Vikings Rumors Heat Up around Two Trades, Dalton Risner, and DJ Chark
It’s the Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill, with the regular season two weeks away.
Vikings rumors swirl with buzz around two possible trades, Dalton Risner’s next team, and DJ Chark’s availability as roster moves continue to unfold.
Each weekend, VikingsTerritory compiles the applicable rumors and publishes them on Saturdays and Sundays.
Here’s the latest batch.
Vikings Rumors | August 23rd, 2025
The week’s top rumors pertaining to the Vikings.
Rumor: The Vikings may target two, not just one, trades at wide receiver before the start of the regular season.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is reportedly in the market for a wide receiver via trade — maybe even two.
“The question that I would really ask would be, is it just going to be one or are they going to be willing to seek two wide receivers with potential that one of them has a punt returning skill set? Like that wouldn’t surprise me at all,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis mentioned on his YouTube show this week.
Adofo-Mensah has used a one-two punch three times this offseason for roster enhancements. He needed to fix the offensive line, so he signed guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly. Two moves.
Defensive tackle also needed love. Adofo-Mensah inked Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Two moves.
At cornerback, Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin were not re-signed, prompting the young executive to onboard Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. Two moves.
The Vikings could embrace two avenues: a pass-catcher who could field WR2 duty during Addison’s absence (like Adam Thielen) and a youngster deeper on the depth chart (like Javon Baker, Alec Pierce, or Jordan Whittington).
Rumor: Dalton Risner met with the Cincinnati Bengals, but no deal has emerged yet.
Risner has never had luck signing anywhere in free agency until late in the process.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted Monday, “Sources: The Bengals will be hosting veteran G Dalton Risner on a free agent visit tomorrow. Risner has started 81 games in his career. Cincinnati has been looking for interior offensive line help.”
“The Bengals have quietly been active in the free agent market, recently adding TE Noah Fant and flirting with the OL market. Risner would bring a ton of experience. He just turned 30 years old.”
Some believe the Risner tryout was a “distraction” to take attention off the Trey Hendrickson situation.
StripeHype‘s Matt Fitzgerald wrote: “I only have one question regarding the timing of this news, even though it appeases me, since I advocated for the team signing Risner as a no-brainer transaction a mere four days ago. You, reader, can probably infer what that question is before reading the next boldfaced subheading. Is Bengals’ interest in Dalton Risner real, or a convenient distraction? The lack of respect the Bengals brass harbors for Trey Hendrickson is astounding.”
“It’s beyond me as to why Cincinnati hasn’t considered reshuffling the interior o-line rotation a bit. In lieu of another free-agent signing, centers Seth McLaughlin and Matt Lee should have the tools to play right guard in a pinch, yet the Bengals haven’t resorted to that. Probably has a lot to do with McLaughlin just getting back on the field from a torn Achilles, and Lee’s injury-induced absence from most camp practices.”
It’s worth noting that Fitzgerald could be onto something, as Risner left Cincinnati without a contract.
Fitzgerald added, “Just like the situation with Hendrickson — when they could’ve traded him prior to the draft to use a premium pick on this year’s class — the Bengals dragging their feet to address the right guard spot has too little, too late vibes. Risner is the only remotely attractive option on the open market right now. If he doesn’t sign after his visit, where does that leave the Bengals? The front office might’ve bought a tad of goodwill with the fan base for leaking the news of Risner’s visit today.”
“However, if he doesn’t sign on the dotted line and fortify the trenches in front of Joe Burrow, trust that Bengals supporters are going to be even more irked at the organization than they are as is with the mind-numbingly dumb Hendrickson contract stalemate.”
Perhaps Risner will get another free-agent nibble from another team or circle back to the Bengals before the start of the regular season.
Rumor: DJ Chark could be a WR option for the Vikings, depending on the status of would-be trades.
Chark is a free agent.
AtlantaFalcons.com’s Tarrin Waack broke the news on Monday: “The Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Ben DiNucci, the team announced Monday. In turn, the Falcons released wide receiver DJ Chark and waived/injury quarterback Emory Jones. Chark and Jones played in both of the Falcons’ first two preseason games. Chark didn’t record any stats against the Detroit Lions but caught one of his three targets for 11 yards against the Tennessee Titans.”
“Jones completed four of five passes for 49 yards against the Lions and two of his five passes for 16 yards against the Titans. Jones left the latest game prematurely with an undisclosed injury after what appeared to be a hard hit on his scramble.”
Vikings wide receiver coach Keenan McCardell worked with Chark in Jacksonville to start his career.
This free-agent signing would make a lot of sense, with Chark sliding into a WR4 role or so in Minnesota.
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