The Vikings Nopes on Aaron Rodgers at It Again, The Offensive Line Peril, Eric Kendricks
Believe it or not, each and every week — offseason, preseason, and regular — there are items in the Minnesota Vikings’ orbit that are just ridiculous.
The Vikings Nopedy Nopes section takes a look this week at Aaron Rodgers’ conflicting statements, the big OL plan, and Eric Kendricks in Baltimore.
So, our weekly Nopedy Nopes pieces lift up those tidbits — stuff that’s bizarre, flatly untrue, or just didn’t work out as planned for the franchise or a player.
Here’s this week’s batch of Nopedy Nopes.
Vikings Nopedy Nopes for October 5th, 2025
Gotta read it or see it to believe it.
The Nopedy Nope: Aaron Rodgers told reporters last week that there wasn’t anything to the offseason rumors about him joining Minnesota, and then after the game, when his Steelers beat the Vikings, he said it felt extra good to beat that very team.
A reporter asked Rodgers before Steelers-Vikings if there was anything to the rumors about his interest in Minnesota during the offseason or vice versa.
Rodgers said he and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell have been friends for a long time and stated, “Kevin and I have been friends since 2008. We used to work out together at a little place called Fitness Quest 10 out in North County San Diego.”
“So, I’ve known him forever. We’ve been friends forever, and we keep in touch. He’s one of the guys I keep in touch with. Things never progressed farther than catch up conversations. I’ll just leave it at that.”
After Pittsburgh beat Minnesota by three points, another media member asked Rodgers if it felt good to beat Minnesota after the offseason saga. Rodgers replied with a smile, “Yes, definitely. Just leave it at that. Yes.”
Something’s not adding up. He either wanted to join the Vikings’ roster in March and April, was told no, and it felt good to beat them after the fact. Or — there was never any smoke about the rumors in the first place, and Rodgers played them up after the win to claim fake revenge.
The Verdict: Nopey nope on Rodgers’ narrative having it both ways. It can’t be both.
The Nopedy Nope: Minnesota was supposed to have its best offensive line in years this season.
For starters, this was supposed to be the offensive line group after free agency and the draft:
Christian Darrisaw (LT)
Donovan Jackson (LG)
Ryan Kelly (C)
Will Fries (RG)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
But less than a month into the regular season, it’s apparent that the unit may never take a single snap in unison, or if it does, not until weeks or months from now.
Ryan Kelly suffered two concussions in three games, and his playing future may be up in the air. The man has been concussed five times in nine years.
O’Neill has a sprained MCL. And Jackson had wrist surgery a week and a half ago.
This one depends on Kelly’s return, if at all, but the once-promising offensive line quintet for the Vikings has not played a single down together — and may not.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Minnesota’s grand offensive line plan.
The Nopedy Nope: Eric Kendricks told the Baltimore Ravens “no thanks” or “nope” to a practice squad arrangement.
The Ravens’ defense is utterly pitiful this season — a very strange happening for a Baltimore team — and things are so bad for John Harbaugh’s team that former Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks declined to sign.
NBC Sports’ Josh Alper wrote this week, “Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks visited the Ravens on Tuesday, but he reportedly won’t be part of their bid to improve their defensive performance.”
“Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Kendricks turned down an offer to join the Ravens’ practice squad. Kendricks could have been elevated three times to play in games if he had signed and could be signed to the 53-man roster after that or at any other point in his tenure with the team.”
Baltimore’s defense ranks 24th in the NFL per DVOA and even lower per EPA/Play at No. 29.
Kendricks evidently wanted a spot on the active roster, not any practice squad disrespect. Perhaps the Ravens will come to their sense and sign Kendricks outright.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope to Kendricks taking the plunge on a team’s practice squad.
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