The Minnesota Vikings season opener vs the New York Giants is nine days away. That’s right. Next Sunday, we’ll get our first look at Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones and a mostly turned over Brian Flores defense. Then, we’ll get our first opportunity to overreact to everything that takes place that afternoon, in the Big Apple.
If the Vikings defense beats up on Daniel Jones and Darnold looks competent, we’ll consider it revenge for the 2022 playoffs (maybe even 41-0 from the 2000 NFCCG too), and start buying up Super Bowl tickets in Las Vegas.
If the opposite happens, and the Vikings start 0-1, the calls for tanking will be loud and clear. Oh, and Sam Darnold will immediately be chalked up to the bust we always thought he was. As fans and media members begin shift their focus to the JJ McCarthy countdown clock.
There really is no inbetween, especially given the gauntlet three-week schedule Minnesota faces after the Giants (Niners, Texans, @ Packers). But in the week-plus time between now and next Sunday, the Vikings have made it clear they are not done tweaking their roster.
Minnesota Vikings still looking for roster upgrades… including QB
On Thursday, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah named Myles Gaskin as the team’s kick returner. He’s currently on the practice squad. It’s also been reported that the Vikings are not happy with Ed Ingram, at right guard, meaning they are still on the lookout for an upgrade there.
Oh, and earlier this week, less than 24 hours after solidifying the initial 53-man roster, Minnesota cut 2nd year quarterback Jaren Hall and signed former LA Rams QB Brett Rypien as their new QB3. At least, for now.
According to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP), head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t set on Rypien as Vikings QB3, either. Doogie is hearing that, over the next handful of weeks — as quarterbacks are shuffled around the league, due to injuries unforeseen circumstances, and we get closer to the in-season NFL trade deadline — that Minnesota will be on the prowl for more young QB talent.
“I don’t know if this is the end game, in terms of who the [Vikings] No. 3 quarterback will be… You think about last year, going through four quarterbacks, I suppose more trust in Brett Rypien, if it came down to that, this year, compared to Jaren Hall. I’m not overly surprised, but I just don’t know if this is the complete end game. Like, will Brett Rypien be on the roster seven to eight weeks from now, for example.”
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)
Kevin O’Connell eyeing up Dorian Thompson-Robinson…?
And one guy that KOC may be particularly interested in, per Doogie, is Cleveland Browns project, Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Kevin Stefanski went with Jameis Winston, as the Browns QB2, behind Deshaun Watson. That could make Dorian available, for the right price.
