<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-rumors-espn-proposes-signing-4-time-pro-bowler-boost-pash-rush');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings rumors: ESPN proposes signing 4-time Pro Bowler to boost pash rush');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Matthew-Judon.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings rumors: ESPN proposes signing 4-time Pro Bowler to boost pash rush</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T12:47:51-07:00">June 26th, 12:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T12:47:51-07:00">June 26th, 12:47pm</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-sam-darnold-reflects-brutal-playoff-loss-rams">Vikings will be under a lot of pressure in 2025</a>. Minnesota had an incredible 2024 season, winning 14 games and heading to the playoffs. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-news-seattle-sam-darnold-agree-massive-100-million-contract">now Sam Darnold is gone</a> and the Vikings have to do their best with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnells-challenge-j-j-mccarthy-before-crowning-qb1">second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at the helm</a>. Minnesota could add more reinforcements before the beginning of training camp.</p><p>ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recommended one more roster move for each NFL team in a recent article. Schatz recommended that the Vikings <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45569999/2025-nfl-offseason-final-moves-suggestions-trades-signings-extensions-32-teams" rel="noopener">upgrade their pass rush</a> by adding veteran Matthew Judon.</p><p>Schatz began by suggesting that the Vikings need more depth at edge rusher.</p><p>“The Vikings are set with their starting edge rushers, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel,” Schatz wrote. “They have 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner waiting in the wings. And then after that, well … who is Bo Richter? Answer: He’s a second-year undrafted free agent who played 29 defensive snaps last season and is probably currently the No. 4 Edge on the Minnesota depth chart.”</p><p>Schatz believes that Judon would be a big upgrade over Richter, even after a poor 2024 campaign in Atlanta.</p><p>“The Vikings could really use a veteran to provide depth and rotate in every so often. Judon had a disappointing 2024 season with just 5.5 sacks for the Falcons, and he seems to be on the decline (he turns 33 in August). Still, he can get after the passer, and some reps as a backup might really rejuvenate his career.”</p><p>Judon is far removed from his 15.5-sack season in 2022. But he could be a useful rotational piece in Minnesota, if the price is right.</p><h2><b>Justin Jefferson’s important message to J.J. McCarthy ahead of important Vikings season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Justin-Jefferson-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If the Vikings want to have any success in 2025, they’ll need to create a strong connection between McCarthy and Justin Jefferson.</p><p>The superstar wide receiver <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/justin-jeffersons-important-message-to-vikings-qb-j-j-mccarthy">shared an important message for McCarthy</a> ahead of the 2025 season.</p><p>“From what I’ve learned, I would say the difference between me and a different receiver is what I put on the top of my routes,” Jefferson said, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “The flavor I have on the tops, the stride length that I have with my routes, and just knowing certain routes that I’ll break it off at a certain distance, that another receiver might break it off a little earlier, because of my stride length. So all of that just goes into play, and the more we’re out here and just having those reps, the better we’re going to be.”</p><p>McCarthy and Jefferson will need to use every rep in training camp to establish a good rapport before the regular season.</p><p>Vikings fans should keep their eyes on this connection throughout the summer.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings rumors: ESPN proposes signing 4-time Pro Bowler to boost pash rush

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/1-obvious-minnesota-vikings-trade-candidate-entering-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 obvious Minnesota Vikings trade candidate entering 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brian-Asamoah.jpg"></figure><h1>1 obvious Minnesota Vikings trade candidate entering 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T07:33:08-07:00">June 26th, 7:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T07:33:08-07:00">June 26th, 7:33am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-gets-encouraging-update-from-espns-dan-graziano">Minnesota Vikings</a> are coming off a disappointing finish to their 2024 campaign, bowing out in the Wildcard Round and leaving fans and analysts alike wondering what’s next for a roster in transition. With J.J. McCarthy now entrenched as the starting quarterback and a talented young core led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Vikings are clearly in the midst of a youth movement. But as the team pivots to a new era, there are still a few veterans whose roles—and futures—are up in the air.</p><p>General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has developed a reputation for aggressive roster management, frequently leveraging trades to maximize value and flexibility. With only a handful of picks in the 2025 draft, there’s extra incentive to explore deals that could net additional assets for the future. Among the names swirling in trade rumors, one stands out as the most obvious candidate as training camp approaches: linebacker Brian Asamoah.</p><h2>Why Brian Asamoah Is the Vikings’ Top Trade Candidate</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brian-Asamoah-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Drafted in the third round in 2022, Brian Asamoah arrived in Minnesota with high expectations. His athleticism and range were supposed to make him a fixture in the Vikings’ linebacker corps for years to come. However, the reality has been far less promising. Despite injuries to starters over the past three seasons, Asamoah has consistently found himself behind other options on the depth chart, unable to seize a starting role or make a significant impact on defense.</p><p>This lack of progress has not gone unnoticed. Asamoah’s inability to break through, combined with the Vikings’ evolving defensive scheme under coordinator Brian Flores, has made his presence increasingly redundant. The team has invested in other young linebackers and continues to look for fits who can thrive in Flores’ aggressive, hybrid system. Asamoah, meanwhile, has become something of a forgotten man—an athletic prospect who hasn’t translated potential into production.</p><p>The Vikings’ linebacker room is crowded, and with the franchise’s clear commitment to building around a younger, more dynamic core, roster spots are at a premium. Asamoah’s rookie contract is still affordable, but his lack of a defined role makes him expendable, especially for a team eager to recoup draft capital and create space for ascending players.</p><p>Minnesota’s front office is also acutely aware of the need to maintain flexibility. With limited draft assets and a desire to keep the pipeline of young talent flowing, moving on from a player like Asamoah, who still carries some value as a former high pick, makes strategic sense. Even if the return is modest, such as a conditional seventh-round pick, it’s a move that aligns with the team’s long-term vision and roster-building philosophy.</p><h2>Trade Value and Market Interest</h2><p>While Asamoah’s trade value isn’t sky-high, there are reasons to believe he could attract interest from linebacker-needy teams. His athletic profile and special teams experience make him a viable depth addition for franchises looking to bolster their second unit or add competition in camp. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all a young player needs to unlock his potential, and Asamoah could benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.</p><p>It’s also worth noting that trades involving players like Asamoah often materialize late in the preseason, as injuries and depth concerns force teams to reassess their rosters. Minnesota’s willingness to move him for a late-round pick or as part of a package deal could make negotiations more appealing for potential suitors.</p><p>Moving on from Brian Asamoah would be a clear signal that the Vikings are fully committed to their youth movement and unafraid to make difficult decisions regarding underperforming draft picks. It would also free up a roster spot for a younger linebacker or special teams ace who fits better with the current regime’s vision.</p><p>For Asamoah, a trade could offer the opportunity to reset his career and compete for a more prominent role on a new team. For the Vikings, it’s about maximizing every asset and ensuring the roster is as competitive and cohesive as possible heading into a pivotal season.</p><p>Brian Asamoah stands out as the most obvious Minnesota Vikings trade candidate entering 2025 training camp. His lack of a defined role, combined with the team’s desire for flexibility and additional draft capital, makes a move likely if the right offer comes along. As the Vikings continue to reshape their roster around a promising young core, expect Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to explore every avenue, including trading Asamoah, to keep Minnesota’s rebuild on track and competitive for years to come.</p><p>Ultimately, training camp will provide the final audition for Asamoah, but the writing appears to be on the wall. If the Vikings can secure even a late-round pick, it would be a prudent move, one that underscores their commitment to building a faster, younger, and more cohesive roster for 2025 and beyond.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 obvious Minnesota Vikings trade candidate entering 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-gets-encouraging-update-from-espns-dan-graziano');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ JJ McCarthy gets encouraging update from ESPN’s Dan Graziano');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JJ-McCarthy_221ea9.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings’ JJ McCarthy gets encouraging update from ESPN’s Dan Graziano</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-23T19:07:36-07:00">June 23rd, 7:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-23T19:07:36-07:00">June 23rd, 7:07pm</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy got an encouraging update on his development this offseason. Minnesota is coming off a terrific 2024 regular season. Under third-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings went 14-3 before bowing out to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card. But after a Pro Bowl season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-news-seattle-sam-darnold-agree-massive-100-million-contract">Sam Darnold will no longer</a> be QB1 for the franchise. And now the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnells-challenge-j-j-mccarthy-before-crowning-qb1">Vikings will turn to their former No. 4</a> overall pick under center with a roster built to contend in the NFC.