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USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings training camp notebook, day 2: Defense continues to flash brilliance
The Vikings roster has reported to Eden Prairie, and as a result, they have started their journey into the 2025 season. It starts at home in Minnesota, but they hope it ends on the road in Santa Clara, where they have a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy for the first time. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have new extensions, as do their assistants and coordinators. J.J. McCarthy is finally healthy and ready to take over the controls of a franchise that trusted him enough to stick with him when so many other options presented themselves. All in all, the coaching staff remains essentially unchanged, while the roster sees some position groups infused with youth and talent to solidify them. The second day of training camp has wrapped, though, for the team, and there is a lot to break down. We did our best to decide what was worth sharing and discussing, as a lot happened, we narrowed it down to three key points. Of course, we rounded up some quick hitters as well for your enjoyment. Defense has contributors across the board The defense is going to have their work cut out for them once again in 2025 after a strong season in 2024 that saw the team go 14-3. While their offense remains one of the best in the NFL, the defense added some new pieces for Brian Flores to scheme with over the offseason, specifically in the secondary. Players like Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah both come in with mild expectations, and Dallas Turner in his sophomore season is expected to contribute more. The Athletic's Alec Lewis shared some thoughts from the second day as it pertains to this group, and as Olaf would say, "All good things, all good things." Lewis explained, "The Brian Flores defense looks revved up, per usual around this time. Disguised looks. Activity from Levi Drake Rodriguez. Lots of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah." If Byron Murphy Jr. can get help from Rodgers and Okudah, look out. Justin Jefferson leaves early, but fear not The Vikings avoiding injury in 2024 is going to be a pivotal part of the training camp over the next few weeks. Last year it bit former top pick J.J. McCarthy hard to the tune of a torn meniscus, so they are doing what they can to avoid it going forward. That is why Justin Jefferson's early departure from practice may have raised some alarms, but it left the All-Pro wide receiver smiling as if he had pulled it as a joke. Jefferson explained his early departure, saying, "Just having a little bit of tightness. Of course, with the past recent injuries and stuff that I have gone through before, just taking precaution and understanding it's the second day of camp, not the 30th." One would have to imagine we see Jefferson at practice on Friday, even if it is in a limited role. No reason for concern with the star receiver, as of now. Josh Metellus sits out on the second day A day after we discussed how Josh Metellus was practicing and being used as the Swiss Army knife of the Vikings' defense, he was making headlines again. The veteran safety, who is in the middle of a contract situation with the team, missed practice due to what the team reported to be an ankle issue. We have seen players cite injuries as a way to avoid camp and not be a distraction in the media, although that is not what is happening here yet. It does create a situation worth watching, though, for the team and Metellus, and the camp rolls on, and no contract is extended between the parties. Quick hitters
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
One Minnesota Vikings veteran projected to give a 'boost' to defense in 2025
The Minnesota Vikings may have a 22-year-old quarterback starting for the first time in the NFL this season. However, the team believes it can still contend in 2025, just one season after going 14-3. That means that even though they have a long-term investment with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, they have some shorter-term solutions at other positions. Although the Vikings tied for 4th in the NFL with 49 sacks, they lacked a formidable pass rush from their interior defensive linemen. They got only four sacks from that position group, forcing Brian Flores to draw up more blitzes that left holes in the zones downfield. One player being counted on to improve the interior line is former Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The 30-year-old has 42 sacks in eight seasons but missed nine games in 2024 due to a torn pectoral muscle. Now, being healthy and surrounded by playmakers on defense, Warren Ludford of The Daily Norseman believes Allen can thrive despite being in the later stages of his career. There are a few reasons for optimism regarding Allen's performance this season with the Vikings. The first is that Allen will have a better supporting cast along the defensive line so offenses won't be able to focus on him as much and that may lead to his being in a better position to pressure the quarterback. The second reason is that Allen is going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base front and I would not be surprised if Brian Flores employed a five-man front on a significant percentage of snaps. That makes it nearly impossible for Allen to be double-teamed and should help his production. Allen isn't the only former Pro Bowler the Vikings added to the defensive line. Former 49ers lineman Javon Hargrave, 32, was also signed this season. Together, the Vikings are expecting immediate results that can put them in a position to make a deep playoff run.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans Saddened by NFL's Snub of Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel
Fans Saddened by NFL's Snub of Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Andrew Van Ginkel may be an All-Pro, but he may still be overlooked. The Minnesota Vikings edge rusher signed a two-year, $20 million contract to reunite with Brian Flores last season and made a statement from the outset. Advertisement In Week 1, he snared a screen pass from New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and returned it for a pick six -- a preview of the type of season to come from the former fifth-round pick from Rock Valley, Iowa. Van Ginkel went on to have an All-Pro season, tallying a career-high 11.5 sacks, two pick-sixes, 79 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. He doubled his worth to the Vikings, who promptly re-upped and extended him an additional year to the tune of $23 million. The NFL recognized Van Ginkel, naming him to the "Top 100 Players of 2025" list for the first time in his career. But fans are upset with where he landed. Advertisement Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43)Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Upon the NFL's announcement that Van Ginkel was ranked No. 88 overall, fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with his placement on the list. "At least 40 spots too low," one fan wrote. "This is actually criminally low like there's gotta be voter fraud," a second fan replied. "This man deserves to be so SOOOO much higher on here," a third fan said. "You couldn't convince me there's 87 better players in the nfl then ginkle," a fourth fan added. How many outside linebackers that will be named ahead of Van Ginkel will be interesting to see. He was a dark-horse candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and had he not dropped a Week 5 pick-six opportunity against Aaron Rodgers, he could have been at the forefront of that conversation. Advertisement Overall, Van Ginkel earned tremendous respect from his peers for making the list for the first time in career. Another impressive season under Flores could catapult him much higher now that he has a foothold in the top 100. Related: Vikings' Justin Jefferson Dealt Disrespect Due to J.J. McCarthy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What is the Minnesota Vikings best case scenario on defense in 2025?
