An Annual Vikings Preseason Standout Moves On
The Minnesota Vikings have entered offseason territory after losing their lone postseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams. Kevin O’Connell met his former boss, Sean McVay, twice this year and left the stadium defeated both times.
An Annual Vikings Preseason Standout Moves On
O’Connell joined the Vikings in the 2022 offseason after winning the Super Bowl as McVay’s right-hand man. In the past three seasons, both the Vikings and the Rams have undergone massive changes, and only a handful of players have remained on either roster.
As always, the 2025 offseason will lead to more transitions. In the past couple of days, the Vikings have signed players to futures contracts, including numerous practice squad players. One guy, however, has departed for good: WR Trishton Jackson.
The longtime practice squad player will join the Arizona Cardinals once the new league year kicks off in March, the franchise announced on Thursday.
Jackson came into the league in 2020 as an undrafted rookie. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he worked with offensive coordinator O’Connell. Despite sticking around on the 53-man roster, he didn’t play in a single game as a rookie. The Rams let him go during their roster cuts following the 2021 preseason, and he moved to the Twin Cities.
After one season on the practice squad, Jackson welcomed his former coach as the new Vikings head coach. O’Connell also kept him around, but he still couldn’t clear the hurdle of the 53-man roster, having to settle for the practice squad again.
In the 2023 season, he went back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster. This past year, the wideout started on the 53 but was demoted to the practice squad in October.
In his four years with the purple franchise, Jackson played in nine games, catching a total of two passes for nine yards. Most of his damage has come in the preseason.
In August, he was on the receiving end of J.J. McCarthy’s beautiful deep touchdown pass.
Justin Jefferson said about his teammate during last training camp: “He’s a dog. He’s from Detroit. He has that Detroit mindset. Just the way he comes to work every single day — he’s a hooper, so he knows how to move and how to get open.”
In those three preseason contests in 2024, Jackson caught nine passes for 154 yards, and he found the endzone in all three games.
Minnesota’s receiving crew might look vastly different next season. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison continue to be the one-two punch on the outside. Jalen Nailor had a solid third season, but his injury concerns as well as a potential Addison suspension, could lead the Vikings toward acquiring an upgrade at the WR3 spot.
Depth wideouts Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield are set to enter free agency.
Jackson will turn 27 in March, and his time in Minnesota is over.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt