Shaun Brooks-Imagn Photos.
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle every week. All of the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for assessment. Right this moment is the January 18th version.
Vikings Rumors: Sam Darnold’s Future, Vikings’ Offseason Repair, Mike Zimmer
Bear in mind — rumors are rumors. What you learn on weekends in these items is what the world is speaking about pertaining to the purple workforce, not essentially gadgets that can come to fruition.
Right here’s the primary batch of the week. All previous rumors may be learn right here.
Rumor: Sam Darnold might be finished with the Vikings.
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Photos.
From the lips of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, Darnold appears like a goner. In fact, Minnesota may discover a approach to reunite with Darnold for affordable and ask him to compete with rookie passer J.J. McCarthy this summer season, however O’Connell’s phrases Monday evening didn’t make it sound like a sequel was on the menu for Darnold within the Twin Cities.
“The other phase of it for Sam is acknowledging the things that made him a winning quarterback this year. The consistency and the times he had it throughout the year and what that meant for our team. Because I think that can stay with him moving forward as he goes back to work,” O’Connell defined.
“Proud of him. Proud of everybody in that locker room but Sam and the journey him and I went on this year will always be something that has a special place in my heart, for sure.”
All the time be one thing that has a particular place in my coronary heart — sounds just like the language of break-up. That’s what a person or lady says when departing a romantic relationship on good phrases.
O’Connell didn’t say, “We look forward to getting Sam back and fixing some of these issues. Our future is bright.”
This determination isn’t due for about two months, however all indicators level to J.J. McCarthy, not Darnold, because the Vikings’ 2025 QB1.
Rumor: Minnesota has vowed to repair the offensive line’s inside.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Photos.
The Rams set an NFL playoff document for sacks on Monday, knocking Sam Darnold flat 9 instances. Sure, 9. The Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9, ending a 14-3 win season for Minnesota.
Recognizing offensive line porousness teetered on Captain Apparent, however O’Connell was certain to name out the trenches. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell informed reporters after the loss.
Inside offensive line woes have been a frequent scourge of Vikings soccer for over a decade.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Step one is recognizing the issue. The Vikings have finished that.
Rumor: Mike Zimmer could retire.
Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Photos.
The 2024 marketing campaign fell flat in Dallas, with proprietor Jerry Jones opting to not retain Mike Zimmer’s boss, Mike McCarthy, for the lengthy haul. McCarthy will hit “coach free agency,” and Zimmer is evidently considering retirement.
Zimmer’s protection ranked fifth-worst within the NFL this season per EPA/Play, an terrible mark for a protection showcasing playmakers like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs.
It could possibly be over for Zimmer, who lately bought engaged.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN 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 supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data supplied by OverTheCap.com.