</p><p>The NFC North division is expected to be loaded once again. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are coming off playoff appearances and entering the season with expectations of contending for a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears have had a very productive offseason and are expected to significantly increase their win total in 2025. Ultimately, at least one of these teams will be extremely disappointed about how their season turns out. The pressure is on McCarthy, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano <a href="https://x.com/ESPNNFL/status/1937281674611474846" rel="noopener">detailed how</a> the organization is encouraged by the 22-year-old’s progress so far.</p><p>“He (McCarthy) looks the way they would expect him to look at this point in his developmental process, and that’s the key thing to understand in this process. As Adam Schefter said, there’s nobody under more pressure (than McCarthy), but they don’t want him to focus on the pressure. They want him to focus on the process. Is he ready to start right now? Probably not. Can he be the first weekend in September? The Vikings believe that he can.</p><p>He’s been working on detail stuff, fundamental stuff. Remember, he lost last year due to injury, so that’s a year of development he didn’t get…Kevin O’Connell would’ve told you this time last year that Sam Darnold wasn’t ready yet to be their starter, but he believed he could get him there by the first weekend of September, and he did, obviously. They believe the same thing about JJ McCarthy.”</p><p>Overall, it will be a process with McCarthy under center, but the young QB certainly has the talent to succeed at this level. And he will need to hit the ground running as the Vikings have one of the most demanding schedules in the NFL, with nine matchups against teams that made the postseason in 2024. Minnesota expects to return to the playoffs, which is why there are sizable expectations for McCarthy in his first year as a starter. Still, based on the recent reports, the Vikings are confident that JJ is their answer at quarterback going forward and will meet the moment like he did at Michigan.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ JJ McCarthy gets encouraging update from ESPN’s Dan Graziano

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/1-perfect-minnesota-vikings-move-to-fill-out-roster-before-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 perfect Minnesota Vikings move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-perfect-Minnesota-Vikings-move-to-fill-out-roster-before-2025-training-camp.jpg"></figure><h1>1 perfect Minnesota Vikings move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-23T05:24:43-07:00">June 23rd, 5:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-23T05:24:43-07:00">June 23rd, 5:24am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/3-hottest-minnesota-vikings-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp">Minnesota Vikings</a> gear up for what promises to be one of the most anticipated training camps in recent franchise history, the roster appears stacked at nearly every position. General manager <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-locks-up-gm-kwesi-adofo-mensah-multi-year-contract-extension">Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s</a> aggressive offseason spending spree, north of $300 million, has transformed the Vikings into legitimate contenders, with depth and talent across the board. Yet, as the dust settles from free agency and the draft, one glaring opportunity remains: adding proven depth at cornerback. The perfect move? Signing free agent Asante Samuel Jr.</p><p>The Vikings’ secondary, under the guidance of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, is built around versatility and aggressive coverage. Byron Murphy Jr. is entrenched as the top option after a Pro Bowl campaign, while Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, and Jeff Okudah round out a group long on potential but short on proven, high-level production beyond Murphy. Tavierre Thomas and Dwight McGlothern offer special teams value and depth, but the drop-off in experience is notable.</p><p>In a division featuring dynamic passing attacks, think Jared Goff’s Lions and Caleb Williams’ Bears, the margin for error in the secondary is razor-thin. Injuries and the inevitable attrition of a long NFL season make it imperative for contenders to have a reliable, deep cornerback rotation. The Vikings’ current group, while promising, could use one more building block to weather the storm and push for a deep playoff run.</p><h2>Asante Samuel Jr. Is The Ideal Fit</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Asante-Samuel-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>At just 25 years old, Asante Samuel Jr. remains one of the most intriguing free agents on the market. A former second-round pick of the Chargers, Samuel burst onto the scene with a reputation for sticky man coverage, ball skills, and a football IQ inherited from his All-Pro father. Over three full seasons, he’s defended 37 passes and posted an impressive 82.0 Pro Football Focus coverage grade across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Even after an injury-shortened 2024, Samuel’s coverage ability and experience make him an immediate upgrade for any secondary.</p><p>His 2024 campaign was derailed by a neck and shoulder injury, limiting him to just four games, but he’s reportedly on track to return after offseason surgery, with a medical check-up scheduled for early July. When healthy, Samuel has demonstrated the ability to shadow top receivers and hold up in both man and zone schemes, a perfect fit for Flores’ system, which demands both versatility and aggressiveness from its corners.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>The primary reason Samuel remains unsigned is concern over his injury history, particularly the neck and shoulder issues that sidelined him for most of last season. Teams have been cautious, waiting for medical clearance before making a move. However, recent reports indicate Samuel is expected to be ready for the 2025 season, with his camp targeting a signing after his July check-up.</p><p>The Vikings, with a deep roster and no urgent need to rush a new addition into the starting lineup, are uniquely positioned to take a calculated risk. By bringing Samuel in on a short-term, incentive-laden deal, Minnesota can bolster its cornerback depth without significant financial risk, while also giving Samuel a platform to re-establish his value.</p><h2>How Samuel Elevates the Vikings’ Defense</h2><p>Adding Samuel would allow the Vikings to deploy a true four-deep rotation at outside corner, reducing the wear and tear on Murphy and Rodgers while creating competition for snaps with Blackmon and Okudah. Samuel’s ball skills and anticipation could also translate into more turnovers, which would only make this elite defense that much better, which forced a league-high 33 turnovers in 2024.</p><p>Moreover, Samuel’s experience as a starter in a high-pressure AFC West environment would bring valuable playoff-tested poise to a young Vikings secondary. His presence would also give Flores more flexibility to mix coverages, blitz packages, and matchup-specific game plans, knowing he has another proven corner to trust on the outside.</p><p>Given Samuel’s age and upside, his market value, projected at roughly $11 million per year, would typically price him out of a depth role. But with his injury history, a one-year “prove it” deal, heavy on incentives and playing time bonuses, is realistic. This structure protects the Vikings financially while giving Samuel the chance to cash in with a strong, healthy season.</p><p>The Vikings have done nearly everything right this offseason, transforming their roster into one of the league’s most complete. Yet, championship teams are often defined by their ability to address the smallest weaknesses before they become glaring issues. Signing Asante Samuel Jr. would be the perfect finishing touch, a low-risk, high-reward move that could pay dividends deep into January.</p><p>With training camp fast approaching, the time is now for Minnesota to make this savvy addition. If Samuel’s medicals check out, the Vikings should not hesitate. In a season where every edge matters, Asante Samuel Jr. could be the difference between another playoff appearance and a Super Bowl run.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 perfect Minnesota Vikings move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-sam-darnold-reflects-brutal-playoff-loss-rams');   ga('set', 'title', 'Sam Darnold reflects on Vikings’ brutal playoff loss vs Rams');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sam-Darnold.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Sam Darnold reflects on Vikings’ brutal playoff loss vs Rams</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-21T12:10:03-07:00">June 21st, 12:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-21T12:11:55-07:00">June 21st, 12:11pm</time><address><a>Guillermo Guajardo</a>Guillermo Guajardo is a dynamic sports presenter with experience on various television channels and digital platforms, most recently with A Tiempo.TV. He is also a multidisciplinary artist with 10 years of experience in acting, directing, writing, and hosting. His work in film has been recognized at international festivals, earning awards for both his performances and directorial projects.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Sam Darnold’s lone season with the Minnesota Vikings ended with a 14-2 record, but the promising run quickly unraveled with a crushing playoff exit. However, things took a turn for the worse pretty quickly.<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sam-darnold-on-final-games-in-minnesota-we-laid-an-egg-on-offense" rel="noopener"> After a tough 31-9 loss</a> to the Detroit Lions in Week 18, the Vikings followed it with a disappointing 27-9 Wild Card playoff exit against the Los Angeles Rams. What started as a standout season for Darnold turned into a tough lesson about the pressures of postseason play, ultimately leading to his departure from the Vikings <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/seahawks-news-sam-darnold-flops-first-session-media">and his signing with the Seattle Seahawks</a></p><p>As the newly appointed starter for Minnesota, Darnold <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25210622-sam-darnold-reflects-vikings-nfl-playoff-loss-feelings-failure-after-struggles" rel="noopener">faced challenges in both playoff</a> games. Against the Rams, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-sam-darnold-roughed-rams-postseason-feat-25-years">he was sacked a staggering nine times</a>, and the Vikings could only muster nine points. Looking back on the disappointing end to the season, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6432900/2025/06/19/sam-darnold-seahawks-contract-nfl-vikings/" rel="noopener">Darnold reflected.</a></p><p>“We laid an egg as an offense… I didn’t play up to my standard. I feel like if I would have just played better, I would’ve been able to give the team a chance,” he shared in an interview with Mike Silver from The Athletic.</p><p>The Vikings’ struggle to adapt to defensive strategies proved to be a significant setback. Darnold pointed out that both Detroit and L.A. “played man and tried to play some ‘robber’ stuff,” which threw off the Vikings’ ability to convert on third downs and disrupted their offensive flow. “It gave me some troubles, personally,” Darnold <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-minnesota-vikings-qb-sam-173206377.html" rel="noopener">admitted about the coverage tactics</a> they faced in those crucial games.</p><p>Now, as he prepares to join the Seattle Seahawks, Darnold is determined to grow from this experience.</p><p>“I learned a lot last season, especially from those two games,” he said. “You go through those experiences, you learn, and you get better.”</p><p>For Darnold, it’s not just about bouncing back; it’s about showing that the version of himself who led the Vikings to 14 wins is the one who will shape his future.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Sam Darnold reflects on Vikings’ brutal playoff loss vs Rams

