Purple Rumor Mill: Length of Jefferson’s Absence, No Go on a Kirk Trade, Jordan Hicks Trade Fodder
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the October 15th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Length of Jefferson’s Absence, No Go on a Kirk Trade, Jordan Hicks Trade Fodder
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Rumor: Justin Jefferson is expected to miss four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Some speculated that Jefferson’s absence may become a season-ender, but that might’ve been a little panicky.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Saturday, “Doctors believe Justin Jefferson’s hamstring injury will sideline the Minnesota Vikings’ star for four to six weeks, and the All-Pro receiver will undergo imaging tests in four weeks to help determine when he can return, per sources.”
Jefferson should be back sometime before Thanksgiving, and Vikings fans will hope the season is still relevant by then. Minnesota has about an 18% chance of reaching the playoffs, per oddsmakers.
Rumor: Kirk Cousins likely won’t waive his no-trade clause, ixnaying any real trade possibility.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote Saturday, “Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell does not want to move on from the quarterback that led his team to an NFC North title last season. Cousins is comfortable in Minnesota, with his family settled there, and is not looking to move on. Cousins also is known to prefer to have a firm grasp on his offense and a longstanding comfort level with his wide receivers, and he would not have that with most NFL teams looking for a midseason trade.”
Earlier this week, a reporter asked Cousins if he’d consider waiving his no-trade clause, and he replied, “I’m just very focused on the Bears and going 1-0 this week. Anything else is just not worth my time or energy or attention.”
Schefter also mentioned, “Although Cousins’ response to the question was open-ended, it would take a perfect storm to conjure a scenario that would result in the Vikings cashing out on their season and trading Cousins.”
So, this basically means Cousins won’t be traded unless something happens to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the next couple of weeks.
Cousins does not want to leave — the perk of a no-trade clause, indeed.
Rumor: A team like the Buffalo Bills should pursue Jordan Hicks.
ESPN recommended a couple of trades for the Vikings this week, as it evidently doesn’t believe the club will right the ship after a 1-4 start. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell theorized a swap with the Detroit Lions involving Danielle Hunter to the Vikings rival for EDGE rusher James Houston and a 2nd + 3rd-Round pick.
Barnwell also claimed Minnesota should send linebacker Jordan Hicks to the Buffalo Bills for a 5th-Rounder after a series of injuries hit Buffalo’s defense in recent weeks.
Barnwell explained, “The 31-year-old Hicks has bounced around the league while starting for the Eagles, Cardinals and Vikings, giving him experience in a range of systems. He’s no match for Milano in coverage, but he is a sure tackler and an efficient run defender, something the Bills will need in their matchups within the AFC East down the stretch.”
Injuries on defense have ravaged the Bills, recently losing Tre’Davious White and Matt Milano.
“Hicks is owed about $2.5 million in prorated money over the remainder of the season, but he would be a logical fit for Buffalo, given the paucity of options available,” Barnwell concluded about Hicks and the Bills defensive needs.
If the Vikings have a fire sale before October 31st, perhaps Hicks will be on the list.
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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