>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

Nwangwu was frequently was used alongside quarterback Kirk Cousins in 11-on-11 snaps during Wednesday's minicamp workout, The Athletic reports.

Nwangwu is a dynamic kickoff returner, but will compete for a larger role as a running back after the release of Dalvin Cook. Nwangwu enters camp battling Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride for snaps behind starter Alexander Mattison. It's possible the backfield could be more of a committee, where Nwangwu's speed could give him a significant role.

 

Kevin O’Connell: My expectation is that Jordan Addison will be full go for training camp



Vikings first-round pick Jordan Addison was dealing with an undisclosed minor injury during the offseason program, which kept him sidelined from the team’s practices.

But last week, head coach Kevin O’Connell said Addison should be OK when the Vikings reconvene for training camp.

“We’ve had a plan in place for him and continuing to kind of build up to where he’ll be,” O’Connell said in his Tuesday press conference. “He’ll be spending quite a bit of time continuing his playbook. He’s been phenomenal in meetings and out here asking great questions when they come up.

“But my expectation is that Jordan will be full when we get going in late July.”

Addison was the 23rd overall pick in this year’s draft and could emerge as quarterback Kirk Cousins’ No. 2 option behind Justin Jefferson in the coming season. He caught 59 passes for 875 yards with eight touchdowns last year at USC.

PFT

 

If Vikings wait to extend Justin Jefferson, they could regret it



The Vikings have one of the best receivers in the league. He’s due for a new contract. The Vikings could be content to take advantage of the rules that allow them to wait to extend Justin Jefferson.

If they do that, they could end up regretting it, for multiple reasons.

First, a little background. The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement did two important things to make it harder for great incoming players to get paid. First, operating under the notion that highly-drafted players who become busts suck millions of dollars out of the system, the league grossly restricted the compensation paid to all highly-drafted picks — including those who turn out to be great players. Second, the 2011 CBA extended from two seasons to three the opening of the window for a second contract.

So, for the incoming players who end up being great, they don’t get the money they deserved on the way in, and they have to wait at least one more year to get what they’ve earned.

For the first-round picks who end up being great players, they should not have to wait another day for their financial rewards. For the protection against injury. For the fair compensation for the things they’ll do in the fourth and fifth year of their careers.

Plenty of teams drag their feet, however. Because they can. If the player doesn’t take a stand, the player doesn’t get his money. And Jefferson has made it clear he won’t be taking a stand.

There’s plenty of noise out there that the Vikings will wait to extend Jefferson. They could regret it, for a couple of reasons.

For starters, the price is only going to keep going up and up. Every team that has ever waited to sign a great player has ended up spending more to later sign him. Unless, of course, the player suffers a serious injury or loses his fastball. Does anyone think Justin Jefferson is suddenly going to morph into Troy Williamson?

Then there’s the possibility that the foot-dragging will upset the good-natured Jefferson, making him decide that he wants out. That he wants to play elsewhere — like Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and A.J. Brown in 2022. Once that bridge is crossed, it’s hard to go back.

To the Vikings, tread lightly. While the squeaky wheel gets the grease, taking a smoothly-spinning wheel for granted could cause it to suddenly fly off the axle.

They have a rare talent in Jefferson. They should be treating him that way. There’s no reason not to. And if/when they wake up one day with another Randy Moss or Percy Harvin or Stefon Diggs who end up being sent elsewhere for one or more draft picks, the Vikings will have only themselves to blame.

And, if that’s what happens, Vikings fans will just shrug and says, “It’s just another day in Purple Purgatory.”

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Some good points by, Mike Florio, a fan himself of the Vikings.

JJ has made the first generous and kindly move in saying that despite not having a contract, he will show up to Camp and practice... so in my view, the Vikings better reciprocate some good meaning and intentions right back at him and keep him happy and in a purple uniform. Mike said he was one of the best in the League... Im saying, you dont treat a man like JJ like he's just a business deal, he's the future at the moment, they need to get some urgency going.

