Looks Like the Vikings Are about to Cut Their Demon
The Minnesota Vikings were quite poor last year in football’s forgotten third phase, according to SI.com’s Bill Huber, perhaps focusing too much on offense and defense instead of investing in big-time performers for their special teams unit. It should be noted, though, that one standout special teamer missed the 2024 campaign.
Looks Like the Vikings Are about to Cut 1 Demon
NaJee Thompson, a 2023 undrafted rookie, was forced to sit out the entire 2024 season due to a severe knee injury. Those who were looking for a comeback in purple might be disappointed.
The 24-year-old announced on social media that his Vikings days are numbered.
On Tuesday evening, he constructed a goodbye post, “Forever love to the organization, Unfortunately my time here is done, our paths may cross again never count anything out but injuries happen and I’ll be back on the field soon! To the state of Minnesota, thank you for all the support and gratitude, much love. #Skol”
Last offseason, Thompson missed some OTAs and was noticeably absent from training camp early on. The Vikings kept the reason a secret, and nobody knew for sure that the man suffered a nasty injury in the previous season.
Towards the end of training camp, the Vikings waived him with an injury designation. Once he cleared waivers unclaimed, the corner reverted back to Minnesota’s IR. That officially ended his sophomore season in August.
Nearing the end of the 2024 season, the ST ace revealed the extent of that injury in an appearance on 612Vikings. He said that he tore his PCL in a game against the Bears and continued to play through the injury for the remainder of the season.
In the 2024 offseason, it was determined that he could rehab without surgery. However, the injury never fully healed, and he required surgery later that offseason when his status didn’t improve. That cost him his second season with the Vikings, and it looks like he spent his final year in purple rehabbing the injury.
Thompson arrived after the draft in 2023. Coming out of Georgia Southern (Jerick McKinnon’s alma mater), he was a cornerback on paper, but his value was actually his special teams prowess. The Vikings acquired him, and it quickly turned out that he was great in that third phase because he took pride in that.
Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels praised his rookie after a strong performance in a 2023 preseason game: “It’s funny, I’ve been watching this player for quite some time now and he lives and breathes special teams, that’s who he is at the core, and for him to finally be able to carry it over from what I saw on tape from the collegiate level to putting it on display on Thursday night only solidifies who he is as a person – the bright lights aren’t too big for him.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell just referred to his former teammate, Matthew Slater, who might have delivered a Hall of Fame career solely on special teams.
Ultimately, Thompson made the 53-man roster and was a real weapon as a punt gunner.
That season, he logged seven tackles in 15 games, but his numbers don’t really show the impact he had.
At this point, the Vikings haven’t announced any roster moves regarding their special teams ace. If he is indeed released, he will try to find a new team and audition for a roster spot in training camp and the preseason. Few players are as good as he is in his niche role.
The Vikings, meanwhile, have added some players who could take his spot. Cornerback Tavierre Thomas and wideout Tim Jones have starred on special teams in previous stints and could help improve Daniels’ unit.
Thompson will turn 25 in July.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
You must be logged in to post a comment.