Vikings Nopedy Nopes: Andrew Van Ginkel Injury, Cowboys’ False Statement, Cam Akers

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.

Vikings Nopedy Nopes: Andrew Van Ginkel Injury, Cowboys’ False Statement, Cam Akers

The nopedy nopes are weekly Minnesota Vikings-themed items that we’re not buying. It’s a spin-off of our rumor mill, and we hope you enjoy. Here is the 20th batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.

The Nopedy Nope: Andrew Van Ginkel is recovering from an injury, so he’s basically “this year’s Marcus Davenport.”

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Miami Dolphins linebacker A. Van Ginkel (43) and defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) celebrate a sack against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, October 8, 2023. © Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Van Ginkel suffered a Lisfranc injury down the stretch of the 2023 season while playing for the Miami Dolphins, a team beset by a plethora of pass-rusher injuries when it mattered the most. The buzz from June’s minicamp suggested Van Ginkel’s recovery could draw out into the summer, creating paranoia that a Marcus Davenport experience might be replicated. 

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday at the club’s training camp press conference that Van Ginkel would not need the PUP list, though tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is recovering from a torn ACL, will hit the shelf indefinitely.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert also tweeted about Van Ginkel, “The expectation of LB Andrew Van Ginkel (foot) is that he is close to being ready to participate fully in training camp, but O’Connell said the Vikings will see how it goes during the ramp-up period this week and into the weekend.”

Van Ginkel’s return is imminent. Minnesota knew about his injury recovery when they signed him in March. He’s not a lemon.

Verdict: Nopedy nope.

The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings don’t pay anyone on their roster and, therefore, could pay Justin Jefferson quite easily.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

According to Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, the son of owner Jerry Jones, Minnesota was able to meet Jefferson’s financial demands because it doesn’t pay anybody on its roster.

“You look at a guy like Jefferson, they’re not paying a quarterback, they’re not paying anybody on their roster at this point,” Jones said Thursday.

His team is bogged down in extension talks with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Both need monster contracts.

Jones added, “So it’s a lot easier for them to stretch a little more. We’re just trying to work through, reasonably, with CeeDee, reasonably with Dak, what we can do to make it work from an economic standpoint. When you’re trying to pay three guys like that, it certainly does limit your opportunities to maybe improve the roster down the line.”

For six years, Minnesota showcased Kirk Cousins at quarterback, so fans know exactly what Jones is talking about — it’s tricky to manage the salary cap when one person hogs a large percentage. It’s just that Jones’ claim was a vast exaggeration. The following players earn these annual salaries per contract value:

  • Justin Jefferson (WR) = $35 million
  • Christian Darrisaw (LT) = $28.25 million
  • Jonathan Greenard (OLB) = $19 million
  • Brian O’Neill (RT) = $18.5 million
  • T.J. Hockenson (TE) = $16.5 million

Jones really meant, “The Vikings are lucky because their future QB1 is a rookie. We have Dak.”

Verdict: Nopedy nope.

The Nopedy Nope: Cam Akers signed with the Vikings earlier this month pending a physical.

Vikings Nopedy Nopes
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.

ESPN reported that the Vikings re-signed Cam Akers on July 2nd, pending a physical. No other outlet confirmed the signing, including Vikings.com or the NFL’s transaction wire.

Fast forward to this week, and Akers signed with the Houston Texans. He either failed the physical in Minnesota and nobody at all anywhere mentioned it — or ESPN got it wrong.

Verdict: Nopedy nope.


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.