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/3-hottest-minnesota-vikings-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', '3 hottest Minnesota Vikings takes coming out of 2025 minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-hottest-Minnesota-Vikings-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp.jpg"></figure><h1>3 hottest Minnesota Vikings takes coming out of 2025 minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T05:27:42-07:00">June 19th, 5:27am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T05:27:42-07:00">June 19th, 5:27am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/3-minnesota-vikings-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-nfl-season">Minnesota Vikings</a> wrapped up their 2025 minicamp with a roster brimming with intrigue, competition, and a dash of controversy. As the NFC North tightens and expectations soar, the Vikings’ summer sessions have produced plenty of storylines. Here are the three hottest takes coming out of Eagan as the team eyes a return to the playoffs.</p><h2>J.J. McCarthy’s Cautious Start Isn’t a Red Flag</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Minnesota-Vikings-quarterback-JJ-McCarthy-practices-during-minicamp-at-the-Minnesota-Vikings-Training-Facility.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>All eyes in Minnesota are on J.J. McCarthy, the rookie quarterback handed the keys to a 14-win team that fell short in the postseason last year. While some fans expected fireworks, McCarthy’s minicamp performance was measured, leaning heavily on short throws and conservative reads. Critics might see this as a sign of hesitancy or lack of readiness, especially when compared to Sam Darnold’s aggressive approach last summer or even Sam Howell’s willingness to air it out during recent drills.</p><p>But here’s the hot take: McCarthy’s slow integration is a deliberate, strategic move by head coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff. The Vikings aren’t asking McCarthy to be a gunslinger out of the gate, they’re building his confidence and command of the offense methodically. Veteran defender Javon Hargrave even compared McCarthy’s poise to Brock Purdy, emphasizing the rookie’s calm under pressure. Coaches like Josh McCown are focused on refining McCarthy’s mechanics and decision-making, not rushing him into risky situations.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">J.J. McCarthy looks SURGICAL in Year 2 👀👀 <a href="https://t.co/oIoBhlCAop">pic.twitter.com/oIoBhlCAop</a></p><p>— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/woodwardsports/status/1929891167061086639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>This approach isn’t a sign of trouble, it’s a sign the Vikings have learned from past mistakes with young quarterbacks. By the time the regular season arrives, McCarthy could be one of the most prepared rookie starters in recent memory, ready to unleash his full arsenal when the stakes are highest.</p><h2>Jordan Addison Is Poised for a Breakout</h2><p>Jordan Addison’s rookie campaign was impressive, but the big question entering 2025 was whether he could maintain that production without Kirk Cousins. Early minicamp returns suggest Addison is not just surviving, he’s thriving. The chemistry between Addison and McCarthy has been a focal point, with both players spending extra time together after practices to fine-tune their connection.</p><p>Addison’s route-running and ability to separate have made him a reliable target, and his rapport with McCarthy is growing by the day. But here’s the real kicker: Addison’s skill set is so robust that he’s poised to be a star no matter who’s throwing him the ball. With Sam Howell showing off his deep-ball prowess in minicamp and McCarthy’s accuracy in the short game, Addison is positioned to be the focal point of the passing attack in any scenario.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>The Vikings’ offense is designed to maximize playmakers, and Addison is emerging as one of the most versatile and dynamic receivers in the NFC North. Don’t be surprised if he eclipses his rookie numbers and becomes a Pro Bowl candidate—even as the team transitions to a new era at quarterback.</p><h2>Dallas Turner and the Defense Could Be the Real Engine Behind a Playoff Push</h2><p>While much of the offseason buzz has centered on the offense, the Vikings’ defense has quietly asserted itself as the backbone of the team during minicamp. Dallas Turner, who was overshadowed by veterans in his rookie year, has emerged as a key figure in Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme. His performance in drills and scrimmages suggests he’s ready to join the rotation of pass rushers that keeps offensive lines guessing and quarterbacks on edge.</p><p>The defense as a whole dominated the minicamp finale, with newcomers like Isaiah Rodgers stepping into starting roles and linebackers like Blake Cashman making plays in coverage. Turner’s development is particularly significant—if he can bring consistent pressure off the edge, the Vikings’ defense could transform from solid to elite.</p><p>Flores’ philosophy of rotating pass rushers to keep them fresh has worked for Super Bowl contenders in the past, and Turner’s emergence gives Minnesota the depth and explosiveness needed to execute that plan. If the defense continues to gel and Turner becomes a disruptive force, the Vikings could ride their defense deep into January, even as the offense finds its footing with a new quarterback.</p><p>As training camp approaches, the competition will only intensify, and these storylines are sure to evolve. The Vikings’ coaching staff has set the stage for a season where both veterans and young talent will be pushed to their limits. If these hot takes hold true, Minnesota could not only exceed expectations but also reestablish themselves as a true contender in the NFC. The coming months promise drama, development, and perhaps a few surprises that could define the 2025 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 hottest Minnesota Vikings takes coming out of 2025 minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-blames-michigan-stigma-public-doubt');   ga('set', 'title', 'JJ McCarthy blames Michigan ‘stigma’ for ‘public doubt’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JJ-McCarthy.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>JJ McCarthy blames Michigan ‘stigma’ for ‘public doubt’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-17T07:54:50-07:00">June 17th, 7:54am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-17T07:54:50-07:00">June 17th, 7:54am</time><address><a>Scotty White</a>Scotty White is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has been in the sports journalism industry since 2020. He has covered athletics at the University of Michigan and is now serving as an Associate Editor, Chicago Bulls beat writer, and Michigan football reporter at ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>JJ McCarthy was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he wasn’t able to play last season because of injury. Now, he is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnells-challenge-j-j-mccarthy-before-crowning-qb1">set to be the starting QB for the Vikings</a> this upcoming season, and while there is a lot of hype surrounding him, there are also a lot of doubters. A big reason why people <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45523859/nfl-minnesota-vikings-jj-mccarthy-quarterback" rel="noopener">aren’t sold on</a> McCarthy is because his stats didn’t light up the box score when he was at Michigan.</p><p>The Michigan football team has always had a run-first offense, and that was no different when JJ McCarthy was there. McCarthy didn’t throw for over 3,000 yards in either of his full-time starting seasons, but that’s because he didn’t need to. He didn’t have as many yards as a lot of other top QBs, but he also didn’t throw the ball as much.</p><p>A perfect example to illustrate McCarthy’s efficiency is that he completed over 72% of his passes during his final season with the Wolverines. When Michigan needed him to throw the ball, he did. Still, people that just look at his yardage totals aren’t sold.</p><p>“A lot of [the public doubt] just comes with the stigma of playing at Michigan and not throwing the ball a lot,” McCarthy said, according to an article from ESPN. “But at the same time, it could be my frame. They don’t see a 6-5, 240-[pound] guy, so how can you throw at 61 miles an hour at the combine? But at the end of the day, it’s going to show up and the people that know, know.”</p><p>One thing that JJ McCarthy is definitely not lacking is confidence. He has always known that he has the ability to be successful, and he has never worried about what other people think of him. He just performs and wins.</p><p>McCarthy is looking to prove a lot of people wrong this season as he gets ready for his first year in the NFL. A lot of good things have been said about him so far this offseason, and it sounds like McCarthy is in a good spot.</p><p>“It’s been awesome,” McCarthy said, “because they’ve really pushed the limits on just what I can handle, and that’s what I asked for. I’d rather sweat in training and limit the bleeding on the battlefield when we get there.”</p><p>A new QB era is about to begin in Minnesota. The Vikings selected JJ McCarthy because they thought that he had the potential to be their next franchise QB. Because of last year’s injury, the wait has been long as fans are eager to see the first-round pick in action, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress">McCarthy is ready to show</a> Minnesota that it got a good one.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

