>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

Totally sucks! Need someone ASAP! This kills the offense big time.

 

My internet crashed what happened is Irv Smith Jr hurt? if he is the loss of Tyler Conklin to the JETS hùrts

 

Yes (thumb). Will not participate in Camp.

 

Thanks

 

In order for Smith to truly reach his potential though, he needs to be able to remain on the field. Already just a few days into training camp, he’s had an injury scare that held him out of portions of the first practice with pads. Initially, this didn’t seem like a major issue, but as it turns out, the injury was to his thumb and required surgery on Tuesday.

This is a concerning situation that I’ll be keeping my eye on for a couple reasons. Firstly, even though the Vikings were wearing pads, it’s not quite like this practice was at a full game-speed. What’s going to happen when preseason games get here or the season-opener against the Green Bay Packers?


Secondly, the tight end position looks like one of the true weaknesses on the 2022 Minnesota Vikings roster. Tyler Conklin left this offseason for the New York Jets. Kyle Rudolph’s reunion with Minnesota is no longer possible after he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other than Smith, here are the other players on the Vikings roster at the position:

1. Johnny Mundt
2. Ben Ellefson
3. Zach Davidson
4. Nick Muse
5. Shaun Beyer

Mundt has shown flashes of promise thus far into camp, but he still has just 10 career NFL receptions. If Smith were to miss time, and he were to step in as the starter, I’ll still be holding my breath. Aside from Mundt, Ellefson is the only other tight end on the roster with an NFL reception. And he has exactly one reception. It was brought in with the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2020 season.

Needless to say, the Vikings are banking on Smith being healthy at the tight end position to carry their production on offense. Perhaps this is just another example of a writer being paranoid, but at least to me, it seems like there is cause for concern with Irv Smith.

PURPLE PTSD

 

Is it a cause for concern I keep wondering is he injury prone it's a breakout year for him or it's a????? for him

 

Dalvin Cook seeing change in Kirk Cousins with Kevin O'Connell as head coach



The changes in Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins are already apparent, according to star running back Dalvin Cook.

Things are different now with the arrival of first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, who already has a built-in connection with Cousins from their time together with the then Washington Redskins.

It’s much different than the way things were handled when Mike Zimmer was still the coach. Granted, that isn’t to say Zimmer wasn’t a good coach, but there was never a healthy connection between the head coach and quarterback under the previous regime.

Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber alluded to it on CBS Sports Radio back in July, when he claimed Zimmer “did not like” Cousins. Well, not only does O’Connell like Cousins, but he’s willing to build the same relationship with him that you see from many of the other elite coach and quarterback combinations.

And Cook has a front row seat to all of the changes that have come with that bond.

“I’ve seen [Cousins] grow every year, but you see how comfortable he is with [Kevin O’Connell] from day one,” said Cook, during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “You see the relationship between those guys, and that’s what we needed.

“We needed that for our guy back there because Kirk can sling that rock. He can take us where we want to go, and we firmly believe that as a group and as a team. So having [Kevin O’Connell] come in and be that security blanket to help take us to the next level, I think that’s going to be good for Kirk and our team.”

Cousins threw for 4,221 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions last season.

If he goes any higher, his head might break the ceiling. That sort of improvement would likely put the Vikings back into playoff contention, while simultaneously shutting down naysayers across the board.

If everything goes according to plan, this could be the “allow me to re-introduce myself” moment for one of the most polarizing players in the NFL.

VIKINGS WIRE

 

It must be a nice when you know the Coach has your back cause Mike Zimmer did not he just couldn't over Teddy Bridgewater

 

Kirk Cousins sees 'high ceiling' in one Vikings backup tight end



Kirk Cousins isn’t tossing and turning in his sleep after losing one of his best offensive weapons, tight end Irv Smith Jr.

Quite the contrary, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback is also intrigued by the other options at the position, particularly second-year standout Zach Davidson.

The former fifth-round draft pick is beginning to show up as a playmaker on the practice field, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a Vikings team mulling over the decision of sticking with what they already have at tight end or signing a veteran free agent.

“Zach is really exciting because I see a lot of ability in him, and so you see a high ceiling and a desire to work and get better,” Cousins told media members. “And so it’s exciting to work with a guy like that, where you see all of this potential down the road, similar to how I felt about Tyler Conklin three or four years ago.”

That Conklin comparison is sure to turn heads considering he was the one that served as the much-needed insurance option when Smith went down with a knee injury last season.

But keep in mind, Cousins is talking about potential for a player that’s showing signs of a second-year leap. That’s a big difference from Conklin entering his fourth and final season with the Vikings, before landing a more lucrative contract with the New York Jets.

But potential clearly matters, and there could be a glimmer of hope with Davidson.

VIKINGS WIRE

 

Be real cool if Davidson turned out to be a diamond in the rough. Keep running him out there and lets see what he's got.

 

Current Depth Chart...

 

A diamond in the rough hope so cause I'm starting to think Irv Smith Jr is injury prone he can't stay on the field but i hope he's an outstanding blocker,they got wr that can pick up the slack Tyler Conklin like hmmmmm

 

Time to find some other player the Suh sweepstakes is getting insane time to get out!,hope they find a backup QB before the season starts Shaun Mannion would be very scary

 

Hope we dont have to find out, but maybe under KOC, Mannion and Mond are better. O'Connell seems a bit more QB friendly and savvy than the past whatshisname, lol.

 

RB Nwangwu is back to practice.

 

Luv it time to put on a show

 

It's just amazing to me the difference KOC has brought to the Vikings whether turns out good or bad

 

Question why can't the Vikings kick Shaun Mannion to the curb oh man I wonder will this guy make though training camp

 

Vikings' LT Darrisaw poised for breakout sophomore season

Vikings second-year offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw has battled injuries that kept him from playing at his full potential in his rookie campaign, but entering his sophomore season expectations are high. Rapoport reported Sunday that Minnesota believes Darrisaw is going to be "really, really good" this year, and he's already exceeded the expectations the team had for him. Rapoport also heard people say Darrisaw could eventually play at the level of the 49ers' Trent Williams, saying that when San Francisco visits for a joint practice, people are joking that it'll be as if the current and future versions of the veteran offensive tackle are playing together. If Darrisaw can rise to the occasion and prove why he was chosen in the first round of last year's draft, it could be setting him up to be the franchise left tackle.

NFL.com