Vikings Unexpectedly Had a Busy Tuesday
The Minnesota Vikings pressed the go-live button on mandatory minicamp Tuesday, and if folks were expecting a nothingburger, they witnessed the opposite.
The Vikings’ Tuesday turned out to be busy ordeal, and the news was pretty damn positive.
The Vikings weren’t bashful in their actions and words about revealing new information, as they prepare for a captivating regular season that is less than three months away.
It was a busy Tuesday, and here’s what happened.
Christian Darrisaw Is in the House
Vikings fans, until Tuesday, pondered whether left tackle Christian Darrisaw would be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign after the veteran offensive lineman blew out his knee last October.
While there’s still a long way to go before determining Darrisaw’s return date, the man showed up mandatory minicamp — and participated as if the ACL tear never occurred.
It felt like a plot twist in a movie.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters remarked on Darrisaw’s triumphant return: “Big Dog is getting back in action. Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw on Tuesday participated in individual drills as Minnesota opened its three-day minicamp. Those words are quite encouraging for the fifth-year pro in his return from a season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 8 last year (Oct. 24 at the Los Angeles Rams).”
“Darrisaw has started 46 of 48 regular-season games played, a run that began when he opened Minnesota’s thrilling overtime win at Carolina on Oct. 17, 2021. The 23rd overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft was tracking at a Pro Bowl-caliber level when he suffered the injury just before halftime.”
A standard ACL recovery would plop Darrisaw back on the field in late August, coincidentally a couple of weeks before the start of the season. We shall see if the Vikings green-light the superstar lineman for Week 1.
Josh Oliver Sticks Around for the Long Haul
After some offseason chirps that insinuated tight end Josh Oliver could depart in 2026 free agency, the Vikings strangled the theory Tuesday by extending Oliver for three extra years.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “The Vikings have agreed to a contract extension for TE Josh Oliver, per me and Tom Pelissero.”
The deal hands $23.5 million to Oliver over the next three seasons, connecting one of Minnesota’s best blocking assets to the franchise through the end of J.J. McCarthy’s rookie contract.
All theories about Oliver entering his final season were wrong.
Depth TE Giovanni Ricci Enters the Chat
In other tight end news, Minnesota added depth pass-catcher Giovanni Ricci this week. He’ll vie for a 53-man roster spot this summer, realistically aiming for a practice squad assignment.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew in April, who figures to earn the TE3 job.
Nevertheless, our own Janik Eckardt detailed Ricci’s biography: “Giovanni Ricci entered the league in 2020. Coming out of Western Michigan, he went undrafted and signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he spent the first four seasons of his career.”
“He ended up making his NFL debut in 2021 and ultimately played 36 games (four starts) for the Panthers, in which he recorded nine catches for 102 yards. Much more prolific is his work on special teams. Ricci logged 647 special-teams snaps in his tenure in Carolina and registered 19 tackles and a fumble recovery. After his stint in the NFC South, he signed with the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 offseason but was released towards the end of the preseason.”
Ricci would hold a special teams role if he made the regular season roster.
Eckardt added, “In February this year, Ricci joined the New England Patriots, but he was axed shortly after the draft. He’s unlikely to make much noise in the new-looking tight end room that includes, besides top guys T.J. Hockenson and freshly-extended Josh Oliver, three rookies (sixth-rounder Gavin Bartholomew and undrafted rookies Bryson Nesbit and Ben Yurosek) eyeing the TE3 spot and a subsequent roster slot.”
“Still, special teamers are valuable, and the Vikings want to give him a look. He’s 28 years old and was listed as a fullback earlier in his career. That position has been occupied for almost a decade by C.J. Ham.”
Dallas Turner Formally Promoted
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores leaned into the depth of his outside linebacking group at minicamp, claiming his unit has “three starters” as is, including Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner.
A 1st-Round pick from 2024, Turner only played about 30% of the time last year, and many want him to climb the depth chart as early as this season.
That appears to be in motion, especially with EDGE rushers Patrick Jones II and Jihad Ward leaving the team this offseason.
It isn’t necessarily guaranteed that Turner will have a “breakout season” — he might — but per Flores’ mouth, Turner will get the necessary snaps to put his thumbprint on the 2025 campaign.
Vikings Folk Hero Could Sign in Houston
You must be logged in to post a comment.