JJ McCarthy blames Michigan ‘stigma’ for ‘public doubt’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnells-challenge-j-j-mccarthy-before-crowning-qb1');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kevin O’Connell’s ‘challenge’ to J.J. McCarthy before crowning QB1');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JJ-McCarthy.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kevin O’Connell’s ‘challenge’ to J.J. McCarthy before crowning QB1</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-17T07:30:43-07:00">June 17th, 7:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-17T07:31:29-07:00">June 17th, 7:31am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings were one of the best stories in the NFL during the 2024 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-vikings-sam-darnold-officially-cleared-win-cboy-award">Minnesota shocked the world by winning 14 games with Sam Darnold</a> at quarterback. Could the Vikings do the same thing in 2025 under <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-key-jj-mccarthy-protector-big-step-return-2024-season-ending-injury">second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy?</a></p><p>Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear in a recent interview that he has not crowned McCarthy as the team’s starter yet.</p><p>O’Connell also <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45523859/nfl-minnesota-vikings-jj-mccarthy-quarterback" rel="noopener">referenced Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours rule”</a> when talking about McCarthy.</p><p>“I feel really good about where he’s at fundamentally,” O’Connell said. “But it’s still those 10,000 reps, those 10,000 hours, and we’re not that far into that process, and I challenge him every day to embrace it. [He] can’t be too hard on himself, but at the same time, ‘What is your standard to get not where you are right now, but where you want to get to?’ And he’s done a good job of attacking that every day.”</p><p>For those who are unfamiliar, Gladwell’s rule is that it takes 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to master a complex skill.</p><p>McCarthy’s season-ending injury before the 2024 season limited his number of reps during his rookie year. McCarthy had the opportunity to process the team’s offense mentally throughout the season, which should put him a step ahead this fall.</p><p>Regardless, McCarthy should have an easy time winning the starting job in training camp later this summer.</p><h2><b>Vikings encouraged by J.J. McCarthy’s recent injury progress heading into the summer</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JJ-McCarthy-running.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It is fair that the Vikings want to see more from McCarthy before they call him their starter.</p><p>Thankfully, McCarthy is apparently in great shape while he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-injury-update">recovers from last year’s season-ending injury</a>.</p><p>ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted in a recent article that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress">Minnesota is encouraged by the progress</a> McCarthy has made in his recovery this offseason.</p><p>“The Vikings feel that J.J. McCarthy in day nine of his offseason workouts was a lot stronger than day one,” Fowler said. “Coming off that knee issue, they knew he could start a little slowly, but they like the way he’s throwing the ball. They feel very comfortable with where he’s at going into training camp; they didn’t sign [Aaron Rodgers] in lieu of McCarthy because they believe in their three-year plan… They believe they can win the Super Bowl in the next three years.”</p><p>Fowler snuck in a bold statement there that Minnesota believes they can win a Super Bowl over the next three seasons.</p><p>It will be fascinating to see if the Vikings recapture the same magic they had in 2024 later this fall.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kevin O’Connell’s ‘challenge’ to J.J. McCarthy before crowning QB1

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/2-vikings-veterans-whose-roles-will-be-pushed-by-rookies-in-2025');   ga('set', 'title', '2 Vikings veterans whose roles will be pushed by rookies in 2025');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Donovan-Jackson-has-an-excellent-chance-to-start-on-the-offnesive-line.jpg"><figcaption> Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>2 Vikings veterans whose roles will be pushed by rookies in 2025</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-15T15:48:16-07:00">June 15th, 3:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-15T15:48:16-07:00">June 15th, 3:48pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-hands-offensive-coordinator-new-contract-before-2025-season">Minnesota Vikings</a> were so close to having a remarkable season in 2024. They started the season with five straight victories, and after a pair of losses they came through with a nine-game winning streak.</p><p>The Vikings were 14-2 going into their regular season finale against the powerful Detroit Lions. A win in that game for the Vikes would have given them the top spot in the NFC North and the overall No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.</p><p>It was not to be and it really wasn’t close. The Vikings offensive line did not hold up against the Lions and quarterback Sam Bradford felt the pressure of the moment and the heat from the Detroit pass rush.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress">The Vikings</a> lost that game by a 31-9 margin and were shunted to the Wild Card round of the playoffs. They lost that game to the Los Angeles Rams by a 27-9 score and their dream season came to a stunning end.</p><p>The Vikings have spent much of the offseason attempting to amend the weakness on the offensive line. They added center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries from the Indianapolis Colts during free agency and they drafted guard Donovan Jackson with the 25th pick in the first round.</p><p>The Vikings are happy with offensive tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. That duo is considered one of the best in the league at their respective positions.</p><h2><b>Jackson has the characteristics the Vikings are looking for at guard</b></h2><p>The Vikings are hoping that Jackson will be good enough to take the starting position away from <a href="https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/MIN">left guard Blake Brandel.</a> Jackson proved to be a a versatile and impactful offensive lineman for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, and head coach Kevin O’Connell knows that the Vikings have a player who will battle on every snap.</p><p>Brandel is a four-year veteran who has started every game the past two years and has performed at an above average level. However, he did not distinguish himself against elite opponents, and if the Vikings are going to be more than a strong regular-season team, they need outstanding guard play against the best opponents.</p><p>Jackson appears to have all the tools needed to get there, but the question is whether he can get there in his rookie season. If he does win the starting job during training camp, he will have Darrisaw at left tackle on one side of him and Kelly on the other side.</p><p>That should help him quite a bit, but he is going to have to be successful on his own. Jackson played left tackled during the Buckeyes’ championship run. The 6-4, 315-pound Jackson is wide and powerful with polished footwork. He has an excellent hand punch that can stun defensive linemen.</p><p>Jackson must show he has the flexibility to man the guard spot, but he plays with a sense of leverage and has wonderful mobility. Those are the key reasons the Vikings believe in him.</p><p>He will clearly push Brandel for the starting left guard position.</p><h2><b>Oscar Chapman will push Ryan Wright for the punting position</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Oscar-Chapman-has-a-great-leg-and-could-win-a-position-with-the-Vikings.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Vikings were not overly thrilled with the punting job done by Ryan Wright last season. He had a decent 46.5-yard average but just a 40.6-net-yard average. He had one punt block, he had 27 punts inside the 20 and five touchbacks.</p><p>This was not a bad year, but the Vikings are hoping that rookie free agent Oscar Chapman can do a better job.</p><p>Chapman is a rookie from Adelaide, South Australia, who comes to the Vikings via the free agency route  from Auburn.</p><p>Chapman punted for five seasons at Auburn and he had his best season in 2023 when he punted 61 times and had a 44.6-yard average.</p><p>He was nearly as good in 2021 when he average 44.2 yards on 57 punts. He was not quite as decisive last year as he averaged 42.5 yards on 41 punts last year.</p><p>The Vikings like what they see from Chapman because he can get his punts away quickly. He should have a better-than-even chance of beating out Wright for the punting position.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 Vikings veterans whose roles will be pushed by rookies in 2025

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-minnesota-releases-statement-state-representative-tragedy');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings release statement after state representative tragedy');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Vikings-owner-Zygi-Wilf.jpg"><figcaption>Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings release statement after state representative tragedy</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-14T13:09:17-07:00">June 14th, 1:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-14T13:09:17-07:00">June 14th, 1:09pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A deadly political shooting took the life of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and seriously wounded Sen. John Hoffman on Friday night. As they have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-owners-release-heartfelt-statement-after-bud-grant-passing">previously done in similar situations, the Minnesota Vikings</a> issued a stern but emotional statement in reaction to the tragic attack.</p><p>The Vikings offered their sincerest condolences to the Hortman family in their social media statement. The team <a href="https://x.com/Vikings/status/1933962967650910438" rel="noopener">acknowledged the work they have done</a> with both Hortman and Hoffman during their tenures.</p><p>“As Minnesotans and a team that cares deeply about our state, we are shocked and saddened by the targeted overnight attacks that took the lives of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously injured State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette,” the statement read. “Our prayers are with the Hortman family as they grieve this tragedy and with all government officials who are mourning the loss of a colleague and friend.