Troy Taormina-Imagn Photos.
The Minnesota Vikings had a busy offseason many months in the past, throughout which they stated goodbye to a number of long-term veterans and accomplished their “competitive rebuild.”
The purple staff now owns a 13-2 report by way of 16 weeks, needing two extra wins within the subsequent seven days to safe homefield benefit all through the postseason.
3 Departed Vikings from 2023 Roster on Observe for Playoffs
Most gamers who left throughout the offseason aren’t on observe for the playoffs, however a handful will play significant soccer in January.
These males will. They’re listed alphabetically.
1. Danielle Hunter (EDGE, HOU)
Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Hunter is on tempo for 13 sacks this season. Everybody knew he’d play nice in Houston and has not dissatisfied.
His Texans began the season like gangbusters, no less than till as of late. Houston has carried out a faceplant lately however is assured a playoff spot, it doesn’t matter what.
Hunter and his buddies will host a house playoff sport in two weeks, in all probability in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers or Los Angeles Chargers. The ex-Viking’s quarterback terrorism might be required, particularly versus the Steelers or Chargers.
2. Dean Lowry (DT, PIT)
Eric Hartline-Imagn Photos,
Lowry, a Viking from the 2023 season earlier than an harm ended his marketing campaign, performs for the Steelers proper now and sees motion on about 20% of snaps.
He initially discovered his approach to Minnesota from the Inexperienced Bay Packers, and after a pit cease within the Twin Cities, Lowry tried on the AFC North for dimension. His Steelers had been cruising by way of the common season till a latest three-game shedding streak derailed momentum.
Pittsburgh is now looking at a Wildcard playoff outlook after bungling the final three video games and can in all probability hit the highway in two weeks to play the Baltimore Ravens or Houston Texans.
3. Ok.J. Osborn (WR, WAS)
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Minnesota didn’t re-sign Osborn again in March, and he ultimately signed with the New England Patriots.
The experiment didn’t go effectively.
Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye largely ignored Osborn within the passing sport — a lot in order that New England lower him unfastened a few weeks in the past. That wasn’t the tip of his 2024 marketing campaign, nonetheless, because the Washington Commanders claimed Osborn for his or her playoff push, or no less than as insurance coverage on the follow squad.
The Commanders will in all probability meet the Philadelphia Eagles or Detroit Lions on the highway in Spherical 1 of the playoffs.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.
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