Former Vikings Found Big Success with Their New Team in Week 1
This offseason saw a great deal of turnover on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
They replaced virtually their entire position groups at quarterback, defensive tackle, interior offensive line, and cornerback this offseason, and we will soon see how the new Vikings faces perform when Minnesota takes on the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
As for those former Vikings, two of them remained together with a new team in 2025, and at least in Week 1, they each had big success.
Former Vikings Find Success with New Team
This offseason, both Daniel Jones and Camryn Bynum opted to leave the Vikings to sign new contracts with the Indianapolis Colts.
On Sunday, those Colts took on the Miami Dolphins to begin their season, and it ended up being a blowout win for Indianapolis, defeating the Dolphins by a score of 33-8. Both Bynum and Jones played a major role in that impressive win.
Bynum had been a key starter on Minnesota’s defense over the past couple of years, so his success was no big surprise. The safety recorded 10 passes defended and three interceptions last year in a Vikings uniform, and he kept it rolling in Week 1 with three tackles, a pair of passes defended, and an interception of Tua Tagovailoa.
More shocking was Jones’ efficiency as a starting quarterback. The veteran spent the end of the 2024 season as the Vikings’ backup quarterback after being released by the New York Giants. Jones’ time with the Giants concluded after a disastrous start to the season in which he started 10 games and threw for 2070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Giants went 2-8 in those starts.
After concluding the year with the Vikings, Jones opted to bet on himself, signing a one-year deal with the Colts. It was surprising at the time considering Anthony Richardson was still on the team after being selected with the fourth overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft.
Further surprises were in store for the Colts though when they announced that Jones would be starting over the uber-athletic Richardson this season, proving Jones correct in his decision to prove that he can still start in the NFL.
Jones further cemented his belief in himself as correct by throwing for 272 yards and a touchdown in the win, completing a very impressive 22 of his 29 pass attempts along with an additional pair of rushing touchdowns.
It was the first time Jones threw for over 270 yards since Week 4 of last season and just the third time since the 2023 season.
Perhaps the impressive start for Bynum, Jones, and the Colts is only a matter playing a Dolphins team that could be worse than initially believed. On the other hand, particularly in the case of Jones, it further solidifies Kevin O’Connell’s status as a QB whisperer to help turn quarterbacks into viable NFL players.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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