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement from the Minnesota Vikings on the senseless overnight attacks in our community. <a href="https://t.co/LC6xcdrYos">pic.twitter.com/LC6xcdrYos</a></p><p>— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1933962967650910438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Rep. Hortman’s husband, Mark Hortman, also died in the shooting. Likewise, Sen. Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, was also shot and wounded. The couples were both shot in their homes and lived roughly <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-lawmaker-melissa-hortman-killed-john-hoffman-political-shootings/" rel="noopener">five miles apart</a>, according to CBS News.</p><p>After acknowledging their shock and grief, the Vikings publicly denounced the political attack.</p><p>“These are senseless acts that have no place in our communities, our state or our society. We must all unequivocally condemn political violence, reject hateful division, and deliberately work toward mutual respect, compassion and unity.”</p><p>The Vikings just wrapped up mandatory minicamp, where they reported <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress">positive signs from quarterback J.J. McCarthy</a>. Minnesota will begin training camp on July 30.</p><h2><b>Minnesota shooting details</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Minnesota-state-capitol.jpg"><figcaption>Hannah Gaber / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The attacks occurred late Friday night by a single shooter, per CBS News. The suspect dressed himself to appear like a police officer to break into both homes. Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old Minnesota resident, is the current suspect being pursued by investigators.</p><p>The investigation concluded that the shooting was politically motivated, with Gov. Tim Walz calling it an assassination. Police found a list of targets that included “more than 50 individuals” in the suspect’s vehicle. They also discovered flyers supporting the anti-Donald Trump administration “No Kings” protest in the vehicle. However, Hortman and Hoffman both represented the Democratic Party.</p><p>Police say the investigation remains ongoing, with Boelter still at large. Boelter is believed to have acted alone, but not much information has been made public.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings release statement after state representative tragedy

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-minnesota-hands-offensive-coordinator-new-contract-before-2025-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings hand offensive coordinator new contract before 2025 season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Wes-Phillips.jpg"><figcaption>Credit: Kirby Lee</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings hand offensive coordinator new contract before 2025 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-14T11:19:48-07:00">June 14th, 11:19am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-14T11:20:18-07:00">June 14th, 11:20am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chris.spiering.3" rel="facebook">Chris Spiering</a>Chris Spiering graduated from the University of San Diego with a Communication Studies Degree. He spent his final year as the Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris manages the betting team at ClutchPoints and contributes about the NFL, MLB, and NBA, but he follows most sports, including NCAA Basketball. Chris also covers San Diego State men's basketball for East Village Times.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/3-minnesota-vikings-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-nfl-season">Minnesota Vikings</a> are coming off an incredible 2024-25 season that saw them lose to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round, 27-9. Now, the offense will look very different with a new quarterback under center. Kevin O’Connell made sure to keep around his offensive coordinator, Wes Phillips, for a few more seasons to keep the offensive scheme the same.</p><p>On Friday night, the <a href="https://x.com/BenGoessling/status/1933717650049306782">Vikings re-signed Phillips to a new contract</a>. With how well Sam Darnold did in the system this past season, the Vikings are hoping that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress">J.J. McCarthy can surge onto the NFL</a> scene with a similar type of campaign. Darnold is now in Seattle, teaming up with Cooper Kupp.</p><p>Phillips began his coaching career at West Texas A&amp;M and then became the quarterbacks coach at Baylor the following season. He then got the jump to the NFL and became an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-13. Phillips then became the tight-end coach for the Washington Redskins until he teammed up with Sean McVay and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celebrity/vikings-kevin-oconnell-debuts-shocking-new-off-season-look">Kevin O’Connell</a> and the Los Angeles Rams. Since O’Connell became the head coach for Minnesota, Phillips has been his OC. They both have experience winning the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022.</p><p>Phillips is a key member of O’Connell’s staff. His call-playing lined up with O’Connell’s vision, and the Vikings had a Super Bowl-caliber winning team last season. It just so happened that the Vikings played the Rams, and McVay out-coached the Vikings.</p><p>Darnold was fifth in passing yards last season with 4,319, 8th in completions with 361, and 5th in passing TDs at 35. The one problem the Vikings had last season was consistency in the run game. They only had nine rushing TDs, which was the fourth-fewest in the league. Their 35 receiving TDs (led by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/justin-jeffersons-important-message-to-vikings-qb-j-j-mccarthy">Justin Jefferson</a>) were fifth in the league, so it is safe to say that the Vikings had a top-5 passing team last season. If all goes well with McCarthy in his rookie season, then the Vikings’ future looks very bright.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings hand offensive coordinator new contract before 2025 season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-rumors-minnesota-encouraged-j-j-mccarthy-recent-injury-progress');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings rumors: Minnesota encouraged by J.J. McCarthy’s recent injury progress');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JJ-McCarthy-running.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings rumors: Minnesota encouraged by J.J. McCarthy’s recent injury progress</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-14T08:35:05-07:00">June 14th, 8:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-14T08:35:05-07:00">June 14th, 8:35am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite his recovery from a knee injury, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-j-j-mccarthy-sales-pitch-fans">Minnesota Vikings committed to quarterback J.J. McCarthy</a> in the 2025 offseason over Sam Darnold. So far, they are pleased with that decision, believing the former top-10 pick will be ready to go by training camp.</p><p>McCarthy, who is still rehabbing the torn meniscus that kept him out of the entire 2024 season, <a href="https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1933871035864232332" rel="noopener">looked better on the field each day</a> of the Vikings’ mandatory minicamp, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported. Fowler added that Minnesota could not be more pleased with McCarthy’s progression and has built a “three-year plan” around him.</p><p>“The Vikings feel that J.J. McCarthy in day nine of his offseason workouts was a lot stronger than day one,” Fowler said. “Coming off that knee issue, they knew he could start a little slowly, but they like the way he’s throwing the ball. They feel very comfortable with where he’s at going into training camp; they didn’t sign [Aaron Rodgers] in lieu of McCarthy because they believe in their three-year plan… They believe they can win the Super Bowl in the next three years.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Minicamp roundup on <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsCenter</a> </p><p>-J.J. McCarthy progress, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vikings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vikings</a>’ three-year plan<br>-Daniel Jones makes most of extra reps <br>-What’s next for McLaurin, Wilson, Sauce deals<br>-Browns QB workload </p><p>(With <a href="https://twitter.com/SkubieMageza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkubieMageza</a>) <a href="https://t.co/x0tYjz10ff">pic.twitter.com/x0tYjz10ff</a></p><p>— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1933871035864232332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Vikings entered the 2025 offseason with a conundrum and were forced to decide between Darnold and McCarthy as their long-term quarterback. While nobody expected Darnold to blow up in 2024 the way he did, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah ultimately opted to let the veteran walk, clearing the way for McCarthy.</p><p>After losing Kirk Cousins, the Vikings traded up for McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft. The torn meniscus derailed his rookie campaign, but Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell have gushed over his potential throughout the offseason.</p><h2><b>Vikings, J.J. McCarthy prepare for rejuvenated 2025 season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kevin-OConnell-wants-his-team-to-stand-up-to-elite-opponents.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-acquires-sam-howell-draft-day-trade-seahawks">Vikings traded for Sam Howell on draft night</a>, but 2025 will be the Year of J.J. McCarthy. However, Minnesota endured several other changes in the offseason to boast an improved roster in the fall.</p><p>McCarthy will work behind a revamped offensive line that includes the recent additions of Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and Donovan Jackson. After allowing 49 sacks in 2024, Minnesota’s offensive line should be much improved in 2025.</p><p>The Vikings’ offense also added Jordan Mason, Tai Felton and Rondale Moore. The signings provide depth to an already elite skill group led by Pro Bowlers Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones. Everything Adofo-Mensah did in the offseason was meant to build around McCarthy and give him the best possible situation to debut in.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings rumors: Minnesota encouraged by J.J. McCarthy’s recent injury progress