Brian Flores has had to compensate for a lack of pass-rushing defensive linemen by blitzing heavily in two seasons as Vikings defensive coordinator. He's hoping his new defensive tackles can help provide a more well-rounded attack. The Vikings are expecting Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to return to their pre-injury forms and provide the defense with an interior pass-rush the team hasn't had in several seasons. If they can do that, the Vikings can help mask an unproven secondary and improve on a defense that flashed brilliance in 2024 despite its shortcomings. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggests that the best-case scenario for the Vikings' defense this season is that their defensive front lives up to expectations, supporting EDGE rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Biggest Need: Cornerback Best-Case Scenario: Dominant Front Helps Questionable Secondary Look Elite Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. No one dials up pressures like Flores and the Vikings defense benefitted from his aggressive style. The Vikings were sixth in pressure percentage and had the No. 1 defense in EPA per rush. Now imagine that front with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave added to the middle. There's no question corner is the biggest question on the Vikings defense. They added Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to be presumptive starters on the outside with Byron Murphy Jr. as the slot corner. Ideally, Rodgers and Okudah would put together career years playing behind a defensive line that should dominate. The Vikings are likely hoping and expecting third-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who suffered a torn ACL last season, to start in front of Okudah. Blackmon showed promise as a rookie in 2023, and Okudah feels like a low-risk signing that the Vikings are taking a flyer on. Regardless of who starts opposite Murphy, the Vikings will need Allen and Hargrave to stay healthy and produce despite their age. They are both over 30, and that can impact their ability, regardless of their injury status.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings Release Bubba Bolden Despite Need at Safety
Vikings Release Bubba Bolden Despite Need at Safety originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After quarterback, safety is arguably the most demanding position in the Minnesota Vikings locker room. Josh Metellus, who plays the "star" role in Brian Flores' defense, lines up virtually everywhere, playing nearly a dozen different positions as both a capable cover man and pass rusher. Advertisement An understudy for the role, Theo Jackson is expected to step up as the Vikings' third safety behind Harrison Smith and Metellus after the departure of Cam Bynum, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in March. The Vikings moved swiftly when it appeared Bynum would not return, signing safety Bubba Bolden as their first acquisition of free agency. However, after mandatory minicamps, the Vikings had seen enough. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell Kirby Lee-Imagn Images On June 13, the Vikings announced the release of Bolden to make room for offensive lineman Vershon Lee. It's a curious move considering the Vikings have deployed three safeties for 1,000 snaps a season the past two years. Jay Ward is the only backup safety with playing experience on the roster after the trio of Smith, Metellus and Jackson -- leaving plenty of room for competition to make the final 53-man roster. Advertisement Bolden was a gifted athlete coming out of college in 2022 whose size at 6-foot-2 and 4.47-second 40-time helped him rank 62nd out of 765 strong safeties since 1987 for their overall athletic profile. Pro Football Network ranked him the fifth-best safety of his draft class, two spots ahead of former Vikings first-rounder Lewis Cine. However, Bolden's career has not panned out for several reasons -- some unspoken. As a sophomore at USC, Bolden faced a 28-month suspension for an incident that involved "mutual trash-talking" at a party. Bolden left before any escalation, but the school argued he violated the student code of conduct. Advertisement He resurrected his career at Miami but ultimately went undrafted. He's spent time with the Seattle Seahawks (2022) and Cleveland Browns (2023) but did not make the final rosters or practice squads due to ability and injury. Bolden was also suspended for three weeks by the NFL in 2024. He was not rostered by any team at the time. The Athletic's Dane Brugler lauded Bolden's athleticism but called his play style "undisciplined" and "inconsistent" coming out of college, begging the question of his fit in Flores' defense that demands high football IQ. The Vikings may be in the market for another safety come the start of training camp in late July. Advertisement Related: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Deemed 'Polar Opposite' of Sam Darnold Related: Vikings Star Gets Honest About Missing Practice Amid Contract Dispute This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
