>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

when it rains it pours...typical for the Vikings

 

Neither linebacker Anthony Barr nor offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw will be suiting up for the Vikings’ season opener on Sunday.

The team announced on Friday that both Barr (knee) and Darrisaw (groin) will be out for Week One with their respective injuries.

 

The Vikings have officially added a backup quarterback and backup running back to the roster for Sunday’s opener against the Bengals.

Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion and running back Ameer Abdullah have officially been moved from the practice squad to the active roster. Mannion is expected to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Kirk Cousins, while Abdullah can provide depth at running back behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, and help on special teams.

PFT

 

what the fu#k is going on Sean Mannion and Ameer Abdullah just found out,should be interesting cause I have no idea GO VIKINGS

 

Mike Zimmer scoffs at hot-seat talk



Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has said on multiple occasions that he expects the team to be pretty good this year. And he may be right. What happens if he’s not?

A second straight year of no playoffs could trigger a change in Minnesota. Zimmer isn’t flinching at the chatter; he’s pushing back against it.

“I think if you polled all the offensive coaches in the league, they would say that I’m still ahead of the curve,” Zimmer said, via Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “They would tell you how much they respect me. So I don’t worry about all that. The fans can say all that stuff they want, but the people who know, they know.”

That doesn’t mean Zimmer isn’t feeling pressure to atone from a ridiculously bad season in 2020, especially in his area of expertise — the defense. Then again, Zimmer thinks that he did pretty well, given the talent level on the team.

“[Co-defensive coordinator] Andre [Patterson] and I talked early in the season and said, ‘If we can win eight games with this group that we got, it’s probably one of the best coaching jobs there was,'” Zimmer said. “We ended up winning seven.”

This year, it will take more than seven for Zimmer’s work to be regarded as successful. And that puts extra pressure on him.

“I feel pressure every year, so I don’t look at it like I’m coaching for my job,” Zimmer said. “I’m going to put my resume out there on the field just like the players. And if people don’t think I’m good enough to do it, so be it. Somebody else does.”

That’s an interesting perspective. Should the Vikings fear that, if they make a change, Zimmer will land on his feet elsewhere, and thrive? That goes directly to the question that every team must ask itself when changing coaches. Can you be sure that the next coach will be better?

Zimmer has been good, but the Vikings have yet to put together consecutive playoff seasons under his command. This year, they’re risk the first back-to-back failures to get there since he was hired in 2014. If they stay healthy (Zimmer’s recent complaint about the impact of finances on depth confirm the importance of avoiding injury), and if the offense doesn’t regress the way some fear it will based on the preseason performances, they should get back to the postseason field again.

The real question, if they get there, is whether and to what extent they’ll be able to compete with the best teams the NFC has to offer. That’s been the problem with the Vikings of the past 40-plus years. They’re periodically good enough to get close to the Super Bowl, but they’re never good enough to punch through. The best way for Zimmer, now 65, to stay in Minnesota as long as he wants would be to rise up in a year that has not nearly the number of high-end franchises that are currently crammed into the AFC.

It starts today. If the Vikings are indeed going to have a year that stretches deep into January, they need to make quick work of the Bengals on the second Sunday in September.

PFT

 

he's on the HOT seat how can you not be when it's been the same old same old for years it's a Prove it to me year

 

what is it with Zimmer always getting outcoached seems to happen quite often he's not a HC he's a very GOOD Defensive coach guess I'm just tired of being good just not good enough or else it will be a loooooong ass year

 

it's time for a change in Front Office and the HC it just don't change

 

the Vikings were expecting Christian Darrisaw to play a major role but he's looking like a bust and play Wyatt Davis what do they have to lose,the Vikings O-line looked pretty pitful against the Bengals

 

I just watched the Mike Zimmer press conference this guy sounded so dry and like he didn't give damn and he looks like he's chewing something,and why does Mike Zimmer seems to get outcoached quite a bit

 

oh man when are going to fire this guy it's the same gameplan as last year only the 1st half and 2and half have switched sides,to much talent here to always being outcoached sometimes it seems on purpose?

