Minnesota Vikings News Dump (12.2.2025) | Thielen Waived, McCarthy to Start, Aaron Jones Day-to-Day

Minnesota Vikings News Dump (12.2.2025) | Thielen Waived, McCarthy to Start, Aaron Jones Day-to-Day

[Music] What’s going on, Jeromes? Beautiful Tuesday. Birds are chirping and stuff. It’s time for another Vikings news dump. Actually, not not beautiful. Snowed again. It’s almost like it does that here. Uh I always love people in Minnesota. It’s like, oh, the snow was here. What’ you expect? Yeah. Uh birds are already south for the winter. But the 4 and8 Vikings, uh less than ideal right now. Lost four in a row for Mikey O. Lost six out of last seven. embarrassed the last two games. You know, it is what it is. And now people are starting to jump ship and it’s what happens. But Adam Jerome Ezekiel the requested to be waved and it was granted this after he was a healthy scratch on Sunday. And Thelen I mean is 35 wants more of a role, wants to play for a contender. And yeah, since um you players released after the trade deadline, no matter what level of veteranness they are, they have to go through waiverss as opposed to just being uh a free agent. So it’ be hilarious if Tennessee claims them, but he’s looking to get claimed by Carolina since they’re they’re back in the playoff derby. You look at the Rams, you look at the 49ers, you look at the Patriots, the Bills, etc., right? uh and Quacy released a statement that uh last week they’re approached by you know the agents you know looking for more playing time and all that stuff and you know the Vikings grant granted the request which I I think is good of the organization and of course also the had the you know the usual goodbye thank you fans thank you for everything actually I want to see what his goodbye was last time because is this cut and paste I don’t know yeah but but the so I I know that people are upset about the trade except people even like national media people are like oh the got traded for a fourth and a fifth the Vikings got fleeced now I it was a pick swap yeah the trade wasn’t great on its surface but it’s not as devastating as a fourth and a fifth it’s a seventh into a fifth and it’s a fifth into a fourth it’s what it is right uh so the you know this year just hasn’t been a part of the offense he got the Vikings through Addison suspension which was the goal, but eight catches, 69 yards, zero touchdowns, 8.6 yards per catch, three drops. Uh his drop percentage 27.3% leads the NFL. Does have six first downs, and he doesn’t play special teams. As a wide receiver, four, which genu generally you need to. So again, I I’ll always like Thean. Um the way that he left the team twice now, it’s a a little bit tough, right? And I don’t know there there’s something to be said about you when t the times get tough quit or ask to be released to go to a better team. But also I I I don’t know how much utility a 35-year-old receiver who has drop issues, can’t get open, and doesn’t play special teams going to have on a contending team, but guess we’ll see. Wishing him the best. Probably going to sign with the Packers because his wife’s a Packer fan. So there you go. Also, there you go. So, personalized videos for the holidays. Remember, remember December is here. And I have a lot of fun doing these. We’ve done about about two dozen so far. Uh, but we can do a quick holiday video, custom topic video. I do a phone call, FaceTime, and I I love interacting with the fans. I love just riffing and they’re slight roasts, not not going to lie. Right. So, it’s good to get some detail, especially when when you’re gifting them to a friend or family member, just getting some details. And a a lot of people are like me. They’re the pontificators of purple positivity, which is good to see. Uh 48 hour deliver guarantee. Email producer alleyft [email protected] to get set up. Also, so Kevin McConnell fed the local media jackals on Monday and he he vamped a lot there. There was a lot of filibustering and it was so weird to me like these are things I always pick up on. Okonnell talked probably 20 minutes full press conference unless I missed something which I don’t think I did. He didn’t me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me mention JJ McCarthy once in the conversation. Actually I don’t even think he mentioned Bromer either by name but then at the end someone was like hey who’s your quarterback and yeah Alis athletic Vikings head coach Kevin McConnell says quarterback JJ McCarthy is symptom free right now from concussion protocol. Okonnell said the last bar to clear is him going through a full practice. Talk about practice Wednesday, but barring anything unforeseen, he’ll be the starter on Sunday versus the Commanders uh versus the Bro Show, which makes sense. Also, if he because he was wrapping up the press conference, you know, the whole time for two more, it was done. The two questions were asked. I wonder if he would have just tried to slip it under the radar if he wasn’t asked about this, which I don’t know, poo poo on the media for not asking about who the freaking starting quarterback is going to be. Yeah. Anyways, uh yeah, McCarthy does need to do something positive, you know, the rest of the way. And the bro show put in a impossible situation, right? UDFA quarterback made his first start on the road against that great defense. Fully understand what what happened. Uh but McCarthy McCarthy hasn’t won a game at home yet, right? And he still has a chance to put up some good tape, uh get in a good rhythm, and get some good reps in the rest of the way. And I I think there is a world where McCarthy looks good last five games and you have some hope heading into 2026 with him at quarterback. Also, it could go the other way. And yes, it’s only been six starts and yes, you want to give him time, but if McCarthy just looks like ass and can’t complete a pass and put up Demarcus Russell type numbers, the Vikings know