan Allen, a Pro Bowl player.
In the meantime, Kirk Cousins’ free agency signing with the Atlanta Falcons has created some doubt for the Vikings at quarterback. Despite being selected in the draft, JJ McCarthy might start the season behind Sam Darnold. Nor has the former quarterback for the New York Jets done anything in his career to engender confidence.
The Minnesota Vikings are having depth problems at tight end and wide receiver.
By agreeing to a contract extension with wide receiver Justin Jefferson this offseason that will pay him $35 million annually, the Vikings made a small piece of NFL history. In the history of the league, this is the highest yearly compensation for a non-quarterback player.
They now lack depth at tight end and wide receiver, despite having Jefferson, who is regarded as one of the finest, if not the best, wide receiver in the game.
It is anticipated that T.J. Hockenson will miss the start of the season because of an ACL tear he sustained in December of last year. Due to his latest DUI arrest (the one that happened after drunk driver Khyree Jackson of the Vikings was killed), wide receiver Jordan Addison is probably going to receive a ban.
With Hockenson out, the squad is particularly lacking in a significant receiving threat at tight end. Minnesota signed Robert Tonyan in free agency for this reason.
Sadly, Tonyan’s injuries required him to be taken off the field during training camp exercise yesterday. Head coach Kevin O’Connell provided an update on the tight end’s condition on Friday.
Coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings provides an optimistic update regarding Robert Tonyan’s injury.
O’Connell said to reporters on Friday, “He was carted off.” It was somewhat like a back spasm. He will be addressing a sort of lower back issue.
We anticipate having him back shortly. In the next days, we’ll see how that plays out and how he sort of flips.
But we want to make sure we get him to a decent spot so he can participate in those, especially with the preseason games coming up soon.
Tonyan only caught 11 catches for 112 yards in his final season in Chicago. But during his time with the Packers in 2020, he hauled in 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns, tying the franchise record for tight end touchdown receptions.
If Tonyan is unable to return to the field and regain his form, the Vikings may face significant difficulties in the passing game from the outset.