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EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings did not have much trouble this week with the Arizona Cardinals. Byron Murphy Jr., the former Cardinals cornerback, made several interceptions. Quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with Justin Jefferson on multiple deep balls. It was a pretty one-sided joint-practice affair.
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And that’s good news for Vikings fans because the season is approaching.
Few, if any, Minnesota starters will play in Saturday’s final preseason game. Then, by Tuesday, the team will have to make its final roster cuts.
With those forthcoming decisions in mind — along with some other team news — it’s time for The Athletic’s Alec Lewis and Jon Krawczynski to take stock of where things stand.
How do you feel about the T.J. Hockenson situation?
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Lewis: Puzzled feels like the right word.
On Monday, I posed this question to Hockenson: Do you expect to be good to go Sept. 10?
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll be ready by then, for sure. That’s the goal. That’s what it’ll be. I’m just looking forward to it.”
The tight end has not practiced fully for much of training camp due to what he first described as an ear infection that affected his equilibrium. Coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday that back stiffness has kept Hockenson out more recently. Meanwhile, the Vikings, who have been open about wanting to sign Hockenson to an extension, have not been able to find common ground.
If Hockenson does indeed play in Week 1, what type of leverage will he have in negotiating a new deal? And if a deal is not reached and Hockenson does return, how willing will he be next offseason to stick around in the event the Vikings place the franchise tag on him? Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but this is definitely something Minnesota must sort through.
Krawczynski: Uneasy.
Is Hockenson “holding in” right now? Maybe, maybe not. But he is an enormous part of the Vikings offense, an element who will likely play a major role in whether the unit rises into the top 10 or languishes in the middle. He and Cousins showed a very fast chemistry after he came over in the trade with the Detroit Lions, but the lack of training camp reps can’t be a good thing.
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I think it is something Cousins and Hockenson can overcome. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world, and I’m not losing sleep over it at this point. But I don’t know how you can look at the situation and say: “No big deal. Everything will be fine.” Maybe it will be. But I’ll have to see it to believe it. With Dianna Russini and Alec reporting that Hockenson and the Vikings are far apart on a deal, it doesn’t seem like this is headed for a resolution very soon.
Would you take a flier on Trey Lance?
Lewis: Who writes these questions? Couldn’t we get a softball question after the first?
On a serious note, I say yes — and that’s because I would. As for whether the Vikings will, well, it’s a bit more complicated than sending a random draft pick to San Francisco for an intriguing hometown talent with a high ceiling.
First, the contract: Because Lance was the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, he is guaranteed around $3.7 million this season and $5.3 million next season. Additionally, the Vikings would have to decide by next offseason whether to pick up Lance’s fifth-year option. Minnesota has the cap space to make it happen, especially in the years to come, but it’s a notable amount to add to your cap this late. (That said, that fact might also lessen the draft capital needed to acquire him.)
The other issue is whether the Vikings would be willing to upend their quarterback structure. They value Nick Mullens as their backup and they drafted Jaren Hall in the fifth round for a reason. Adding Lance would likely mean moving off of Hall, which could be sensible given Lance’s upside. Still, plenty of hurdles exist, even if it seems reasonable on the surface.
Krawczynski: This one is complicated. Would I take a flier on Lance in a vacuum? Absolutely. No matter what you think of Hall, it’s hard to say the Vikings have a long-term quarterback solution on the roster if this does become Cousins’ last season in Minnesota. Bringing in Lance, who grew up in Minnesota and went to North Dakota State, makes a lot of sense. Get a look at him, let him sit for a season and then make a decision on whether you think he can be the guy.
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But Lance still makes pretty good money for the Vikings to just say, “Yeah, let’s go for it!” when they also have to pay Jefferson and, probably, Hockenson. That cap situation would have to be carefully navigated.
From a schematic fit point of view, Lance and Cousins are vastly different quarterbacks. Would having Lance around while running an offense built more for Cousins’ in-the-pocket strengths even get them a worthy look?