that they have to bring in viable competition next year, whether it’s in the draft, whether it’s in free agency, whether it’s whatever. You can’t just go in anointed with McCarthy as a quarterback one, you know, like he did this year. So, we’ll see. I just want Karthy McCarthy to prove all the haters and the loser wrong, right? Uh, but also Kevin Khan had some injury updates. Emily Leer Star Tribune. Kevin Khan’s Monday injury updates. Ryan Kelly should be dead today with his hip flexor issue this week. Remember, he’s just coming off an injured reserve with his concussions. Um, I know that Qua and the Vikings have gambled on a lot of injury riddled veterans and also Aaron Jones shoulder injury is a reagravation of the one he was dealing with already. Uh, he’s also dayto-day. Uh, Blake Brandle’s in concussion protocol but already was symptom free today. Yeah, Brandle put himself in concussion protocol by hitting Josh off that pile, getting that 15 yard penalty. Such such a Vikings thing, right? And also, if if Ryan Kelly can’t go, I I I wouldn’t mind seeing Brle play center the rest of the way. Like, I I I like and respect Michael Jurgens, but Brandle, if and when he clears concussion protocol, I he actually was playing center pretty damn good. And getting a couple more games to tape on, see if he can be the viable center of the future would be something that would add some clarification for this off season, which would be nice or clarity. Also, Aliss athletic plan is for left tackle Christian Darasaw to have a full week this week. Remember, he’s a game time decision against Seattle. Ultimately couldn’t go. So, Justin School stepped in and we saw uh left guard Diamond Jackson is improving every single day every single way. So, I mean, there’s a chance that the Vikings could have a semblance of an offensive line, whether it’s Darasaw Jackson, Kelly Fry O’Neal, uh if his hip flexor is okay, or Brandle at center, either way could work out. Yeah. Also, yeah, the offense this year has just been not good. And there’s been a a gong show along the offensive line. The the run game has actually been fine, but they get away from him very quickly. Can’t consistently get the ball to Jefferson or Addison. Carson Wentz looked fine until he got banged up. McCarthy’s had his moments and then not Bromer. Tough situation. But, uh, us, the Vikings offense this season, they’re 28th in points, 29th in yards, dead last in turnovers with 26, 28th in offensive touchdowns. They have they have five more turnovers than touchdowns on offense. Great. Uh 29th in first downs, third worst in the league in passing yards per attempt. Uh second worst second worst on third down and 19th in red zone. So all that is just a mess of a unit by most metrics was top eight to 10 last year. So you know Okonnell is the offensive guru and the quarterback whisperer, but things have to come together very quickly. And also it’s kind of fun. So, you know, talk about when McCarthy was struggling yet, putting it into historical perspective of Jammarcus Russell, but as a whole, it was bad. Aaron Shatz, uh, ESPN did the Vikings play the worst offensive game ever by DVOA yesterday. Holy hell yes. So, worst Vikings offensive games by DVOA. Again, 75 snorkel. Yeah. Uh, but 78 through 2025. And they probably didn’t play worse than that before that, you know, before DVOA came into existence because I mean the Vikings pretty good except for the Norman Brockland years. But 2025 zero points zero uh 26 points against minus 96.8 DVOA which is not good. So it was the worst game but worst game by almost 50%. Because 84 less steck and company week one not getting it done. 42 to13 against the San Diego Superchargers just got boat raced. 2025 Vikings against the Falcons. That was no Gouda. 2041 donut again. Their their now fourth worst performance was in a NFC title game. Aya. Uh then some other bad games uh mixed in there. Uh ooh 2023 Green Bay 33 to10. Oo we’re also on this list twice because of the JJ McCarthy uh high ankle sprain game losing 22 to6 against hot Atlanta. It’s no good either. And then you know a couple games from the Zimmer era but you know the Vikings you know Kevin said this offense was going to be history making just not the good type of history. Like we’re talking about bad then we’re talking about Jamarcus Russell. No good. Lastly, so Pro Bowl voting’s going on right now and cup players, they’re getting snubbed. So, sleeper Vikings, only four Vikings are currently listed on the top 10 in Pro Bowl voting their position so far. So, Pro Bowl voting is a third fans, a third players, third coaches. So, it’s whatever. You got Jefferson in there in the top 10. Uh Andrew Depala, long snapper, all pro. Love to see that. CJ Ham is the eighth fullback in the NFC. Uh probably not going to make it. Miles Price is third for return specialist. So, it’s good to see there. But of course, Will the throw record only kicker in NFL history to have four 59 plus yard field goals in a season and only his two misses can become of cable interference, right? So, just ignoring that. Also, he’s our best offensive weapon. And yeah, kickers usually uh lead the team in scoring. Uh but kicking ain’t easy, man. Right. and the Vikings kicking issues over the the last couple of decades. Just hya. Also, I would say that Jaylen Redmond’s getting snubbed in this spot as well, but argument for another day. Also, Eric Wilson, come on, man. Come on. Anyways, that’s it. Like, it’s Tuesday. It’s been rough, but we got each other, right? And everyone is sticking together through thick and thin no matter what. No one’s just trying to get to uh get to a contender and the trying to get a ra a ring with the Rams as wide receiver six. Cool. Anyways, that’s it. Happy Tuesday. You guys are the absolute best yo to Duke. Skull production value.

Minnesota Vikings News Dump for Tuesday, December 2nd.

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