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/3-minnesota-vikings-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-nfl-season');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Minnesota Vikings underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Minnesota-Vikings-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-NFL-season.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Minnesota Vikings underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-12T05:42:11-07:00">June 12th, 5:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-12T05:42:11-07:00">June 12th, 5:42am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-key-jj-mccarthy-protector-big-step-return-2024-season-ending-injury">Minnesota Vikings</a> prepare for the 2025 NFL season, all eyes are on established stars like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/justin-jeffersons-important-message-to-vikings-qb-j-j-mccarthy">Justin Jefferson</a>, Christian Darrisaw, and Brian O’Neill. But beneath the marquee names, there’s a group of under-the-radar talents ready to step into the spotlight. These hidden gems, Dallas Turner, Theo Jackson, and Ivan Pace Jr., could be the difference-makers who elevate the Vikings from a playoff contender to a legitimate Super Bowl threat. Here’s a closer look at each sleeper and why their emergence is critical to Minnesota’s success this year.</p><h2>Dallas Turner is the Breakout Edge Rusher-in-Waiting</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/imagn-image-needed.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Dallas Turner enters his second NFL season with sky-high expectations, but he remains a sleeper to the casual fan. Drafted in the first round in 2024, Turner’s rookie campaign was modest by the numbers, just three sacks and 12 pressures, but context is key. He was buried on the depth chart behind established veterans, finishing fourth on the team in pass-rush snaps. With Patrick Jones II now in Carolina, Turner is primed for a significant increase in playing time.</p><p>NFL analysts and Vikings insiders are bullish on Turner’s Year 2 prospects. Marc Ross of NFL.com has already included Turner on his list of second-year players poised for breakout seasons, pointing to the Vikings’ offseason moves, adding veteran defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, as a catalyst for Turner’s potential leap. These interior additions should command double teams, freeing up Turner to wreak havoc off the edge.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>Head coach Kevin O’Connell has publicly predicted a “huge jump” for Turner, and the coaching staff has emphasized the need to get him on the field more often. Turner’s blend of speed, bend, and relentless motor makes him a nightmare for opposing tackles, and with more snaps, he could easily double or even triple his rookie sack total. If Turner can translate his physical tools into consistent production, he’ll be a household name by season’s end and a cornerstone of Minnesota’s defense for years to come.</p><h2>Theo Jackson is the Versatile Defensive Weapon The Vikings Need</h2><p>While Theo Jackson may not be a name that rolls off the tongue for most NFL fans, his versatility and instincts make him a valuable asset in Minnesota’s secondary. Jackson, a former sixth-round pick, has quietly carved out a niche as a hybrid safety/nickel defender, capable of covering slot receivers, blitzing off the edge, and supporting against the run.</p><p>What makes Jackson such an intriguing sleeper is his fit in Brian Flores’ aggressive, multiple-look defense. Flores loves to deploy defensive backs in creative ways, and Jackson’s ability to wear multiple hats gives him a unique advantage. Over the past two seasons, Jackson has flashed playmaking ability in limited snaps, and with veteran safety Harrison Smith nearing the twilight of his career, there’s a clear path for Jackson to earn more playing time.</p><p>The Vikings’ depth in the secondary is solid, but injuries and attrition are inevitable over a 17-game season. Jackson’s emergence as a reliable, high-upside contributor would provide the coaching staff with valuable flexibility and insurance. If he can continue to hone his coverage skills and capitalize on increased opportunities, Jackson could become a key piece of Minnesota’s defensive puzzle and a fan favorite in the process.</p><h2>Ivan Pace Jr. is the Undersized Linebacker with Oversized Impact</h2><p>Ivan Pace Jr. is the kind of player who defies conventional wisdom. Undersized by NFL linebacker standards, Pace makes up for his lack of ideal height and length with elite instincts, toughness, and playmaking ability. After going undrafted in 2023, Pace quickly proved he belonged in the NFL, earning a spot on the Vikings’ roster and making an immediate impact on special teams and in sub-packages.</p><p>Pace’s rookie season was a revelation, as he consistently found himself around the football and made big plays when called upon. His quickness and football IQ allow him to diagnose plays and explode to the ball, making him a nightmare for opposing offenses in the run game. While he may never be a traditional every-down linebacker, Pace’s ability to excel in passing situations and as a blitzer gives him a unique role in Flores’ defense.</p><p>With the Vikings’ linebacker room in flux—veterans like Jordan Hicks and Brian Asamoah providing stability but also aging, Pace has a golden opportunity to carve out a larger role in 2025. If he can continue to develop his coverage skills and prove he can hold up against the run, Pace could become a staple in Minnesota’s defense and one of the most underrated playmakers in the league.</p><p>If these three sleepers can take the next step in their development, the Vikings’ depth will be one of their biggest assets, and a major storyline, throughout the 2025 NFL season. Their growth could be the difference between a good Vikings team and a true contender, and fans should keep a close eye on their progress as the season unfolds.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Minnesota Vikings underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-key-jj-mccarthy-protector-big-step-return-2024-season-ending-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Key protector for Vikings’ JJ McCarthy takes big step in return from 2024 season-ending injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Minnesota-Vikings-quarterback-JJ-McCarthy.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Key protector for Vikings’ JJ McCarthy takes big step in return from 2024 season-ending injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-10T15:05:10-07:00">June 10th, 3:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-10T15:05:10-07:00">June 10th, 3:05pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-minnesota-23-25-million-contract-extension-j-j-mccarthy-weapon">Minnesota Vikings are in the middle of minicamp</a> as the team prepares for the upcoming season. JJ McCarthy is leading the way as the starting quarterback for the first time in his career after sitting out last season with an injury. On Tuesday, the second-year quarterback got some good news about one of his key protectors also returning from injury.</p><p>Minnesota announced that left tackle Christian Darrisaw <a href="https://x.com/Vikings/status/1932508245857321156" rel="noopener">returned to practice</a>. He was spotted participating in individual drills, as he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in the Vikings’ 30-20 Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">CD!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/chrisdarrisaw71?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisdarrisaw71</a> has returned to practice for individual drills. <a href="https://t.co/6aEWWmi6lB">pic.twitter.com/6aEWWmi6lB</a></p><p>— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1932508245857321156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>That’s big news for the Vikings, as Darrisaw is one of the more consistent offensive linemen in the league. The 26-year-old left tackle should play a key role upon his return and help protect McCarthy throughout next season. Especially with this being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-reveals-biggest-goal-debut-season">JJ McCarthy’s first time ever</a> playing as a starting quarterback in the NFL.</p><p>McCarthy, who is 22 years old, is coming off a torn ACL injury himself. He was potentially in the mix to start for the Vikings last season; however, he was ruled out for his entire rookie year before the season even started. Sam Darnold filled in and played well enough to earn a three-year, $100.5 million contract.</p><p>Minnesota might just be getting healthy at the right time. There’s still plenty of time between now and Week 1. But the Vikings are hoping for big things next season after finding success in the 2024-25 campaign. Especially if McCarthy proves to be the franchise quarterback the team needs.</p><p>The last time he took the field, McCarthy was playing for the Michigan Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh. McCarthy helped lead the Wolverines to a championship in his final year of college football. That season, he recorded 2,991 passing yards and 25 total touchdowns (22 passing) while owning an impressive 72.3% completion percentage (led the Big-Ten Conference in completion percentage that season).</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Key protector for Vikings’ JJ McCarthy takes big step in return from 2024 season-ending injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-minnesota-23-25-million-contract-extension-j-j-mccarthy-weapon');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings give $23.25 million contract extension to J.J. McCarthy weapon');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Vikings-tight-end-Josh-Oliver.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings give $23.25 million contract extension to J.J. McCarthy weapon</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-10T09:38:23-07:00">June 10th, 9:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-10T09:38:23-07:00">June 10th, 9:38am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-locks-up-gm-kwesi-adofo-mensah-multi-year-contract-extension">Minnesota Vikings have been busy this offseason</a>, and even with mandatory minicamp getting underway on June 10, they are still making moves to build up their roster. On Tuesday, that saw them sign one of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/justin-jeffersons-important-message-to-vikings-qb-j-j-mccarthy">J.J. McCarthy’s weapons</a> on offense, tight end Josh Oliver, to a long-term contract extension that will keep him in town for the foreseeable future.</p><p>A third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Oliver latched on with the Vikings in 2023, and he has established himself as the second tight end on offense behind T.J. Hockenson. While he doesn’t post gaudy numbers, Oliver is a strong blocker who can haul in the ball when it is thrown his way. After a solid 2024 campaign, Minnesota rewarded Oliver with a <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1932470794598379767" rel="noopener">three-year, $23.25 million contract extension</a>.</p><p>“Vikings signed TE Josh Oliver to a three-year extension for $23.25 million with a max value of $27.5 million, including 11.9M in new guarantees and $19.9M in total guarantees, per Andrew Kessler of Athletes First,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported.</p><h2><b>J.J. McCarthy will love Vikings latest Josh Oliver move</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/J.J.-McCarthy-hopes-to-make-a-smooth-transition-the-the-Vikings-QB1-position.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In an offense that features guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Hockenson, Oliver is not the biggest weapon McCarthy will have at his disposal. It all adds up, though, and Oliver found a way to make an impact for Minnesota last season, as he caught 22 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns over 15 games, while also holding up well as a blocker in both the run and pass game.</p><p>By locking up Oliver, the Vikings are committing to him with hopes that he will remain an underrated contributor on offense. McCarthy will need all the help he can get under center as he prepares to take over as the team’s starting quarterback, and while it may not seem like much, extending Oliver could end up being a sneaky good move by Minnesota’s front office.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings give $23.25 million contract extension to J.J. McCarthy weapon