 

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer thought Greg Joseph's missed game-winning FG 'should be an easy one'

Much like Minnesota Vikings radio announcers, Mike Zimmer thought Greg Joseph's 37-yard game-winning field-goal attempt was a formality for a big road win over the Arizona Cardinals.

"I felt good about that kick," Zimmer said, via the Minnesota Star Tribune. "I know he missed the extra point earlier, but it's kind of like that. He's been kicking good, we're indoors, it's a perfect surface. I'm thinking, 'This should be an easy one here.' "

That easy kick sailed wide right, and the Vikings suffered their second last-second loss of the 2021 campaign, losing 34-33 in Arizona.

"We're probably two plays away from being 2-0," Zimmer said. "We'll just keep grinding, keep fighting, and we'll just keep going from there."

After making all three extra points and his only field-goal attempt in Week 1, Joseph botched the field goal and one PAT in Sunday's loss.

The loss is a bitter pill to swallow after the Vikings battled back on the road to set up the game-winning chance. Facing an MVP candidate in Kyler Murray playing out of his mind and a defense with a dominant D-line, Minnesota played well. Dalvin Cook (131 yards) grinded out yards, Kirk Cousins found open targets (244 yards, 3 TDs) and didn't make any crucial errors. The defense earned a pick-six, and the pass rush came to life late to smother Murray and give Minnesota a chance.

"I think today was encouraging, honestly, about the heart that we played with today, and the fight that we played with today," Zimmer said, per Sports Illustrated. "If we play like that, we'll win a lot of games. They may all come down to like this, like the last two have. As long as we do that, we keep fighting and keep trying to get better, and keep working together, sticking together as a football team, then I think we've got a chance."


Close is only good in horseshoes and hand grenades. After two close losses, the Vikings need to turn the page quickly and get a W -- starting with next Sunday's home opener against Seattle -- before the season spirals too deep to recover.

NFL.com

 

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook sat out practice again Thursday. He has an ankle injury, having played through it during Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.

He played 47 of 61 offensive snaps.

Cook said Wednesday he was “good” to go for the Week 3 game against the Seahawks.

“Dalvin’s a tough guy,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said of Cook on Wednesday, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “If he can’t play, there’s a reason why he’s not playing. But he makes us go, so we’re going to continue to play him.”

Cook ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing with 192 yards in two games.

Linebacker Anthony Barr (knee), cornerback Bashaud Breeland (back, shoulder) and defensive end Everson Griffen (concussion) were among six players who were limited Thursday.

PFT

 

quess he's going to ride Dalvin Cook till he drops dead...be nice if they bring back AJ Rose jr

 

Mike Zimmer: Vikings put up their 'best offensive performance' in eight years in win over Seahawks

Mike Zimmer is in the midst of his eighth season in Minnesota and has taken the Vikings to the playoffs three times. Sunday's 30-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks is the best the veteran coach has seen his offense play.

"I told the team that it's the best offensive performance that I've seen in the eight years that I've been here," Zimmer said, via ESPN. "Kirk (Cousins) played outstanding. I thought (Alexander) Mattison ran the ball well, the offensive line blocked great. Tight ends, receivers blocked great in the run game but also in the passing game. Very, very proud of the way that they performed today."

The statement by Zimmer is underscored by the fact that the Vikes put up that performance without star running back Dalvin Cook, the engine of the offense the first two weeks.

It also underscores just how well Cousins has played to open the 2021 campaign. On Sunday, the veteran QB diced up a Seahawks defense that had no answers. Cousins completed 30 of 38 passes for 323 yards and 3 TDs. Through three games, Cousins has tossed 8 TDs and 0 INTs and completed 73.9 percent of his passes.

