Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is injured against the Houston Texans in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
For the first time in eight years, the Minnesota Vikings boast a 3-0 record through three games to start a season, largely due to the quarterback’s efficiency.
That passer is Sam Darnold, a man fully effectuating a reclamation season in Minnesota after six years of underachievement with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers.
And somehow, fans are now on pins and needles awaiting word on his injury status. Former Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter, who plays for the Houston Texans, rolled into Darnold’s leg on Sunday during his team’s 34-7 loss to Minnesota, sidelining Darnold for a play and causing early-week suspense about his short- and long-term status.
Darnold quickly returned to the game after a medical check and finished the Vikings’ beatdown of Houston, so that can be interpreted as an initial good omen.
Darnold will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, if any. Late Sunday afternoon, he said about his knee, “It’s good, and that’s as much as I’m gonna say about that.”
Vikings loyalists — famous for doomsday thinking that generally turns out to be accurate — will collectively cross their fingers on Darnold’s MRI, especially after 1st-Round rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus six weeks ago.
If Darnold turned out to be seriously injured, the franchise would lean into wild fireballer Nick Mullens, with a side dish of Brett Rypien at QB2. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would also likely explore the free-agent and trade market for another contingency plan.
Through three games, Darnold ranks as the NFL’s sixth-best quarterback per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency stat that measures expected wins added. His 8 touchdown passes lead the NFL, and Darnold, 27, is on pace for 3,723 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Through three games, the man has totally revitalized his career.
Meanwhile, the Vikings, on the whole, are cooking with gas.
The defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL per DVOA, and the team’s +55 point differential (it has outscored opponents by 55 points) places second in the business behind the 2-1 New Orleans Saints. If Darnold were seriously injured — Minnesota seems poised for a deep playoff run — free-agent explorations of old quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Philips Rivers, or Matt Ryan could not be fundamentally ruled out.
Of course, Darnold’s MRI can whisk away any free-agent 0r trade chatter. That’s the easy route. It’s just that the team feels too good to squander if his procedure reveals a grimmer prognosis.
The Vikings travel to Green Bay for a date with the hot Packers this Sunday.
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.