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/justin-jeffersons-important-message-to-vikings-qb-j-j-mccarthy');   ga('set', 'title', 'Justin Jefferson’s important message to Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Justin-Jefferson-is-Minnesotas-key-big-play-weapon.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Justin Jefferson’s important message to Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-08T17:24:48-07:00">June 8th, 5:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-08T17:24:48-07:00">June 8th, 5:24pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Justin Jefferson has done an excellent job of establishing himself as one of the elite receivers in the NFL. As Jefferson prepares for his sixth season with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-reveals-biggest-goal-debut-season">Minnesota Vikings</a>, he knows he can make the toughest catches under the most difficult of circumstances. However, Jefferson will be working with his third starting quarterback in the last three seasons, and that’s a significant adjustment for any receiver.</p><p>Jefferson and J.J. McCarthy have been getting to know each other on and off the field. The new Vikings’ starting quarterback takes over after Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins held down the position previously. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings coaching staff has confidence in McCarthy’s ability, athleticism and make up, but he still has to learn the tendencies of Jefferson, Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson. The idea is to make sure the Vikings put a cohesive offense on the field.</p><p>Jefferson is trying to let the new quarterback know that he is capable of making plays that other top receivers may not be able to execute. As a result, McCarthy has to know that Jefferson <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45463475/nfl-minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson-jj-mccarthy-ota">can make important plays</a> when he appears to be covered.</p><p>“From what I’ve learned, I would say the difference between me and a different receiver is what I put on the top of my routes,” Jefferson said, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. “The flavor I have on the tops, the stride length that I have with my routes, and just knowing certain routes that I’ll break it off at a certain distance, that another receiver might break it off a little earlier, because of my stride length. So all of that just goes into play, and the more we’re out here and just having those reps, the better we’re going to be.”</p><h2><b>Jefferson can do it all, but he has plenty of help</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/J.J.-McCarthy-hopes-to-make-a-smooth-transition-the-the-Vikings-QB1-position.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jefferson is a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Jefferson caught 103 passes last year for 1,533 yards with 10 touchdowns. He has exceeded 100 catchers in three of his five seasons.</p><p>Fellow wideout Jordan Addison is one of the best big-play makers in the game. Addison has game-changing speed, and he may be the top No. 2 receiver in the NFL. Addison is going into his third year with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-brett-favre-heartfelt-reaction-jim-marshall-passing">the Vikings</a> and he has been quite consistent in his first two years. He has caught 133-1,786-19 in his first two years with the Vikings and he should be a major threat once again.</p><p>Hockenson is a very dangerous tight end and has been a key performer when he’s in the lineup for the Vikings. After coming back from a 2023 knee injury, Hockenson caught 41 passes for 455 yards as he worked his way back into top playing condition.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Justin Jefferson’s important message to Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-reveals-biggest-goal-debut-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings QB JJ McCarthy reveals biggest goal for debut season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JJ-McCarthy-of-the-Minnesota-Vikings.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings QB JJ McCarthy reveals biggest goal for debut season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-06T17:30:51-07:00">June 6th, 5:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-06T17:30:51-07:00">June 6th, 5:30pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-hype-train-speeding-up-otas">JJ McCarthy is expected to be the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings</a> in the 2025-26 season, making his debut as the starter after being the club’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite nursing an injury all last season, expectations are high for McCarthy to lead Minnesota to a possible playoff appearance next season.</p><p>With OTAs underway, the 22-year-old quarterback is still figuring out the quarterback position at the pro level. Going into the second year of his career and being the Vikings’ starter, McCarthy was asked what his biggest goal is. The former Michigan Wolverine admitted that his goal is to simply <a href="https://x.com/SInow/status/1931117878511603946">“go to war”</a> with his teammates. He felt that he missed out on the opportunity to play during his rookie year, and he looks forward to playing on Sundays.</p><p>“My biggest goal is to just go to war with my brothers,” JJ McCarthy said. “Have an opportunity to go out there and shed some blood with them. Really hurt last year, not doing that. So, yeah, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">J.J. McCarthy talks about his biggest goal heading into this season 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/UpToP8klid">pic.twitter.com/UpToP8klid</a></p><p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1931117878511603946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Vikings picked JJ McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Many believed that he needed a year to sit and learn, but there were rumblings that he could be the starter right away. But he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee that forced him out for the entire season.</p><p>Sam Darnold stepped up and had a career year in Minnesota. With Darnold out of the picture and now playing for the Seattle Seahawks, it’s not time for McCarthy to prove his worth to head coach Kevin O’Connell <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/rising-minnesota-vikings-rookie-turning-heads-in-2025-otas">and the Vikings</a>.</p><p>The last time JJ McCarthy took the field was in the 2023-24 season when he played under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. He proved to be an accurate passer, helping lead the Wolverines to a championship. McCarthy ended his final collegiate year with 2,991 passing yards and 22 touchdowns while leading the Big-10 Conference with a 72.3% completion percentage.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings QB JJ McCarthy reveals biggest goal for debut season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/rising-minnesota-vikings-rookie-turning-heads-in-2025-otas');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rising Minnesota Vikings rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Rising-Minnesota-Vikings-rookie-turning-heads-in-2025-OTAs.jpg"></figure><h1>Rising Minnesota Vikings rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-06T10:28:19-07:00">June 6th, 10:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-06T15:55:47-07:00">June 6th, 3:55pm</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-locks-up-gm-kwesi-adofo-mensah-multi-year-contract-extension">Minnesota Vikings</a> entered their 2025 offseason with a clear sense of urgency. After a strong 14-3 campaign that ended in playoff disappointment, the team doubled down on roster upgrades, spending big in free agency and investing heavily in the draft.</p><p>With the dust settling from a busy spring, all eyes have shifted to OTAs, where the first glimpses of the new-look Vikings are on display. Amid the usual buzz, one rookie has quickly emerged as a standout, first-round pick Donovan Jackson, the offensive lineman who is already turning heads among coaches, teammates, and analysts alike.</p><h2><b>New face making noise for Vikings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Donovan-Jackson-Rising-Minnesota-Vikings-rookie-turning-heads-in-2025-OTAs.jpg"><figcaption>Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Jackson, drafted to help solidify a retooled offensive line, is benefiting from a unique situation in Minnesota: near-perfect OTA attendance. Head coach Kevin O’Connell emphasized how valuable it is to have almost the entire roster present, especially given the influx of new starters on the offensive front.</p><blockquote>“We got darn near 100 percent participation…to have really the totality of your football team here in the month of May, working together and so much coaching and teaching, guys learning, growth, development, all the things we love as coaches and our players know to get to where we want to get to this season,”O’Connell told the media.</blockquote><p>For Jackson, this environment is ideal. He’s not only learning the playbook but also building crucial chemistry with fellow linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, both new additions themselves. The early reports from Eagan suggest Jackson is adapting quickly to the NFL’s speed and complexity, showing off the athleticism and intelligence that made him a first-round selection.</p><h2>Early impact and high expectations for Vikings rookie</h2><p>The Vikings’ offensive line has long been a point of scrutiny, but the 2025 group is being assembled with a clear vision, protect young quarterback J.J. McCarthy and open lanes for the run game. Jackson’s arrival is central to that plan.