Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 6

Last season, the Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. linked up 62 times on 114 targets for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Boosting those numbers could determine Arizona's offensive fate this season.

Thus far, Harrison said he can see the improved connection he and Murray have had this training camp.

"So, I definitely like where we're at," Harrison said. "We just got to go out there and put it on the field."

Those numbers were far behind many QB-WR combos the story pointed out. But the author noted through camp, the preseason and a joint practice with the Denver Broncos, the Murray-Harrison connection appears to have improved. The story went on to say In the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, their only preseason action together, Murray hit Harrison on a 15-yard pass with Harrison coming out of the slot. Murray threw the pass on a straight arrow in front of him and Harrison ran to the pass, which was thrown between three Chiefs defenders. The story also pointed out that Harrison said the duo put in a lot of work this offseason.

The Vikings signed quarterback Carson Wentz and traded quarterback Sam Howell to the Eagles.

The Vikings had worked out Wentz recently and have now added him to the roster. To make room, Howell was traded to an Eagles team that in search for a short-term backup to Jalen Hurts, as Tanner McKee is dealing with an injured finger and his status for the start of the season is unclear.

The move is also a sign of the confidence the Vikings have early on in rookie Max Brosmer as the potential backup to J.J. McCarthy. At the very least, he’ll stick around as the No. 3 after a solid preseason.

This is the third time in about a year and a half that Howell has been traded. He went from Washington to Seattle in March 2024 (after starting 17 games in 2023), then from Seattle to Minnesota back in April and now from Minnesota to Philadelphia.

Vikings have inquired about trading for Panthers WR Adam Thielen, per league sources.

With WR Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension and Jalen Nailor dealing with a hand injury, Thielen could wind up starting opening night for the Vikings if they can complete the trade.

We're projecting a pretty run-heavy approach for Minnesota this season, so it's hard to imagine Thielen providing a lot of long-term fantasy production. This does help McCarthy's floor as a low-end QB2.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is set to return to the field.

Jefferson has been out since the second practice of training camp with a hamstring injury, but head coach Kevin O’Connell said at a Monday pre-practice press conference that the wideout is going to resume participating in practice. O'Connell added it will be a ramp up and he'll take part in bits and pieces of practice, at least to start.

Vikings receiver Rondale Moore will not be able to play in 2025.

Minnesota confirmed Moore will miss his second consecutive year after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the club’s preseason opener over the weekend.

Moore went down after he was tackled on a punt return.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Tim Jones, T.J. Hockenson

Moore is still only 25-years-old and he spent last season on the Falcons’ injured reserve following a season-ending knee injury. With Moore not in the picture, and Addison suspended the first three games of the season, guys like Nailor and Jones may see a lot more work. It also means TE Hockenson could be in store for a ton of targets with the team a bit short at receiver.

Vikings WR Rondale Moore suffered what is being described as a “pretty significant” left knee injury during Saturday’s game against the Texans.

Moore left after the first play. If he does in fact miss the season, it will be his second straight season lost due to an injury. A right knee injury caused him to miss the 2024 season. Injuries have unfortunately been a major factor in the career of the 2021 second-round pick, which also included missing nine games in 2022 with the Cardinals. Moore was pushing for a role behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (who is suspended three games) and Jalen Nailor.

Discipline: NFL suspended Vikings WR Jordan Addison for the first three games of the 2025 regular season for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor, Rondale Moore, T.J. Hockenson

Addison now will miss games at Chicago, vs. the Falcons and vs. the Bengals, the post went on to say. We just posted a news story the Vikings were preparing for a three-game suspension and that's exactly what they got. With Addison out, Jefferson will dominate the targets but Nailor now becomes the WR2. Moore is the team's WR3, but it's possible Hockenson ends up being the second receiving target.

Kevin O’Connell said J.J. McCarthy will play in the Vikings preseason opener on Saturday. That’d been the expected plan for the young QB, as the Vikings get him his first game action since last year’s opener.

Exactly how much McCarthy will play is still TBD.

Goessling went on to post that O’Connell said the Vikings will “will more than likely use” the joint practices with the Patriots “as our our real days,” meaning McCarthy is unlikely to play in the second preseason game. The Titans game will depend if O’Connell feels McCarthy needs a little more work, the post added. While it's been the plan all along, it hasn't helped that reports say McCarthy has struggled up to this point in camp.

A looming issue at Vikings camp is Jordan Addison's availability to start the season. My sense after asking around is the Vikings are bracing for roughly a three-game suspension for Addison, who in July pleaded no contest to a lesser charge to resolve a 2024 DUI citation. The team's projection is based in part on the league's recent precedent for three-game suspensions for DUI-related offenses.

Addison owners are likely already prepared too, but the good news is the story went on to say Addison is preparing to take the next step by becoming a "better all-around receiver." The Vikings' WR1 spot is unquestioned: That belongs to Justin Jefferson. But after nearly 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns through two seasons, Addison believes he has the capacity to be one in ability if not by title, the story added.

No NFL coach would spell out a detailed strategy in public, of course, and the truth is that the split of carries among Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and perhaps fourth-year backup Ty Chandler will vary based on game circumstances. But early training camp practices have provided some clues. Jones received the initial snaps in most drills, while Mason opened Monday's full-pads practice with the first carry of first-team drills.

Seifert goes on to say, "While it appears unlikely that the split between Mason and Jones will be 50-50, early indications are that it will be much closer to that than the Vikings' previous splits under O'Connell."

We would still put the majority of the workload on Jones' plate, but Mason should still get enough touches to be fantasy relevant. Think of them as a respective RB2 and RB4.