Vikings Face Triple Whammy of Bad News
July has not been kind to the Minnesota Vikings — at all — even if offseason optimism popped through the roof from March through June.
Vikings Face Triple Whammy of Bad News
Thankfully, training camp is underway, and the preseason is two weeks away, so the club can perhaps rekindle some of the sanguinity from June.
For now, however, July provided a triple whammy of bad news.
1. Khyree Jackson’s Death | July 6th
Jackson passed away on July 6th in a Maryland car accident. The investigation into his death remains ongoing, and criminal charges could be filed against the driver who caused his death.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found Jackson in Round 4 of April’s draft. The Oregon draftee had the swagger and skillset to succeed in the NFL. But now the season is a tribute to Jackson’s memory.
Vikings ownership stepped up to support Jackson’s family, paying $20,000 for his funeral, plus the entirety of his signing bonus. And Jackson’s jersey No. 31 will be unused this season, Vikings players will wear a “KJ” decal on their helmets, and Jackson’s locker will remain untouched in 2024.
2. Jordan Addison’s Arrest | July 12th
Six days after Jackson’s passing, California Highway Patrol arrested Jordan Addison for suspicion of DUI after discovering the 22-year-old asleep in his Rolly-Royce that blocked a lane of freeway traffic near Los Angeles International Airport.
The Vikings leaders and Addison acknowledged his wrongdoing this week at camp, dispelling any fringe theories that suggested the ordeal was a medical emergency or misunderstanding. A suspension is likely around the bend.
“Whatever’s out there for me, whatever comes with it, I’ll own up to everything. I feel like anything that comes my way is meant to happen or is deserved,” Addison told reporters on Wednesday.
Addison might be one more legal infraction away from a very long suspension or outright roster release.
3. Mekhi Blackmon’s ACL Tear | July 24th
Twelve days after Addison’s arrest, second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL on the first day of live activities at training camp. He will miss all of 2024.
Minnesota has about five weeks to finalize a 53-man depth chart, and with Blackmon + Jackson no longer factoring into the equation, all eyes will turn to Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, and Dwight McGlothern — the other young corners on the 91-man roster. The heat is on for Booth, especially, a former 2nd-Rounder.
Not for nothing, Minnesota signed a cornerback named Jacobi Francis on Thursday, though he’s never played a defensive snap in the NFL.
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.
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