Dec 8, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Broncos offensive guard Dalton Risner (66) warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports.
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
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 25th batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
Six of our writers predicted Risner as the Vikings’ surprise cut during 53-man roster formulation, and they were all wrong.
Risner didn’t make an impact this summer — or really even compete for a starter’s job — because he was nursing a back injury. Now, he’s on injured reserve for at least four games. But he should be back in October or so.
Roster cut panic for Risner was all for nil. We got it wrong.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
For real — Bleacher Report thought Hall would oust Mullens for QB2.
“Hall, meanwhile, really came alive over the last two preseason games. He was 4-of-5 for 87 yards and two touchdowns last week and earned the start for Saturday’s finale,” BR’s collective staff wrote. “He picked up right where he left off, leading Minnesota to points on their first five drives and throwing a pair of first-half touchdowns.”
“While the Vikings may still favor Mullens’ experience, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to stash Hall on the practice squad after his recent surge. Minnesota may have to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, and if it doesn’t, Mullens — who was 0-3 as the starter last year — will probably be the odd man out,” BR concluded.
This was not even remotely close to accurate. Mullens kept his QB2 job, and Hall was waived.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted, Tuesday “Kicker change in Green Bay: The Packers cut Anders Carlson, per source.”
This implied that Joseph had won the 2024 kicking job. The next day, however, Green Bay swerved and dropped Joseph, too. The cheese team added an undrafted free-agent kicker named Brayden Narveson. Carlson and Joseph performed so brutally in the summer that a man with no professional experience won the battle.
The battle was also weird for Vikings fans to ponder because Anders Carlson is the little brother of Daniel Carlson, who kicked for Minnesota in 2018. Neither won the job.
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.