 

WR Jordan Addison on being drafted by Vikings: 'I fell to the perfect organization'

The future starts now for rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison.

After being drafted by the Vikings as the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Addison found his new home in Minnesota, alongside arguably the top receiver in the league.

Similar to Addison, Justin Jefferson was drafted as the No. 22 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now, the three-time Pro-Bowler will be Addison's teammate and, most likely, his mentor. When reflecting on his draft day, Addison expressed his gratitude for the Vikings picking him when they did.

"It was just real special, I had the family there to support, and I just felt like I fell to the perfect organization," Addison said on NFL Total Access Thursday.

Last season, Jefferson set a career-high of 129 receptions for 1,809 yards and an average of 106.4 yards per game. He also scored eight touchdowns for Minnesota. During offseason activities, Addison has been watching, analyzing the superstar receiver and taking time to learn his craft above all else.

"Oh, man, it's just been all learning for me, not too much talking," he said. "Just out there on the field watching what he do and just trying to pick his brain to see why he wants to run his routes the way he do."

Now, Addison will get the chance to bring his talents to the table as a replacement for receiver Adam Thielen, who signed with the Panthers after being released by Minnesota.

In 2022, while playing for USC, Addison had 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns. Going into the big leagues, Addison feels he will be ready, even if that means taking over for the veteran wideout.

"I ain't going to get into it too much, comparing. I just know what I can do. I'm confident, and I am going to fill his shoes," he said.

As the Vikings look to make another playoff run during the 2023 season, adding depth in Addison is a big bonus. The Vikings had good luck in drafting a receiver in the first round four years ago. With his confidence and willingness to learn from the best of the best, time will tell if Addison can make the same kind of impact.

NFL.com

 

Vikings RB Alexander Mattison looking to 'maximize' new role

Alexander Mattison has been waiting for this moment.

The Minnesota Vikings running back, who is set to become the team's primary ball-carrier in 2023 following the release of four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, told SiriusXM NFL Radio this past week that he's going above and beyond this offseason to ensure he's ready for a featured role.

"It definitely changes things," Mattison said. "I like to go into every season preparing like I'm the back. That's kind of where my mindset has always been. That's kind of where we, as a running back group, held ourselves to that standard of. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful for having Dalvin in that running back room and challenging me to challenge him every single day, so that kind of helped me out within my preparation.

"Yeah, with that understanding of knowing kind of where my role is going to be and maximize it. I've been a lot more prepared in the way of understanding where I'm going to be at in the playbook, where I'm going to have to be at physically, my stamina. It's just a whole bunch that I have to now take into account but without applying too much pressure, of course, because this is a game of ball that we have grown to love and grown to adapt to at all different levels. I'm definitely comfortable as a professional athlete and understanding what I have to do to get the job done. Now just cranking that thing up and getting ready for this opportunity that I have in front of me."

Mattison, 25, will have some big shoes to fill replacing Cook, the Vikings' leading rusher the past five seasons. But ever since his rookie campaign in 2019, Mattison has shown great potential for such a role.

The former third-round pick amassed 462 yards on 100 carries (4.6 yards per carry) as a rookie and instantly forged a reputation of being a tenacious runner. In 2021, Mattison generated his best season numbers-wise with 719 yards from scrimmage (491 rushing, 228 receiving), but the career-high numbers only came when given the opportunity (career-high four starts in 2021).

Mattison saw career lows last season (283 rushing yards off 73 carries) due in large part to Cook being available for all 17 games, but Mattison's change-of-pace role proved beneficial in red-zone situations with a career-high six touchdowns.

The Vikings re-signed Mattison to a two-year deal this offseason, perhaps knowing they'd require his services as the team tried to find a suitable trade partner for Cook. Mattison held no expectations all along, even when his rookie contract was up this offseason.

