It’s Former Vikings Galore This Weekend at CAR
Do you enjoy reunions?
Turn on the television this Sunday, and you will find a handful of former Minnesota Vikings as members of the Carolina Panthers facing a previous employer.
It’s Former Vikings Galore This Weekend at CAR
The Vikings travel to Charlotte for a Week 4 date among winless teams. Minnesota and Carolina have netted zero wins to start the season, so something’s gotta give.
Along the way, these three — maybe four — men will be attached to the Panthers roster.
Adam Thielen (WR)
Adam Thielen left the Vikings in March, a cap casualty after the longtime and beloved playmaker was on deck for a $20 million cap hit against Minnesota’s books. About six weeks after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah parted ways with Thielen, he drafted Jordan Addison, whose early-season production has been remarkable.
Out of the gate with his new team, Thielen has excelled, too, grabbing 20 catches for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Versus a suspect Vikings secondary on Sunday, Thielen could feast, like Keenan Allen last weekend.
Xavier Woods (S)
Woods is a member of the Panthers, a starter, in fact, but was injured last weekend in a loss at the Seahawks. The veteran defender is expected to miss four to six weeks.
He played for the Vikings in 2021, Mike Zimmer’s final year in charge. Thereafter, Woods landed in Carolina as a free agent. Last year, he tabulated a 63.5 Pro Football Focus score and was off to a hot start this season before the injury, featuring a remarkable 83.7 PFF grade.
Rookie safety Jammie Robinson is expected to start in Woods’ stead, a 5th-Rounder.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette (WR)
Once theorized as the Vikings WR4 for the 2022 season, Smith-Marsette was dropped by Minnesota when it swung a trade for Jalen Reagor 13 months ago. The young receiver later latched on the Chicago Bears roster before encountering another roster waiver.
Smith-Marsette went on to win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, although his role was minor.
He’s the Panthers current kick and punt returner, so Vikings fans get to experience paranoia when he touches the ball on special teams this Sunday.
Kellen Mond (QB) — Maybe
An option to succeed Kirk Cousins on the Vikings roster a couple of years ago, Mond didn’t last long in Minnesota. He joined the Cleveland Browns the day after Minnesota said goodbye in 2022 and stayed in Ohio for about a year.
Then, in 2023, Mond looked awful in the preseason, and the Browns pivoted to rookie passer Dorian Thompson-Robinson for QB2 duties.
Mond isn’t on the Panthers roster as of September 26th, but he auditioned for Carolina on Tuesday and could be the QB3 by Sunday. Stay tuned.
Bryce Young and Andy Dalton outfit the other two QB spots, but it is unclear who will start against Minnesota in Week 4.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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