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Carson Wentz Carson Wentz Likely back to bench Week 9
Fri, Oct 24, 2025, 10:20 AM
Wentz (shoulder) is expected to cede the starting quarterback role to J.J. McCarthy (ankle) in Week 9 against the Lions, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Wentz's injury may be a bigger concern than McCarthy's at this point, as Wentz played through significant pain while using a harness on his left, non-throwing shoulder in Thursday's 37-10 loss to the Chargers. Wentz was listed as a full participant in practice Tuesday and Wednesday, but those were practice estimates as the Vikings held walk-throughs. Even if Wentz is medically cleared to take the field in Week 9, McCarthy has been steadily progressing in his recovery from an ankle injury and should be ready to take the reins by Nov. 2. |
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T.J. Hockenson T.J. Hockenson Just two receptions in loss
Fri, Oct 24, 2025, 9:02 AM
Hockenson had two receptions for 26 yards on three targets in Thursday's loss to the Chargers.
Analysis: Minnesota's offense struggled against the Chargers as Carson Wentz was sacked five times amid an injury-depleted offensive line. There were few opportunities for Hockenson as a result. He did go out on a route on 30 of his 40 snaps on offense, so he was involved in the passing game when the team fell far behind. |
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Jordan Addison Jordan Addison Finds end zone in loss
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 11:25 PM
Addison secured three of four targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Analysis: The Vikings' offense had a mostly forgettable performance as the final score indicates, but Addison still found a way to continue making an impact by recording a four-yard touchdown catch with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Addison has scored twice over his first four games after the delayed start to his season, and he's likely to have his first regular-season opportunity to work with J.J. McCarthy (ankle) as his quarterback in a Week 9 road matchup against the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2. |
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Jordan Mason Jordan Mason Five touches in Jones' return
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 11:19 PM
Mason rushed four times for three yards and brought in his only target for three yards in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Analysis: Mason saw Aaron Jones return from a four-game stay on injured reserve for Thursday's contest, and the former finished with a season-low carry total. While that was partly due to Jones' return, game script also played a significant role, as the Vikings were already down 21-3 at the half. Mason appears likely to slide back into a complementary role that should still yield him a serviceable amount of work in games where the Vikings have a chance to run a more balanced attack, with a Week 9 road matchup against the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2 serving as the next opportunity to see how the backfield shakes out. |
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Carson Wentz Carson Wentz Ragged showing in Week 8 loss
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 11:13 PM
Wentz completed 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.
Analysis: Wentz's final stat line essentially underscores how difficult a night it was for the veteran quarterback against a defense that sacked him five times. The 2016 second overall pick finished with a meager 67.5 QB rating and essentially sealed the loss with his one pick, which came at the Chargers' 33-yard line early in the fourth quarter on a pass intended for Justin Jefferson. Wentz certainly has had his moments during his five-game starting tenure, but his days as the top quarterback may be over for the time being because J.J. McCarthy (ankle) should have a chance to return for a Week 9 divisional road clash against the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2. |
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Aaron Jones Aaron Jones Seven touches in return to action
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 10:55 PM
Jones (hamstring) rushed five times for 15 yards and brought in two of four targets for 15 yards in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Analysis: Jones made his return from a four-game absence and logged one more carry than backfield mate Jordan Mason, but game script significantly limited Minnesota's ability to run a balanced offense. Jones' limited opportunities Thursday aside, the veteran back is likely to function as the lead back -- even if not by a significant margin -- over Mason moving forward, but another tough matchup awaits in Week 9 on Sunday, Nov. 2 in the form of a trip to the Motor City to face the Lions. |
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Justin Jefferson Justin Jefferson Seven catches in lopsided loss
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 10:39 PM
Jefferson brought in seven of 11 targets for 74 yards in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Analysis: The star wideout was in the familiar position of leading the Vikings in receptions, receiving yards and targets, although that didn't lead to anything beyond just a solid stat line. Jefferson has worked well overall with fill-in signal-caller Carson Wentz over the last five games, recording at least five catches and 74 receiving yards in each of those contests. He should be back to working with J.J. McCarthy (ankle) for a Week 9 road divisional showdown with the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2, a game Jefferson will take a 41-602-1 line into. |
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Josh Oliver Josh Oliver Out for game
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 9:05 PM
Oliver (foot) has been ruled out for the rest of Thursday night's contest against the Chargers.