"There wasn't much anticipation," Mattison said of Cook's release. "I actually didn't think that I'd be back in Minnesota, so it's a blessing to be back, to be in a place where I spent the first four years of my career and loved it there. To be there, be a part of this team, this locker room, the ownership, the staff. It's a great place to be, so I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and while I'm with this opportunity in front of me, I just see so much upside. Just coming back into year two of this offense under coach K.O. (Kevin O'Connell) and (offensive coordinator) Wes Phillips. They just, they know what they're doing, and we've gone back to the drawing board, and we've seen a lot of where we can improve from last year, especially in the run game, so it's pretty exciting."

Having continuity under O'Connell's offensive system should be beneficial for Mattison as he enters a potential breakout season. Despite Cook's departure, much of the Vikings offense remains intact from last year's 13-win, NFC North-conquering season and the same success could be had in 2023 should Mattison take full advantage of the opportunity ahead.

NFL.com

 

Alexander Mattison: Dalvin Cook’s departure definitely changes things



When the Vikings lost to the Giants in the Wild Card round to end their season, there was a lot of uncertainty about what the future held for running back Alexander Mattison.

Mattison’s rookie deal was up and he was set for a trip to free agency that he thought would take him somewhere else. During an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week, Mattison said he “actually didn’t think that I’d be back in Minnesota” and said it was a “blessing” to reach agreement on a new, two-year deal with the team in March.

The picture for Mattison changed again this month when the Vikings released Dalvin Cook and bumped Mattison up to the first rung of the depth chart in their backfield. Mattison said he’s always approached his time with the Vikings as if he was “the back” but that Cook’s departure “definitely changes things.”

“I’m thankful for having Dalvin in that running back room and challenging me to challenge him every single day, so that kind of helped me out within my preparation,” Mattison said. “Yeah, with that understanding of knowing kind of where my role is going to be and maximize it. I’ve been a lot more prepared in the way of understanding where I’m going to be at in the playbook, where I’m going to have to be at physically, you know, stamina. It’s just a whole bunch that I have to now take into account but without applying too much pressure, of course, because this is a game of ball that we have grown to love and grown to adapt to at all different levels. I’m definitely comfortable as a professional athlete and understanding what I have to do to get the job done. Now just cranking that thing up and getting ready for this opportunity that I have in front of me.”

Mattison only made six starts in his first four seasons, so it’s a bit of an understatement to say that things have changed for him this year. If he proves to be up to the task, it will likely be a while before his role changes again.

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If Mattison can take the bull by the horns or the Vikings horns, this will be a special offense which I believe will be a top 10 offense barring key injury/injuries.

With a defense under new leadership, hell bent for being aggressive and blitz happy, we might shock quite a few teams and people who arnt giving us much of a chance (and at times I havnt either).

Who knows - the Vikings just might be a team to be reckoned with.

 

Minnesota Vikings ceiling and floor for 2023

After winning their first NFC North title since 2017 last season, the Minnesota Vikings hope to repeat behind a dynamic offense and an improved defense in the second year under head coach Kevin O'Connell.

Whether the Vikings can finish atop a much tougher NFC North again remains to be seen. Here's our best guess at the best- and worst-case scenarios for the Vikings in 2023.

Ceiling: 11-6
They say good teams make their own luck, and the Vikings did that in 2022, winning 10 one-score games (two in overtime) while avoiding back-to-back defeats. The Vikings can't expect the same good fortune again, can they? Maybe they won't have to.

Boasting the fifth-highest-scoring offense in the NFC a season ago, quarterback Kirk Cousins returns armed with dynamic wide receiver Justin Jefferson, tight end T.J. Hockenson and 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison, another wideout.

Meanwhile, an overhauled defense could offer the offense relief. Following a down year ranked 28th in points allowed, the Vikings made significant changes on defense. Minnesota brought in Brian Flores to replace Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator, and the additions of edge-rusher Marcus Davenport, cornerback Byron Murphy and rookie CB Mekhi Blackmon could breathe new life into the unit.

