The P/PTSD Perspective: Vikings RB Stolen, QB Savior, and Praised Rookie Bumped Down

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Dec 27, 2025
Vikings QB Bretty Rypien in the 2025 preseason.
Aug 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Rypien (11)warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past week month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: December 27th, 2025

1) Vikings RB Stolen by Cardinals: Such is the risk of stashing talent on the practice squad. Minnesota has been in the headlines for seeking a running back upgrade in the offseason. We’ll see if that’s a low-level signing or a more eye-popping move.

Arizona Cardinals helmets in 2023.
Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmets on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

2) Ex-Vikings QB Could Be Asked to Save the Colts: Instead, he’s being asked to help out in Minnesota. The NFL can be an odd place. Rather than stick around with the Colts, Brett Rypien is now a Viking yet again. Hopefully, he was still able to have a Merry Christmas despite needing to travel across the country.

3) Vikings Bumped Down a Praised Rookie, Failing to Dress Him for Week 14: The rookie tight end has a long way to go. The mere fact that he’s on the roster and getting some playing time is a win for an undrafted young fella. In time, perhaps, he’ll solidify himself as the weekly TE2 or TE3. If so, then the signing will have been a huge win.

Tennessee Titans linebacker Cedric Gray (51) and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (29) tackle Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Yurosek (48) during the 1st quarter of an NFL pre-season game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

4) Top NFL Reporters Weigh In on Kevin O’Connell’s Future: Kevin O’Connell is sticking around. Hate to be the one to ruin the suspense, but that’s the basic truth. He remains a good coach who could plausibly push Minnesota toward a prosperous future.

5) Kevin O’Connell Explains the Adam Thielen Snub: At no point did the Thielen trade work out particularly well. The Vikings’ head coach tried to run interference for the veteran but everyone who watched the games knew that things weren’t going well. Poor decision within a year built on poor decisions.

Adam Thielen enters the field before the Vikings’ game against the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) makes his entrance onto the field at U.S. Bank Stadium before a divisional matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. The moment on Sep. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis captured the veteran receiver’s presence as fans cheered his return to the turf, with Thielen preparing to set the tone early in the Week 2 contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.

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By K. Joudry
I'm the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.