Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper celebrates after scoring on the team's first drive during the first half against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the October 14th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to DustinBakerNFL@gmail.com.
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Answer: Yes, a few — Amari Cooper (WR, Cleveland Browns), Jonathan Jones (CB, New England Patriots), Miles Sanders (RB, Carolina Panthers), and Adam Thielen (WR, Carolina Panthers).
Cooper is 32 and has tabulated 9,964 receiving yards in his career, plus 62 touchdowns. In 2023, he banked 1,250 receiving yards, so it’s not like Minnesota would be getting a past-his-prime dud. The guy is still the real deal. He’s probably attainable for a 5th-Round pick or so. It helps Minnesota that Cleveland’s season is in grim shape.
And on the Panthers players, well, their season isn’t much better. Thielen should be healed from a hamstring injury right around the trade deadline, and why not bring him home for a WR3-WR4 role? He can likely be obtained for a conditional late-round pick. Finally, Sanders’ contract is expensive, but he might be a decent reserve option to hedge the bet against another Aaron Jones injury.
Jones, a corner, has past ties to Brian Flores from the New England Patriots days.
Answer: Probably Week 8, Thursday Night Football at the Los Angeles Rams.
A source tells VikingsTerritory that Hockenson will not play this Sunday, when the NFC North is up for grabs, and that he is in line to return four days later at Los Angeles for a date with the Rams. The source claims the Vikings are proceeding “ultra-cautiously” with Hockenson, and if the decision were solely up to him, he would’ve played by now.
The good news? It’s either Week 7 or 8. It can’t be longer than that; otherwise, he’d have to revert to injured reserve.
Answer: Our primary source says yes.
The words were, “Jones should be good to go” for Sunday versus Detroit.
It’s also worth noting that Jones returned to practice on Monday, a good omen for the weekend.
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 MIN 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.