It’s Same Ol’ Same Ol’ for Vikings Playmaker

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Not long ago, Minnesota Vikings fans feverishly wondered who would take over WR3 responsibilities when K.J. Osborn departed for the New England Patriots.

It’s Same Ol’ Same Ol’ for Vikings Playmaker

Those folks endorsed the free-agent exploration of players like Tyler Boyd and Hunter Renfrow, for example, in March, and then rookies like Javon Baker and Luke McCaffrey in April. Then, the Vikings did nothing on the WR3 front besides adding WR4-type Trent Sherfield because they had their WR3 at home.

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His name is Jalen Nailor.

Fans later embraced Nailor as the WR3, mainly because he’s as fast as hell and is a homegrown Viking. The only knock on Nailor so far through two seasons is injury. Well, fast forward to Week 1, and it’s same ol’, same ol’, for Nailor — he’s on the team’s first injury report with an ankle issue.

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The injury report listed Nailor as a limited participant along with Jordan Addison — who is also battling an ankle matter — so his status for Sunday’s game at the New York Giants is a bit up in the air. Nailor recently tweaked the ankle in practice.

Thankfully, head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t sound too alarmed about Nailor’s Week 1 trajectory. “I feel really good about where Jalen is at,” O’Connell said Wednesday.

It’s just that this the knock on Nailor — there’s always something wrong with the guy.

vikings free agency
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Minnesota found Nailor in Round 6 of the 2022 NFL Draft. He tallied 9 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown in his rookie campaign, along with some flashy clips to whet fans’ appetites for the offseason. Thereafter, the 2024 season arrived, and Nailor’s campaign was undone by — you guessed it — injuries. He saw action in six games and was targeted in the Vikings’ passing game just six times.

Fans hope 2024 will be different, with fingers crossed for a clean bill of health — if the Week 1 injury report turns out to be a false alarm.  

Nailor commented on his training camp performance in Eagan last month. “I felt real comfortable with the offense. Going into the third year, I’m just trying to be as versatile as I can,” he told reporters in late July. “I definitely feel I can fit into that role (WR3) well. I can play both inside and outside really well, moving around in the offense, you know, so just having that, the mindset is to just be able to play all three positions. I feel like that gives me a good bump.”

WR Returns
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All eyes will turn to Friday’s injury report, checking to see if Nailor and Addison will be ready for Sunday. If not, the Vikings’ WR group would showcase Justin Jefferson, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, Trent Sherfield, and possibly a practice squad player like Lucky Jackson.

Minnesota is favored by a point and a half to knock off New York.


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.