Cousins became the sixth player over the last 25 seasons with a 70-plus completion percentage, 8-plus pass TDs and 0 INTs in the team's first three games of a season, joining Patrick Mahomes (2019), Drew Brees (2018), Tom Brady (2015), Aaron Rodgers (2015) and Peyton Manning (2013).

"It's been a different Kirk," wide receiver Adam Thielen said. "He's just locked in and on time, he's trusting it. I think a big part of that is our O-line and the way they're blocking and giving him enough time to sit back there and make his reads."

The Vikings (1-2) have gained 400-plus total yards and scored 24-plus points in all three games this season.


Despite the offense playing well the first two weeks, Minnesota came up short, including on last week's missed game-winning field goal. On Sunday, the Vikes overpowered Seattle, leaving no doubt.

"I think (Cousins is) playing outstanding," Zimmer said. "But not only that, he's playing with a lot of confidence. I really appreciate the leadership that he's been doing lately. It's been so much better, something he wanted to work on. He's done a great job with that. He's very confident where he's throwing the football. He's very confident with these receivers. I think the offensive line has helped him do some of those things as well."

NFL.com

 

The only time I ever root against the Vikings is when they play my Browns...Good luck this week. (just not too much )

 

Good luck to you too. Thats going to be a fun game.

 

what makes this so sad is the O-line was pure crap for years,it was amazing how Capt Kirk was a ok QB with a decent O-line so the Zimmer statement is pure BS IMO when you had time to fix the O-line and Garett Bradbury is awful

 

After Sunday game against the Browns Mike Zimmer got to go,they have to much talent to be this bad it's like there just spinning there wheels it's been proven year after year he's not a head coach he always getting out coached and can't win the Big Games

 

Dalvin Cook aims to play through ankle injury while getting back to 100 percent: 'That's the plan'

As an ankle injury lingers, Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook did not practice on Wednesday, but he has every intention of playing on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

The goal for Cook is to battle through the injury but still heal up and get back to being the best version of himself in the process.

"That's the plan," Cook said Wednesday when asked if he could keep playing through it and return to prime form. "I don't feel like I'm getting worse. I don't feel like I'm headed in the wrong direction. I feel like I'm headed in the right direction to get myself back to where I need to be at. You have those days, but we just played a game. Just trying to work myself back to being 100 percent so I can help us win games."

After missing a Week 3 win against the Seahawks, Cook returned in Week 4's loss to the Browns. Clearly limited by his injury, he had just nine carries for 34 yards.

Being able to get back to 100 percent while still playing is an arduous road to travel, but Cook maintains that it's not just his goal but part of playing in the NFL. It's also a problematic situation as he admits it's frustrating sitting out, but just as much so not being able to perform as he believes he would if fully healthy.

"It's kind of like hand-in-hand because if you're not out there you're frustrated still," Cook said. "And if you are out there, sometimes it can hinder you from me being the Dalvin that's being explosive a lot of plays, and sometimes it can do that, and that's the frustrating part. But you play through it. Part of this game is playing through pain, and that's what comes with it. Playing through injury is something different. Playing through pain, that's what comes with this game, and that's what I'm dealing with, a little pain."

In the old adage of knowing the difference between being hurt and injured, Cook is leaning to the former and therefore going to keep doing all that he can on a bum ankle.


Cook is no stranger to injuries, as he's yet to play a full season and won't in his fifth year. Over his first two seasons, he missed 17 of a possible 32 games. The 26-year-old has been hampered and/or sidelined by ACL, chest, groin, hamstring and chest injuries in his career. But he's also produced back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons with double-digit TDs in each of those campaigns.

Still, with what Alexander Mattison has shown he can do over the previous two seasons and, in particular, a 112-yard showing in Week 3 against the Seahawks, it's worth wondering if allowing Cook to sit out a game or two to heal up wouldn't be the better road to recovery and success for the Vikings.

For now, though, the plan is for Cook, lingering ankle injury and all, to be out there on Sunday.

NFL.com