Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback NaJee Thompson (11) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season is just 11 days away, traveling to New Jersey for a meeting with the New York Giants.
The franchise trimmed the roster from 91 players to 53 this week, and you can have a look at the 53-man roster here.
Injuries have already hit the 2024 squad, though, and these seven players will miss some or all of the 2024 season. They’re listed alphabetically.
Return Timetable: 2025
Training camp kicked off in July, and Blackmon promptly tore his ACL. He’ll miss all of his second season after a wonderful rookie campaign in 2023.
Blackmon was the NFL’s 32nd-best overall cornerback back in 2023, according to PFF, a terrific mark for a rookie and a decent grade for anybody. About 90 cornerbacks play football on any given Sunday, and Blackmon was near the NFL’s best one-third.
Return Timetable: After Week 4
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph injured Hockenson (torn ACL) in December — he did the same thing to Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee two weeks later — and as expected, Hockenson’s recovery will bleed into the regular season.
He’ll be welcomed back with open arms before too long. The offense needs him.
Return Timetable: 2025
This journeyman veteran joined the Vikings late this summer as a depth linebacker, and he’ll evidently rehab in Minnesota and perhaps contend for a roster spot next summer.
Return Timetable: 2025
McCarthy played tremendously 2.5 weeks ago in the Vikings’ first preseason game — but he also tore his meniscus along the way. He exemplifies the Vikings fan slogan, “We can’t have nice things.”
Sometimes, meniscus tears sideline an athlete for a month or so; in other situations, it’s a full season. Of course, the Vikings experienced the latter — the bad version.
Return Timetable: After Week 4
Murphy was supposed to be “this year’s Ivan Pace,” an undrafted gem waiting to burst onto the scene. But he’ll start the 2024 campaign on injured reserve and is eligible to return in October or so.
Return Timetable: After Week 4
Some believed Risner might become a roster cut, but because of a bad back, he’ll recover with the Vikings and maybe snag a starter’s job in October or November — like he did last year.
For now, Blake Brandel and Ed Ingram will represent the Vikings as starting offensive guards.
Return Timetable: 2025
The team’s special teams ace will be sidelined for all of 2024 with a leg injury. Thompson surprisingly made the 53-man roster last year and was a lock to do so again in 2024.
Yet, the injury will keep him off the field in 2024, and he’ll turn his sights to next year.
**Other injured players: Jeremy Flax (OL), out for 2024 | Trey Knox (TE), out for 2024
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.