Vikings Will See 3 Old Friends vs. Raiders
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings are early three-point favorites to topple the Las Vegas Raiders on the road this weekend, looking to conclude an untimely two-game losing streak after back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.
Vikings Will See 3 Old Friends vs. Raiders
Nobody is too sure about the Vikings’ starting quarterback’s identity as of Tuesday morning, but head coach Kevin O’Connell will decide soon between Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall.
And when Minnesota takes on Las Vegas this Sunday, a few former Vikings will square off versus their old team.
1. Ameer Abdullah (RB)
Stint with Vikings:
2018-2020
45 Games Played
Abdullah was the Vikings’ RB3 for 2.5 seasons, tallying 360 yards from scrimmage and 3 touchdowns along the way. He also returned kicks in Minnesota — back during simpler times when teams actually promoted kick-returning.
For the Raiders in 2023, Abdullah has 17 touches for 115 total yards, so he gets the rock once or twice per game.
The Vikings dropped Abdullah in October 2021, Las Vegas scoped him four days later, and he’s remained a Raider since.
2. Daniel Carlson (K)
Stint with Vikings:
2018
2 Games Played
Carlson fired up a disasterclass so stinky at the Green Bay Packers early in the 2018 season that the Vikings coaching staff and front office released him after two games. Fans loudly applauded the move, as nobody ever wanted to see Carlson kick again for the Vikings. Minnesota ended up missing out on the 2018 postseason by a single win, and Carlson’s gaffe(s) was the difference.
Naturally, he signed with the Raiders and became one of the NFL’s best kickers.
Carlson has faced the Vikings one other time, a 2019 Raiders loss in Minneapolis.
3. Marcus Epps (S)
Stint with Vikings:
2019
8 Games Played
Minnesota found Epps in the 5th Round of the 2019 NFL Draft. This was the event where oodles of Vikings fans got mad at former general manager Rick Spielman for stockpiling 7th-Round picks like canned goods in an apocalypse.
He lasted half a rookie season in Minnesota, was waived by the Vikings, and landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he honed his craft for the duration of his rookie contract.
Epps became a free agent last March and signed with the Raiders. He’s started every game for Las Vegas in 2023. There’s also a small chance Epps doesn’t suit up this week after suffering a stinger two weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs. He may be questionable on this week’s injury report.
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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