Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and head coach Kevin O'Connell talk before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the November 21st 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: J.J. McCarthy — as the solution alone.
We really don’t care about “bridge quarterbacks,” Aaron Rodgers theories, Daniel Jones nonsense, etc. If the Vikings just want to walk on eggshells all the time at quarterback, well, McCarthy wasn’t the solution in the first place.
We believe in McCarthy as the sole 2025 solution, with a guy like Nick Mullens as the backup. We have no interest in Rodgers or Jones. Yuck.
Give us an offseason without quarterback controversy, and label McCarthy as the undisputed QB1. If Sam Darnold wants to return for $10 million — great. But he won’t. Darnold can probably earn more on the market in March.
Answer: Jalen Nailor.
He dropped a critical pass last weekend — right in his damn breadbasket — a gaffe that prevented the Vikings from blowing out the Tennessee Titans. He needs a redemption moment.
Nailor’s drop certainly wasn’t a career-defining indictment or anything of the sort. It’s just that he’ll have to make up for it — seek vengeance on himself — to convince Minnesota’s brass that he’s a suitable WR3 for the long haul. Nailor is on pace for 44 catches and 420 receiving yards this season. Minnesota cut ties with wideout K.J. Osborn eight months ago because his 500-600 yards per season didn’t feel like enough. Instead, the WR3 spot has declined per production, especially when Nailor had a golden opportunity to shine with T.J. Hockenson missing the season’s first seven games.
It will be sweet to see Nailor bounce back as early as this weekend.
Answer: Probably not.
Oliver didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, a hint that he won’t play in Chicago. And that’s unfortunate because the guy has played wonderfully in the last four games.
Sunday is trending toward a T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt game. Thankfully, Oliver’s ankle injury doesn’t sound too severe. We expect him for Week 13 — Cardinals at Vikings.
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.