Analysis: Oliver will remain sidelined for the remainder of Thursday Night Football. The tight end sustained a foot injury early in the contest, and Ben Yurosek will continue to operate in a more substantial role with Oliver unavailable. |
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Josh Oliver Josh Oliver Questionable to return to TNF
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 8:34 PM
Oliver (foot) is questionable to return to Thursday night's contest against the Chargers.
Analysis: Oliver suffered a foot injury in the first half, leaving his status for the rest of the game to be uncertain. In his absence, Ben Yurosek stands to see an increase in workload at tight end behind starter T.J. Hockenson. |
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Jordan Mason Jordan Mason Welcomes back Jones
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 6:01 PM
Mason is welcoming back Aaron Jones (hamstring) to the Vikings backfield for Thursday's game at the Chargers.
Analysis: Jones hasn't played since Week 2 due to a hamstring injury, but Minnesota designated him for return from injured reserve Tuesday and then activated him Thursday following two limited walkthroughs. It's unclear how many snaps and touches Mason may yield to Jones in his first game back, but Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com suggests that Jones at least will be utilized in a pass-catching capacity. Mason averaged 16.5 touches for 75.3 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring four rushing TDs during Jones' four-game absence. |
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Zavier Scott Zavier Scott Active Thursday, but Jones is back
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 5:55 PM
Scott (wrist) is listed as active Thursday at the Chargers.
Analysis: Scott emerged from this past Sunday's loss to the Eagles with a wrist injury and then logged a pair of limited walkthroughs before the Vikings tagged him as questionable for Week 8 action. While he'll be available to Minnesota's backfield, he'll be welcoming back Aaron Jones (hamstring) for the first time since Week 2 after the veteran was activated from IR and now is active for Thursday's game. Scott very well could be the third RB behind Jordan Mason and Jones moving forward. |
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Aaron Jones Aaron Jones Back in action Thursday
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 5:54 PM
Jones (hamstring) is active for Thursday's game at the Chargers.
Analysis: It's been a quick turnaround for Jones, who was designated for return from injured reserve Tuesday, followed that up with back-to-back limited walkthroughs, was listed as questionable for Week 8 action and then activated from IR on Thursday. He now has been cleared for his first game action since he suffered a hamstring injury Week 2, but with Jordan Mason faring well in Jones' absence -- and considering how long the latter was sidelined -- Jones seems poised for complementary work as a pass catcher, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Jones has five seasons of 50-plus receptions in his nine-year career. |
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J.J. McCarthy J.J. McCarthy Serving as emergency QB again
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 5:51 PM
McCarthy (ankle) is listed as inactive Thursday at the Chargers but will be available as the emergency third quarterback, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: McCarthy thus won't be active for a fifth consecutive game due to his ongoing recovery from a high right-ankle sprain, but his standing as the emergency third QB for a second straight contest gives him a chance to play if both starter Carson Wentz and backup Max Brosmer leave Thursday's matchup due to injuries. McCarthy himself has put together back-to-back weeks of limited on-field work, and coach Kevin O'Connell even told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that the second-year quarterback's workout Tuesday was "just not there," but could have been if the Vikings had a Sunday game on the schedule. McCarthy's next chance for his first action since Week 2 is Sunday, Nov. 2 in Detroit. |
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Aaron Jones Aaron Jones Activated from IR
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 3:09 PM
The Vikings have activated Jones (hamstring), who is officially listed as questionable for Thursday Night Football against the Chargers but is expected to play, from injured reserve.
