Vikings Rumors: MIN Skittish to Spend, Injured Vikings, and McCarthy Getting QB1 Reps

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Since we’re officially into the portion of the year when Vikings rumors are ramping up, we’ll be highlighting some of the purple rumblings.

The “Vikings Rumor Wrangle” is a series that keeps readers informed on what’s being whispered about in Vikings Land. In this iteration, we discuss the spots where Minnesota is a bit more reluctant to spend money, the Vikings having some injured players, and J.J. McCarthy getting worked into the mix.

Vikings Rumors: 07.24.2024

Rumor #1 — There are Positions where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Pinches Pennies

Generally speaking, the Vikings’ GM doesn’t love sinking a pile into the iOL or iDL.

Since taking over, Adofo-Mensah has been responsible for exclusively small and medium deals for the iOL. Garrett Bradbury was retained for a trio of seasons at a total of $15.75 million. Fast forward a year and Blake Brandel landed a three-year agreement worth a total of $9.5 million.

That’s as high as it goes. A pile of guards were getting major money during the current offseason and Minnesota stayed out of the spending spree. Dalton Risner is the top guard but his deals have been in the middle class range.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons
Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) and quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) hug after a victory against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, the trend mostly holds. Dean Lowry landed a medium deal. The two-year commitment and $8.5 million in promised pay was undercut after just a single season of sackless production. Lowry is now playing elsewhere.

Otherwise, there have been additions like Ross Blacklock, Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bullard, and Jonah Williams. Some players with upside; some players with steady floors. No bank-breaking all stars.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t been in charge for very long. He has been leading the charge for less than three years, long enough to see some trends but not long enough to make ironclad determinations about how he’ll always operate.

Nevertheless, the early trend is that centers, guards, and defensive tackles don’t get major money. Whoever breaks the trend will need to be a special player.

Rumor #2 — The Vikings are Working with Some Injured Players

T.J. Hockenson is the obvious name, but there are others, as well.

Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel is looking to get going sooner rather than later, so it’s a good sign that he wasn’t included among the players to either be put on the PUP list or NFI list. Hockenson is on that list for now, an expected reality given his significant knee injury.

NFL: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The other players to be included in the injury issues are special teamer NaJee Thompson and then running back DeWayne McBride, as the team announced in a social media post: “Placed TE T.J. Hockenson and CB NaJee Thompson on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Placed RB DeWayne McBride on the Non-Football Injury list.”

Neither Thompson nor McBride are assured of a roster spot. Getting healthy and then performing well in training camp and the preseason will be necessary to secure a job.

Rumor #3 — J.J. McCarthy is Going to Get Some Reps with the 1s

That’s the early word from Kevin O’Connell. The key will rest in how J.J. McCarthy performs with the opportunities he has.

While speaking with the media, O’Connell was asked about the reps among his quarterbacks as well as the hierarchy. “Sam had a great spring,” O’Connell notes, “J.J. came in here after being drafted and had a really productive spring, as well. So really my message to those guys is, ‘I want a really competitive situation.’ Sam will obviously be taking the majority of his reps with that 1st group but I think you’ll see J.J. maybe get some, as well.”

Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The head coach goes on: “But also it’s about the quality as much as the volume of those reps throughout camp.” In other words, McCarthy needs to make the most of the opportunities that he gets, regardless of how many get sent in his direction.

The expectation is still that Sam Darnold will be the Week 1 starter.

Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.


K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.