Purple Rumor Mill: Darnold v. McCarthy, the Hitman’s Injury Status, Greg Joseph
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the December 28th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Darnold v. McCarthy, the Hitman’s Injury Status, Greg Joseph
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the purple team, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the first batch of the week. All past rumors can be read here.
Rumor: One anonymous player agent claims Sam Darnold will be back with the Vikings in 2025 despite J.J. McCarthy’s presence on the roster.
Sam Darnold’s stock has soared to unexpected and mind-boggling levels, leading the purple team to a 13-2 record through 16 weeks and on track to tabulate about 4,300 passing yards and 38 touchdowns by season’s end.
And because Darnold is only in Minnesota on a one-year, $10 million contract, Vikings fans and NFL media have begun a predictable conversation — will the Vikings re-sign Darnold or let it ride with J.J. McCarthy, who the team drafted eight months ago?
Via The Athletic this week, one NFL player agent told Mike Sando, “Sam Darnold will be a Viking next year unless he bombs in the playoffs.”
The offseason is still 2 to 7 weeks away, but get ready because the Darnold v. McCarthy debates are here and will only get louder. They’ll make any Cousins-themed argument seem pedestrian.
The player agent could be on to something that it’s all about the playoffs for Danrold’s future in the Twin Cities.
Rumor: Harrison Smith is ready to go for Packers at Vikings.
Smith missed last weekend’s game against the Seahawks, a mini-tragedy because he had lost five games as a Viking at that stadium.
But he’s off the injury report now.
Smith will play against the Packers on Sunday, and it could, in theory, be his final game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Rumor: Greg Joseph has joined yet another team in 2024.
Joseph’s agent, Brett Tessler, tweeted Tuesday, “The New York Jets just signed my client Greg Joseph (K, FAU) to their practice squad. 7-year vet recently filled in for the Washington Commanders as well as the New York Giants earlier this season.”
The former Vikings specialist has now signed with or tried out for six NFL teams since leaving Minnesota in late March:
- Green Bay Packers
- Detroit Lions
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns (audition only)
- Washington Commanders
- New York Jets
ESPN Identifies “Achilles Heel” for 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.
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