Analysis: Jones is expected to suit up Thursday night, per Kirk Herbstreit of Prime Video, and this transaction makes him eligible to do so. Minnesota may not make the veteran running back's status official until roughly 90 minutes ahead of Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, however. If he's indeed cleared to suit up on the road against Los Angeles, expect Jones join Jordan Mason atop Minnesota's backfield depth chart, bumping Zavier Scott (wrist) down to the No. 3 role. It's possible, though, that Jones will still have a cap on his reps after having managed two limited walkthrough practices this week. |
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Aaron Jones Aaron Jones In line to return Thursday
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 12:41 PM
Jones (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Thursday's game at the Chargers but remains on injured reserve, is expected to play, Kirk Herbstreit of Prime Video reports.
Analysis: The Vikings will need to activate Jones from IR by 4:00 p.m. ET for the running back to have a chance to log his first game action since Week 2, when he initially injured his hamstring. Jones managed two limited walkthroughs this week, so if he's indeed active Thursday he seemingly would be operating with a cap on his snaps and touches. In any case, Jones' availability for Week 8 will be known roughly 90 minutes before an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. |
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C.J. Ham C.J. Ham Won't play vs. Bolts
Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 6:43 PM
Ham (hand) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Chargers, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Analysis: Ham was a DNP at practice during the condensed week due to a left hand injury that he sustained against the Eagles on Sunday, and the veteran fullback will be sidelined for Thursday's game as a result. The Vikings don't have another fullback on the roster, but they could use tight ends such as Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek and practice squad member Nick Vannett as blockers out of the backfield for Week 8. Ham's next opportunity to play is Week 9 against the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2. |
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Zavier Scott Zavier Scott Status in question for Thursday
Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 3:48 PM
Scott (wrist) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game at the Chargers.
Analysis: The same can be said for fellow RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), though the Vikings will need to activate him from injured reserve Thursday afternoon for him to have a chance to return to action for the first time since Week 2. If Jones remains sidelined and Scott is deemed active, the latter will resume his modest role behind Jordan Mason from the last four contests (6.8 touches for 29.5 yards from scrimmage per game while recording one TD catch). |
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Aaron Jones Aaron Jones Officially questionable for Week 8
Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 3:33 PM
Jones (hamstring), who was designated for return from injured reserve Tuesday, is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest at the Chargers.
Analysis: Jones was limited at walkthroughs Tuesday and Wednesday, but the activity was enough to give him a chance for his first game action since Week 2, when he suffered a hamstring injury during a loss to the Falcons. Jordan Mason has been capable out of the Vikings backfield in place of Jones, racking up 301 yards from scrimmage and four rushing TDs on 66 touches over the last four outings. Fellow RB Zavier Scott (wrist) also is listed as questionable for Week 8, so the transactions made by Minnesota on Thursday afternoon, like potentially activating Jones from IR, will be telling for who will join Mason as options for the ground game. |
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J.J. McCarthy J.J. McCarthy Officially questionable for Week 8
Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 3:26 PM
McCarthy (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game at the Chargers.
Analysis: Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Tuesday that McCarthy was slated to serve as the emergency third quarterback Week 8 for a second consecutive contest, meaning he'll be inactive and designated as such once the Vikings post their list about 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. O'Connell also told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that McCarthy's on-field workout Tuesday was "just not there" but could have been if Minnesota had a Sunday game on tap. In any case, Carson Wentz (left shoulder) will get the start Thursday while McCarthy will turn his focus to a Week 9 road matchup with the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2. |
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C.J. Ham C.J. Ham Doesn't practice Tuesday
Tue, Oct 21, 2025, 7:06 PM
Ham (hand) did not participate in Tuesday's walkthrough.
Analysis: Ham has opened the week with back-to-back DNPs due to a left hand injury that he sustained against the Eagles on Sunday. He would have to practice in at least a limited capacity Wednesday in order to have a realistic chance of playing against the Chargers on Thursday. |
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