A tough early schedule will test the defense, but it could shine in vastly important division matchups toward the end of the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, Detroit Lions in Weeks 16 and 18, and Green Bay Packers in Week 17. (View the complete schedule analysis here.)


Floor: 7-10
With the upstart Lions seemingly ready to contend for the division title and the Bears and Packers each likely to make a jump in 2023, the Vikings could be in for a longer-than-expected season if things go south early. Minnesota began the 2022 season winning seven of its first eight games, beating up mostly on inferior opponents. The Vikings won't have the same luxury in 2023 and could easily carry a losing record into the midway point of their schedule.

After opening the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Vikings will face off against four 2022 playoff teams over the next six weeks: the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2), Los Angeles Chargers (Week 3), reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (Week 5) and San Francisco 49ers (Week 7). Sprinkled in between are tough matchups at the Carolina Panthers (Week 4) and Bears (Week 6).

If things don't go smoothly over the first seven games, Minnesota must find a way to string a lot of road victories together down the stretch. Six of the team's final 10 games are on the road.

YARDBARKER

 

Alexander Mattison sees “great opportunity” in being Vikings’ starting running back

The departure of Dalvin Cook means Alexander Mattison is the No. 1 running back in Minnesota. Mattison says that’s a job he’s ready for.

“For me, it’s a great opportunity to step into the role, the limelight and the position I’ve always dreamt of being in,” Mattison said, via the Star-Tribune. “All the work I’ve put in to this point, all the work following in [Cook’s] footsteps, side by side, challenging each other every day, prepared me for a moment like this where I can have the opportunity to seize what’s in front of me.”

Mattison said he believes Cook will land on his feet and succeed with whatever team signs him. Cook remains a free agent.

But after four seasons as a backup, Mattison is now ready to be a starter, which he now is, for the first time in his NFL career.

NBC

 

I'm really beginning to dislike this guy you should already have yours stars signed up keep messing around and ĴJ will walk away and you still haven't gotten the Danielle Hunter situation dealt with and what about Hockensen nobody knows not the Vikings fan base again I just don't trust him

 

And I don't get talk of Vikings being worse can't see it but it's funny they have already crowned the Lions the Champions of the NFC North but wait say what the Vikings are the Champs not the Lions I will say it again to be the Champions you have to beat the Champs

 

Vikings waived CB John Reid (came over from Atlanta) today leaving 2 open spots on the roster for the moment.

 

So nobody ŕeally knows what's going on Kwesi-Adofo-Mensah keeps things to himself I don't know that means are you going to fill the 2 roster spots with what players? training camp is about to start....does anybody know WTF is going on

 

And whò in heck is John Reid

 

Jordan Addison speeding young and dumb lucky that's all didn't hurt nobody else or yourself,grow up cause immaturity is not a good thing

 

He was clocked at 140 in a 55... he's an idiot. He needs some discipline and some growing up for sure. Maybe he's a quick learner and this wont happen again.

 

What’s up with all the fast driving from players?

 

Cash money, new cars, young and stupid.

 

By the way - I was there once... young and stupid, now its old and stupid, still looking for cash money!!!

 

Cool looking Avatar Will

 

Vikings first-round pick Jordan Addison issued an apology after being cited for reckless driving in Minnesota on Thursday in the early morning.

“Yesterday morning I made a mistake and used poor judgment. I recognize and own that. I am going to learn from this and not repeat the behavior. I am truly sorry,” Addison said in the statement.

Police say Addison was stopped on I-94 after he was observed driving 140 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The citation listed both speeding and reckless driving.

The Vikings took Addison with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft after a college football career that saw him win the Belitnikoff Award as the best wide receiver in college football in 2021, while playing at Pitt. He then transferred to USC for his senior year and was not as productive, although he was still chosen first-team All-Pac-12.

Addison and the Vikings’ other rookies are scheduled to report to training camp on Sunday.

NBC