And finally, what would a flier cost? The Niners basically have to get rid of him. I can’t imagine they’ll get many great offers with the entire football world knowing it’s over for their marriage. The Vikings would probably be one of the front-runners for Lance if he were on the open market, so they shouldn’t have to pay all that much. The Cardinals just traded Isaiah Simmons, the eighth pick in 2020, to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick. If the price is similar, I think it would be worth it to get a look at a physically gifted prospect who has not panned out in San Francisco.
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Which position group are you watching most closely ahead of cut day?
Lewis: Running back. Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and C.J. Ham are locks. Kene Nwangwu? I’m not so sure. The running back suffered an injury almost three weeks ago and has not practiced since. His kick-returning ability is a plus, but I’m not sure it’s going to be enough for Minnesota to be confident in the event one of its top two running backs suffers an injury. Seventh-rounder DeWayne McBride rolls over defenders with physicality, but I’m not convinced he is ready to earn a roster spot. In other words, the options for the No. 3 role are fluid.
Krawczynski: Safety. The list of players who have had quality camps is long, and Lewis Cine is a 2022 first-round pick coming off a severe injury. That means either the Vikings will have to cut a quality player or have their hand forced by someone like Theo Jackson into keeping more safeties than usual. The trickle-down effect on other positions with such a decision would be interesting.
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If the team were to add a free agent, where would an addition make the most sense?
Lewis: Cornerback. It’s safe to say Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans and Mekhi Blackmon will be on the field in nickel defense. But the depth just concerns me. If one of them goes down, Joejuan Williams will likely be able to fill in admirably. But two? With how defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to call games? Hold on to your hats.
Krawczynski: Running back. They may have greater needs elsewhere, but I think there are established players available who could be enticing if they decide McBride or Nwangwu cannot be counted on as a third back behind Mattison and Chandler. And it’s possible that the asking price of, say, Kareem Hunt comes down as the regular-season opener approaches. So I think that could provide the best opportunity for the Vikings to add a player who could help the team in 2023.
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Does Jaren Hall have something to prove Saturday?
Lewis: No, but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to seeing how he operates. The Cardinals defense leaves a lot to be desired, so Hall should have some opportunities. He has yet to appear comfortable or look like he’s in the rhythm of the game. Because Jon is here, I’ll use a basketball analogy: He has been playing like he feels he has to hit every shot — or else he’ll be benched. I want to see him extend plays, create and feed off the energy — if for no other reason than to give him a boost as he embarks on a season without much projected action.
Krawczynski: Not really. He’s a fifth-round pick. Anyone expecting him to look sharp in his first few preseason games was being unrealistic. If he were the 15th pick instead of the 164th and looked shaky, maybe there would be more cause for concern. But I think it’s perfectly reasonable that he has not yet lit the world on fire. A QB taken at that point in the draft, generally, is a project. I haven’t seen anything that tells me definitively that he can never play in this league. Of course, I haven’t seen much yet that says, “Oh, this is intriguing. Maybe they’ve got a real one here.” We need a bigger sample, and that’s perfectly OK for a fifth-round pick.
Which bubble players are you keeping your eyes on ahead of Tuesday?
Lewis: Esezi Otomewo and Jalen Reagor. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted the first and traded for the second. Has Otomewo developed enough to earn a roster spot? Has Reagor’s training camp performance, coupled with his guaranteed deal, proved enough for the Vikings to add him to their 53-man? To steal a line from KFAN’s Paul Allen, their lots in life intrigue me.
Krawczynski: Nwangwu. I know he hasn’t played and the Vikings have brought everyone short of Adrian Peterson in for a look as the third back, but man, this dude can return a kick. A skill that elite, even at a part of the game that has diminished in importance over time, is awfully tantalizing.
And Andre Carter II. He got a lot of money to come to Minnesota, so the Vikings are invested in seeing him succeed. But it feels like he needs a big game Saturday to give coaches something to think about. It’s been a quiet preseason for him. Yes, he was injured early, but he still has to distinguish himself in some way.
(Photo of T.J. Hockenson: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)