Bleacher Report Has Another Free Agent in Mind for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings lead the NFC North after Week 2, sitting in first place with a 2-0 record after defeating the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers to start the season.
Bleacher Report Has Another Free Agent in Mind for Vikings
The team’s defense has hummed with Brian Flores’ creativity, and the offense isn’t far behind, thanks to Sam Darnold’s budding reclamation season.
And according to Bleacher Report, Minnesota should get greedy and add free-agent wide receiver Russell Gage.
Last week, the same website and author(s) recommended cornerback C.J. Henderson from the open market. No team signed Henderson this week, and the Vikings’ cornerbacks played quite well in Week 2.
“While Jordan Addison’s ankle injury isn’t believed to be serious, he did miss Week 2, and Jefferson is banged up as well. It would be smart for the Vikings to add another wide receiver to the active roster or practice squad just in case,” BR’s collective staff explained about Gage to Minnesota.
At wide receiver, the Vikings employ Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, and Trishton Jackson. Gage may not represent a serious upgrade to any of those men.
BR added, “Having a five-year veteran like Gage, who has nearly 250 career catches for 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns, on hand wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Indeed, Minnesota is a bit banged up at wide receiver after Week 2, awaiting end-of-the-week injury statuses of Jefferson and Addison. As a rule of thumb, too, Nailor also usually finds a way to the injury report. Jefferson and Addison, though, are considered day-to-day and will likely be available for Sunday’s home game versus the Houston Texans. Jefferson especially.
Gage joined the NFL in the 2018 NFL Draft from Round 6 with the Atlanta Falcons. He produced impressive seasons in 2020 and 2021, tabulating over 700 yards each year near the end of Matt Ryan’s heyday. Gage saw a lot of open targets because of Julio Jones during his first few seasons in the NFL.
In five seasons as a pro — he didn’t play last year due to injury — Gage has banked 244 receptions for 2,491 yards, and 14 touchdowns. In the 2022 postseason, he suffered a scary neck injury while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, casting his future into doubt. He later returned in the summer of 2023 but tore his patellar tendon at training camp. That ended his Buccaneers career.
Gage briefly joined the Baltimore Ravens roster last month but didn’t survive the 53-man roster trimdown.
Generally speaking, the Vikings’ acquisition of Gage is unlikely. WR depth isn’t a problem.
Gage will turn 28 in January.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.