Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 8

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, HC Kyle Shanahan told @KNBR.

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, George Kittle

This is almost assuredly going to be the Jennings-Pearsall-Kittle show, with ample Christian McCaffrey sprinkled in, at least until Brandon Aiyuk comes back into the picture. They are all easy targets at their current ADPs, and Pearsall might get a little bit extra while Robinson is sidelined.

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.

This could change at any moment but the answer, for now, is second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall has moved past the hamstring injury that kept him out in the spring and has begun stringing good practices together. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said by the end of last season Pearsall was the team's best receiver when it came to beating man coverage. He's continued to sharpen his route running and with many of the other wideouts dealing with injuries, including Jauan Jennings (who would be the answer here if healthy), there are plenty of opportunities for Pearsall to build on his strong finish to last season early in 2025.

Related Players: Brandon Aiyuk, Jacob Cowing, Demarcus Robinson

Things seemed to be heading in this direction, which is probably why the ADPs of Pearsall and Jennings have shifted much closer together over the summer months. Jennings had a massive 175-yard performance in the first month of last season, but Pearsall also closed the year out well and has his first full offseason under his belt after being shot (with a gun) last August. Both options look like they should be in the fantasy WR3 range for now.

Jauan Jennings, 28, is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension that he signed with the franchise in May 2024. Despite Jennings wanting a new contract, it doesn't appear that an extension is imminent. Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported Tuesday that the "two sides are not close on a new agreement," citing the timing of the contract request.

Related players: Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins

Jennings hasn't practiced since July 27 due to a calf injury which came less than two weeks after a report surfaced that Jennings wants a new contract and is open to a trade if he isn't compensated adequately, the story said. Some are questioning the calf injury, according to the story. Watkins is going to miss a month and Aiyuk should start the season on the PUP list, so the Niners are looking thin at the WR position as we get closer to the season.

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.

49ers GM John Lynch “doesn’t think” WR Brandon Aiyuk will be cleared for Week 1, but no official timetable set for ACL/MCL comeback.

Related players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Brock Purdy, George Kittle

This comes as no surprise, as we hadn't expected him to return until sometime in mid-season. Aiyuk should be passed over until late in drafts until we get some sort of concrete timetable, which may hint that he doesn't become fantasy-viable until at least the second half of the season. Jennings and Pearsall remain great mid-round picks.

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.