The Two Vikings Left Off the Plane for Europe in Weeks 4 and 5
Saying that the Vikings have been working through injuries would be an understatement. All of J.J. McCarthy, Aaron Jones, Blake Cashman, Donovan Jackson, Christian Darrisaw, and several others have been slowed down due to poor health.
Maybe surprisingly, only two Vikings are being left off the plane that’s heading to Europe. Neither of running back Ty Chandler nor tight end Gavin Bartholomew are making the trip overseas. Otherwise, all of the players will be making the journey across the Atlantic, doing so to offer their support within what’s being regarded as a form of team building by Kevin O’Connell.
The Two Vikings Left Off the Plane to Europe
Very quickly, Bartholomew has become an afterthought in the Twin Cities.
It wasn’t too long ago that the 6th-Round selection was looking like the favorite to be the TE3. He was, after all, chosen at No. 202, giving him an advantage over the undrafted talent that was brought aboard to round out the tight end competition.
Unfortunately, the young pass catcher has been working through an injury that hasn’t been quick to heal. Not travelling with the team is yet another discouraging sign.
Consider how Kevin O’Connell discussed the matter back on Monday when he was projecting who was going to be left behind: “We’ll only have two players, I believe, not make the trip. And that will be Gavin Bartholomew and Ty Chandler, just with where they’re at individually.”
By no means has the final chapter been written for Gavin Bartholomew. If, for instance, he missed all of 2025, the Vikings may yet get a productive tight end. Nobody wants to see a rookie miss his debut season in its entirety. There could nevertheless be some benefits, a way of salvaging what is a poor outcome.
For Bartholomew, that’s going to mean committing himself to the mental aspect of the game. Soak up as much knowledge as possible. The tight end should have his nose in the playbook while spending time around great veterans like T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. Come back in 2026 with a healthy body and a deep understanding of how the best attack their work week.
With Ty Chandler, the situation is a bit trickier.
The fourth-year runner is someone who doesn’t lack for talent. What has been missing is consistent production. In theory, the RB3 should be capable of chewing up yards in a hurry due to his 4.38 speed. At the very least, one could envision someone who is a menace when catching the football in open space.
So far, those optimistic plans haven’t worked out particularly well for Mr. Chandler. In fact, one wonders what kind of role he’ll return to once healthy. Chandler’s main contribution is as a kickoff returner. Myles Price is the top option and Tai Felton is now working as the other returner. Will the pair of rookie receivers give back those spots once Chandler is healthy?
Even worse for Chandler’s future outlook on Minnesota’s roster is the presence of Zavier Scott — showed promise in Week 3 — alongside the return of fullback C.J. Ham, who has begun the year on the IR. Is there going to be a roster spot there for Chandler?
Later on in the week, Coach O’Connell again chatted with the media. A pile of preparation has gone into the trip, as O’Connell explains: “If this was, make sure I’m booking travel and bringing the orange slices after the game, if it was all those things, I would not be this confident in our ability to go handle these trips. But we’ve got unbelievable people at every layer.”
In other words, Minnesota is a well prepared team. No shortage of resources have been devoted toward the trip, allowing the Vikings to bring along almost everyone. Going to Europe without Gavin Bartholomew and Ty Chandler may suggest that each are working through difficult scenarios.
Kickoff between the Vikings and Steelers is going to take place at 8:30 am CT on Sunday, September 28th.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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