Purple Headlines of the Week: OTAs Begin, Dalvin’s Change of Heart, Major Free Agent Pops Up
Josh Frey
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Another week of the Vikings offseason has come and gone, and we have more purple headlines to discuss from all the news over the past seven days. In case you missed some of them, here is a quick recap of all the happenings in the Vikings world this week.
Vikings OTAs Begin
The Minnesota Vikings had their first practice sessions of 2023 OTAs, meaning we got to see the team take the field for the first time as an official group. One of the more intriguing items from this week of news is that second-year safety Lewis Cine appears to already be practicing at the same speed as everyone else on the defense.
This is a very promising development following his season-ending compound fracture in 2022, and if Cine is back to full health, it seems likely that he will be part of the Vikings starting defense to begin this upcoming season.
Could Dalvin Cook Return to the Vikings?
Throughout this offseason, the assumption has been that the Vikings would be moving on from Dalvin Cook at the running back spot. Early reports suggested that he wouldn’t take a pay cut to reduce his $14.1 million cap hit in 2023, the Vikings re-signed Alexander Mattison, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made some interesting comments regarding Cook at a recent press conference, and they even drafted one of the most productive collegiate RBs from 2022 by taking DeWayne McBride.
However, a new report from this past week suggests that Dalvin Cook may be having a change of heart. On Friday’s episode of the SKOR North podcast ‘Mackey and Judd’, Darren Wolfson of KTSP suggested this scenario and that the four-time Pro Bowler could be open to reducing his cap hit to remain with the team.
DeAndre Hopkins Released by Cardinals
On Friday, some rather surprising news came out that the Arizona Cardinals would be releasing five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins after they were unable to secure a trade to move him elsewhere.
This move instantly bumps the receiver up to the top of the free agency big board, and perhaps the Vikings could be a landing spot for the star wideout, even if it is on a one-year rental basis.
In Case You Missed It…
For the extra studious Vikings fans, we have another list of additional reading to conquer heading into the upcoming week.
- Kirk Cousins Named Vikings Most Underappreciated Player
- Vikings Offensive Tackle Duo Ranked Among the Best in the League
- Ranking All 32 NFL Offenses
- Expect More of a Rushing Attack from the 2023 Vikings
- Bud Grant’s Gift to Kevin O’Connell
- Optimism for Ed Ingram
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.