K.J. Osborn Is Back in the NFC

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Dec 11, 2024
Sep 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) celebrates during the fourth quarter against Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Former Minnesota Vikings wideout K.J. Osborn didn’t last long on the waiver wire after the New England Patriots cut ties with the 27-year-old on Tuesday.

K.J. Osborn Is Back in the NFC

Osborn is now a Washington Commander and will presumably finish the season in the nation’s capital.

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Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota wide receiver K. Osborn (17) reacts to his catch against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Former Patriots WR KJ Osborn, who was waived yesterday, was claimed by the Commanders, source said.”

Osborn joins this WR corps in Washington:

  • Terry McLaurin
  • Noah Brown
  • Olamide Zaccheaus
  • Luke McCaffrey
  • Dyami Brown
  • K.J. Osborn
  • Jamison Crowder (IR)
  • Bryce Tremayne (Practice Squad)
  • Michael Strachan (Practice Squad)
  • Mitchell Tinsley (Practice Squad)

The Commanders’ offense ranks fifth in the NFL per DVOA, and Jayden Daniels’ team would hold the NFC’s seventh playoff seed if the postseason kicked off today.

Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota wide receiver K. Osborn (17) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) tries to break up the pass during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Osborn started the 2024 campaign slow, and at the time, many wondered if Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett merely hadn’t developed chemistry with the veteran wideout. Several weeks ago, New England benched Brissett for rookie passer Drake Maye, and not much changed for Osborn.

The veteran pass-catcher spent his whole rookie contract with the Vikings. Osborn busted out into prominence [out of nowhere] during the summer of 2021 after an unbelievably quiet rookie year during the pandemic season. In fact, the Vikings didn’t use Osborn on offense at all as a rookie, but he emerged at training camp the following season.

Nov 10, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) reacts after a call against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

And then the veteran playmaker stuck around until March 2024, mostly used as a WR3. Moreover, Osborn’s arrival on the scene was of the utmost importance for Minnesota. For about four seasons, the Vikings “never really seemed to care” about WR3, nominating men like Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe for the task. But when Osborn seized the job in 2021, the purple team finally employed an honest-to-goodness WR3.

Osborn totaled 48 receptions for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2023. The year was pretty standard in Osborn’s world, though the touchdown numbers dipped.

He has 7 receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown this season.

Sep 8, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver K. Osborn (2) attempts the one-hand catch as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill (23) defends during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images,

With Jordan Addison’s immediate emergence to WR2, Osborn could grab more money on the open market than Minnesota was willing to deliver. Too, Osborn was not drafted by the current Vikings front office and coaching staff, meaning he was not a priority to re-sign. So, he chose the Patriots.

The Commanders also employ former Vikings players Sheldon Day (DT) and Jalyn Holmes (DT).

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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.