</p><p>While OTAs are noncontact and full pads have yet to come on, coaches are already praising Jackson’s footwork, communication, and ability to pick up complex protections during walkthroughs and drills.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>Veteran leaders like Ryan Kelly have taken notice.</p><blockquote>“You can tell he’s been well-coached. He asks the right questions and doesn’t make the same mistake twice,”Kelly reportedly told team insiders.</blockquote><p>Jackson’s willingness to learn and his adaptability have positioned him as a likely starter come September, a rare feat for a rookie offensive lineman.</p><p>The stakes are high for Jackson, but the early returns are promising. His presence is not only helping McCarthy acclimate to life as an NFL starter, but it’s also giving the Vikings’ coaching staff the flexibility to experiment with different line combinations.</p><p>With three potential new starters, the offensive line’s ability to gel quickly could be the difference between another playoff run and a step backward.</p><p>Beyond the offensive line, the Vikings are using OTAs to address defensive concerns, particularly in the secondary. Veterans like Harrison Smith are mentoring younger players, but the offense’s progress is drawing the most attention thanks to Jackson’s rapid development.</p><p>One of the most encouraging signs for Minnesota is the sense of unity and focus at OTAs. Justin Jefferson, the team’s star receiver, is present and working to build chemistry with McCarthy, while Jackson and the rest of the offensive line are getting valuable reps together. This level of participation is rare across the NFL and bodes well for a team looking to take the next step.</p><p>Jackson’s emergence is a microcosm of the Vikings’ broader offseason strategy to blend veteran leadership with high-upside youth. If his trajectory continues, Jackson could anchor the offensive line for years to come, providing the stability that has eluded Minnesota in recent seasons.</p><h2><b>Road ahead for Vikings</b></h2><p>Of course, OTAs are just the beginning. The true tests will come in training camp and preseason games, when pads go on and the intensity ramps up. Still, the early buzz around Donovan Jackson is impossible to ignore. He’s not just holding his own; he’s setting the tone for a revamped offensive unit.</p><p>If Jackson continues to impress through the summer, his impact could be felt well beyond the stat sheet. A reliable, dynamic presence on the offensive line would not only elevate the play of McCarthy and the running backs but also set a new standard for rookies in Minnesota.</p><p>As the Vikings push toward training camp, all eyes will remain on Jackson, a rookie whose rise could shape the franchise’s fortunes in 2025 and beyond.</p><p>For Vikings fans, the hope is that Jackson’s rapid progress foreshadows a breakthrough season. With a new-look line, a promising young quarterback, and a roster committed to growth, Minnesota is positioning itself as a contender once again. And if the early reports from OTAs are any indication, Donovan Jackson could be the rising rookie who helps lead the charge.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rising Minnesota Vikings rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-brett-favre-heartfelt-reaction-jim-marshall-passing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brett Favre’s heartfelt reaction to Vikings legend Jim Marshall’s passing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Vikings-news-Brett-Favres-heartfelt-reaction-to-Jim-Marshalls-passing.jpg"></figure><h1>Brett Favre’s heartfelt reaction to Vikings legend Jim Marshall’s passing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-04T00:32:49-07:00">June 4th, 12:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-04T00:33:01-07:00">June 4th, 12:33am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jim Marshall left a massive imprint on the football world, embodying the toughness and ferocity that defined the sport for so many decades. His legacy is especially powerful for those who have represented or rooted for the Minnesota Vikings. Current and former members of the organization sent their condolences following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-legend-270-straight-games-passes-away">Marshall’s passing on Tuesday</a>.</p><p>Brett Favre, who donned the Purple and Gold for the last two years of his Hall of Fame career, can understand what it means to withstand grueling punishment year after year for the love of the game. He also knows what this man meant to The Gopher State. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback shared some kind words and <a href="https://x.com/BrettFavre/status/1930093444946358642" rel="noopener">reflected on No. 70’s enduring impact</a>.</p><p>“Man, I’ll never forget the day I got to meet Jim Marshall — one of the true original Iron Men of the NFL,” Favre posted on X. “Tough as nails, played 282 consecutive games as a defensive end… in an era when the game was as gritty and raw as it gets. “Growing up watching guys like Jim, I learned what it meant to show up every single Sunday, no matter what. To have had the chance to shake his hand — and even play in front of him — was a real honor.</p><p>“Guys like Jim paved the way. They didn’t ask for attention, they earned respect with every snap. I tried to bring that same mindset to the field every week. My condolences go out to him and his family — but he’s certainly a legend among legends.”</p><h2><b>What Jim Marshall gave to the Vikings and their endlessly loyal fans</b></h2><p>Marshall’s 270 consecutive starts rank only behind Favre’s 297. The longtime defensive end congratulated the gunslinger in person for breaking his record, for he knows the physical and mental sacrifice required to post such an astonishing attendance record. Though, Marshall did far more than simply show up.</p><p>The No. 44 overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft played 19 of his 20 seasons with Minnesota (began career with Cleveland Browns) and was a pivotal member of the iconic Purple People Eaters defense, which also consisted of Alan Page, Carl Eller and Gary Larsen. Marshall served a vital role during what is still the greatest era of Vikings football, helping the team reach the Super Bowl four separate times. Unfortunately, the team and community are still waiting for their first Lombardi Trophy.</p><p>When impatience rises throughout Minneapolis, it is good to revisit or learn about the prosperous 1970s. Jim Marshall, who died at the age of 87 after a lengthy stay in the hospital, is responsible for so many of those memories. Yes, he also produced many chuckles via his infamous “Wrong Way Run” in 1964, but the two-time Pro Bowl selection helped set the stage for the defensive warriors who have come after him, just as Favre noted.</p><p>Marshall recorded 130.5 unofficial sacks (was not counted as a stat until 1982) and 29 opponent fumble recoveries in his storied NFL career. More than the numbers he accumulated, however, he breathed life into the Minnesota Vikings. The beloved captain was an inaugural member of the franchise and stayed connected to the team well after his retirement.</p><p>He inspired Brett Favre and so many others, and by the sound of it, they will do their part to make sure his invaluable contributions are properly recognized moving forward.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brett Favre’s heartfelt reaction to Vikings legend Jim Marshall’s passing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-legend-270-straight-games-passes-away');   ga('set', 'title', 'Purple People Eaters legend who played 270 straight games passes away');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Minnesota-Vikings-defensive-end-Jim-Marshall-70-against-the-Miami-Dolphins-at-the-Orange-Bowl.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Purple People Eaters legend who played 270 straight games passes away</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-03T18:31:27-07:00">June 3rd, 6:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-03T23:30:32-07:00">June 3rd, 11:30pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings know how to dish them out. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/ranking-10-greatest-minnesota-vikings-of-all-time" rel="noopener">Vikings have produced at least 10 of the greatest players</a> in NFL history. Among them include Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Justin Jefferson. </p><p>On Tuesday, one of their greatest defensive ends, Jim Marshall, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1929987155507720382" rel="noopener">left this earth</a> at the age of 87, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Marshall was an integral part of the Vikings “Purple People Eaters” defensive line from 1967-1977.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jim Marshall, a celebrated member of the Vikings’ Purple People Eaters defensive line who started 270 consecutive NFL games, died Tuesday after a long hospitalization, the team announced. Marshall was 87. <a href="https://t.co/4begQQhOjI">pic.twitter.com/4begQQhOjI</a></p><p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1929987155507720382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Marshall, along with Alan Page, Gary Larsen, and Carl Eller. The title is derived from the 1958 original song. Their attitude of “meet at the quarterback” and aggressive play led the Vikings to win 10 division titles in 11 seasons. </p><p>They also made five NFC championships and four Super Bowl appearances. Marshall played in 270 consecutive games during his 20-year career. He also played in 19 career playoff games.</p><p>In turn, he was nicknamed “Iron Man.” Marshall was a consistent and durable presence during that stretch. If anything, Marshall set the template for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/minnesota-vikings-riskiest-move-in-2025-nfl-offseason" rel="noopener">the Vikings looking to strengthen their defensive line</a>. </p><p>For all he achieved, Marshall’s remembered in part by one moment. A moment in which things could have gone wrong, but it didn’t. </p><h2><b>Jim Marshall ran the wrong way</b>.</h2><p>On October 25, 1964, the Vikings were playing the San Francisco 49ers. Marshall recovered a fumble but proceeded to run 66 yards in the opposite direction. </p><p>He thought he had scored a touchdown for the Vikings, as he started celebrating in the endzone. But he scored a safety. His teammates were on the sidelines, trying to tell him to go back the other way. </p><p>Also, Marshall didn’t know he made the mistake until the 49ers thanked him afterward. Despite the error, the Vikings won the game 27-22. </p><p>However, the play remains one of the most memorable in NFL History. It <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/jim-marshall-nfl-ironman-and-wrong-way-run-central-figure-dies-at-87-193632809.html#:~:text=In%20the%202000s%2C%20NFL%20Films,played%2C'%22%20Marshall%20said." rel="noopener">would be ranked</a> No. 54 in the NFL’s list of the 100 greatest plays. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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