Buffalo Payments defensive finish Joey Bosa (97) warms up earlier than going through the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 7, 2025, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The veteran go rusher ready for his Payments regular-season debut in a primetime AFC matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Mark Konezny-Imagn Photographs.
Every Sunday at VikingsTerritory, we diligently observe Minnesota Vikings-themed developments that don’t pan out, takes from people which can be simply absurd, and blatant falsehoods that flow into on the web.
We name them “Nopedy Nopes,” and right here’s the version for July twenty eighth.
Vikings’ Offseason Chatter Reaches Acquainted Veterans
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa runs via pregame warmups earlier than going through the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sep. 25, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The veteran edge rusher ready for an AFC matchup whereas remaining one in every of Los Angeles’ most vital defensive gamers throughout a season formed by excessive expectations for the Chargers’ go rush. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs.
The Nopedy Nope: Joey Bosa as an OLB possibility for the Vikings in free company.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter informed the Bosa story on Tuesday, with NFL coaching camps a couple of month away. He mentioned, “It is more likely than not that Joey Bosa has played his last NFL down. Now, again, could a situation like the 49ers come along that entices him enough to come out and play again? Yeah, absolutely. We saw it happen last year with Philip Rivers, so you never know when a player is fully done and when he’s not done.”
“But the fact of the matter is, I think if the Niners wanted to pair those two together, it probably would have happened already. I think if Joey Bosa wanted to play football, it probably would have happened already.”
Bosa has twisted within the Vikings rumor stratosphere from the second Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April.
If Minnesota desires a free-agnet EDGE, the checklist is all the way down to this:
Derek Barnett
Jadeveon Clowney
Marcus Davenport
Leonard Floyd
Von Miller
Yannick Ngakoue
Haason Reddick
Kyle Van Noy
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Bosa turning purple.
The Nopedy Nope: Somebody mentioned Aaron Jones is washed. He vehemently disagrees.
An Instagram account named “VikesVision” that makes a speciality of graphics of gamers with enormous adjectives within the background teed off on Jones this week, utilizing the “washed” label.
Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones Sr. (33) carries the ball in opposition to the New York Giants on Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The veteran runner dealt with one other regular-season workload whereas giving Minnesota a dependable presence within the backfield late within the 12 months throughout a December highway check. Obligatory Credit score: Yannick Peterhans-Imagn Photographs.
Jones commented on the publish, “When the lights come on, it’s Showtyme 😈. Silence the doubters and haters! When I first got in the league, he was not good enough. He’s too small. Next they say, he’s injury prone — played in just as many games as your favorite backs.”
“Numbers Don’t lie. Line them up with the worlds best! The thing is, no one ever expected me to be here but ME! 10 in and I ain’t stopping now 😤💛🙏🏾.”
Briefly, VikesVision pissed him off.
The Verdict: Nopedy Nope on Jones’s “washed” evaluation. He’s having none of that.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings have only one participant within the NFL Prime 100, an inventory sponsored by CBS Sports activities’ Pete Prisco.
Simply in entrance of Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams, WR) and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens, QB), Jefferson landed at No. 8, with Pete Prisco explaining, “He was hurt by poor quarterback play last year, but he remains the most talented receiver in the game.”
“He had 84 catches and only two touchdowns last season. Kyler Murray should help his numbers this year. (Last season: No. 5)”
Prisco additionally mentioned about his standards for the checklist, “Quarterbacks are by far the most valuable players in football, especially in the NFL. If you picked a list of team MVPs, it would almost certainly be filled with starting quarterbacks. But that doesn’t mean they are always the best players, although many are that and more.”
“So when putting together my list of the top 100 players in the league, it would be easy to put a quarterback at the top. But that’s not the case this year, although several are in the top 10 and scattered throughout the list.”
A number of different Vikings gamers deserved consideration for Prisco’s checklist, even when their inclusion wasn’t assured.
Minnesota Vikings deal with Brian O’Neill (75) participates in NFC follow forward of the Professional Bowl on Feb. 4, 2022, at Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas. The regular proper deal with represented Minnesota throughout all-star week after one other sturdy season anchoring the Vikings’ offensive line and reinforcing his popularity as a reliable veteran. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs.
On offense, Brian O’Neill stands out. If any Minnesota offensive participant was neglected, it’s probably O’Neill. He delivers sturdy efficiency on a regular basis and stays one of many NFL’s most dependable proper tackles. If gamers and coaches have been to vote on a Prime 100, O’Neill would have a powerful probability of creating the lower.
Christian Darrisaw additionally warrants a point out. His scenario is extra advanced as a consequence of his restoration from an ACL harm sustained in October 2024, which sidelined him for the 2025 season. Subsequently, his omission from this particular checklist is comprehensible. Nevertheless, when wholesome, Darrisaw is undoubtedly a Prime 100-caliber participant.
Jordan Addison is the third offensive participant price highlighting. He has but to attain a 1,000-yard receiving season, and like Justin Jefferson, he contended with Minnesota’s unstable quarterback scenario in 2025. This might change quickly, although. If Kyler Murray successfully makes use of Addison’s expertise, it wouldn’t be stunning to see Addison producing Prime 100 buzz by this time subsequent 12 months.
The defensive aspect presents the same state of affairs. Andrew Van Ginkel is essentially the most obvious snub. He has established identify recognition and gives versatile deployment throughout the protection. Many of the league is now conscious of his contributions, making his absence notably noticeable.
Lastly, Blake Cashman completes this group. His case is more difficult as a consequence of a scarcity of great nationwide consideration and a bent to overlook just a few video games every season. Nonetheless, when wholesome, he is an important element of Brian Flores’ protection.
The Verdict: Brian O’Neill, on the very least, ought to’ve made the lower. However nopedy nope.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
