4 Notable Former Vikings Will Appear in Playoff Games This Weekend
Josh Frey
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The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs is set to kick off this weekend.
Each of the four matchups carry intriguing storylines, and if there are any Vikings fans that want to look for a team to root for, here is a look at four notable former Vikings who will suit up over the next two days with a chance to advance to the conference championships.
WR Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills)
In a long history of successful Vikings wide receivers, Stefon Diggs lands near the top. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Diggs had 365 receptions for 4623 yards and 30 touchdowns over five seasons in Minnesota.
He was the product of a number of memorable moments in Minnesota, including the Minneapolis Miracle against the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional round of the 2017 NFL playoffs. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2020 season, and the Vikings received the 22nd overall pick in exchange for Diggs, which resulted in Justin Jefferson.
Talk about a win-win for both sides. While Jefferson has quickly emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the league, Diggs has helped revolutionize Buffalo’s offense over the past four seasons, totaling 445 receptions for 5372 yards and 37 TDs while being named a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons with the Bills.
DT Linval Joseph (Buffalo Bills)
Linval Joseph was a massive part of the Vikings’ ferocious defenses in the mid-2010s. After spending his first four seasons with the New York Giants, Joseph signed with the Vikings in 2014 and went on to put together multiple Pro Bowl seasons.
In total, Joseph spent six years with the Vikings and put together 350 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, six forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries. After being released by Minnesota prior to the 2020 season, the defensive tackle has bounced around the league, spending time with the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles before hopping aboard with the Buffalo Bills this season.
RB Latavius Murray (Buffalo Bills)
Latavius Murray was a sixth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Raiders, and he spent his first three seasons in Oakland, which included a 1000-yard rushing season in 2014.
The Vikings then signed Murray in 2017, and they desperately needed him. Minnesota drafted Dalvin Cook in the second round of the 2017 Draft, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 4, meaning Murray had to step in as the RB1 for much of the season.
Cook again struggled with injuries in 2018, which again thrusted Murray up the depth chart. Over those two seasons in Minnesota, Murray put together 356 carries for 1420 yards and 14 TDs. Since then, he has had stints with the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills. He should be in line for a few touches this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs.
RB Dalvin Cook (Baltimore Ravens)
Despite the aforementioned injury troubles at the start of Cook’s career, he eventually became a workhorse RB for the Vikings. From 2019-2022, Cook put together four consecutive Pro Bowl seasons and surpassed 1000 rushing yards in each of them.
However, with the RB entering his age-28 season, and Minnesota having a chance to save large chunks of cap space, it was deemed time to move on from the veteran prior to the 2023 season. He immediately signed with the New York Jets, but he was waived by the team prior to Week 18. Since then, he has hopped aboard the Baltimore Ravens roster and was recently signed to the 53-man roster, meaning he should have a role in the offense as Baltimore takes on the Texans.
Honorable Mention: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Detroit Lions)
While it is extremely unlikely that Teddy Bridgewater will play this weekend for the Detroit Lions unless Jared Goff suffers an injury, it is worth noting that the former Vikings QB is a playoff participant this season.
Bridgewater was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by Minnesota, and he was deemed the Vikings’ QB of the future at the time. Early on, he lived up to that hype by helping lead Minnesota to the playoffs in his second season of 2015.
However, a gruesome knee injury prior to the 2016 season completely derailed his NFL career, and he would never start another game in Minnesota. He went on to have a very successful backup QB career, though, spending time with the Saints and leading them to five consecutive wins in 2019 while Drew Brees was injured.
Bridgewater also spent time as a starter with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and the Detroit Lions in 2023.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.