Top Developments So Far from Vikings OTAs
The Minnesota Vikings have a few sessions of organized team activities (OTAs) in the books, with more to come next week.
The Vikings OTAs (organized team activities) are ongoing, and here’s what folks have learned to date.
On June 10th, mandatory minicamp gets underway, and training camp is about seven weeks after that.
So, with a little bit of OTAs complete, here’s what onlookers learned about the Vikings so far.
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon Is Back. Back-Back.
Last summer, when Vikings operations had gone off the rails with Khyree Jackson’s tragic death and a Jordan Addison injury, cornerback Mekhi Blackmon also tore his ACL, ending his second act in the pros. Blackmon missed all of 2024.
But now he’s back.
The Vikings will need him because, after Byron Murphy Jr., the talent on the depth chart is a bit questionable. Thankfully, fans won’t have to worry about Blackmon’s regular season trajectory or health prognosis. He’s fully healed.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Extension Is Done
Vikings.com Craig Peters wrote Friday, “The Vikings and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have agreed to a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Friday. Adofo-Mensah was entering the final year of his four-year contract he signed upon his hire in January 2022. He said he is ‘beyond excited to continue this journey’ with the Vikings and with O’Connell, who signed an extension with Minnesota in January.”
Perhaps the most noteworthy event of the week, the Vikings locked down their foremost front office leaders for the long haul.
In all likelihood, Adofo-Mensah will be attached to the enterprise through the end of 2029.
No Will Fries for Vikings OTAs
An undercover secret about Vikings free agency, nearly every big-name player brought aboard in March ended the 2024 campaign on injured reserve.
Fries was no different.
The new Viking broke his leg last October, cancelling his breakout season in Indianapolis. The injury did little to hurt his free agency, signing a five-year, $88 million deal in Minnesota three months ago.
However, Fries isn’t quite ready for May and June activities. Training camp is a more realistic target for the veteran guard.
Where’s Josh Metellus?
The Vikings touted “near 100%” OTA participation, but safety Josh Metellus did not appear to be in attendance.
Metellus enters the final year of his contract and may be angling for a new deal.
A to Z Sports‘s Tyler Forness wrote this week, “Metellus is set to be a free agent after the season. There have been rumors that Metellus will get an extension before the season starts, but that has yet to happen. Could Metellus be holding out from OTAs for a new contract? It’s not a certainty right now, but it’s definitely something to consider.”
“Metellus does have a $50k workout bonus that he can earn with offseason workouts, but holding out could end up netting him more money.”
It’s worth noting that Metellus damn near plays every position in Brian Flores’ defense.
Forness added, “As I mentioned before, we don’t know for sure that Metellus is holding out. There have been no explicit signs that he is. For all we know, he could have had an excused absence from Wednesday’s workouts for a personal matter. However, this is the time for veteran players to hold out for a new contract, as they don’t have that luxury during the season.
“For now, don’t make any assumptions and keep this in the back of your mind. It could be a thing that manifests over the next couple of months.”
J.J. McCarthy “Looks” the Part after Injury
J.J. McCarthy busted his meniscus last August during his first preseason showing, ruining his rookie season and paving the way for Sam Darnold to reclaim his own career.
Now, though, with Darnold gone to the Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy is poised to take over as QB1. While he’ll have to look the part at training camp and in the preseason, everything the guy says and does is a class act.
He doesn’t shy away from the big stage, and in front of a microphone, McCarthy is infectious.
The 22-year-old is healthy, ready to lead as a franchise QB1, and the time is now. His meniscus recovery battled no hiccups.
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