Minnesota Vikings: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Vikings Report Card: Kevin O'Connell's offense needs an identity while Jonathan Greenard and Jalen Redmond have the defense playing well

We are six games into the NFL season, which means the first trimester of the year has been completed. The Minnesota Vikings have played five games with their bye in Week 6, and we've learned quite a bit about the team.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Ex-Vikings Pro Bowler Stuns with Retirement

In the 2022 offseason, the new regime around Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell wanted to pair star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter with another good edge-defender, especially because Hunter had missed all but seven games in the previous two campaigns.

NFL News / Minnesota Vikings on SI / October 13

Vikings got in and out of the Za'Darius Smith experience at the right time

Former Vikings Pro Bowler Za'Darius Smith made a surprising retirement announcement on Monday morning after playing in five games with the Eagles this season.

J.J. McCarthy News / Field Level Media / October 13

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy practices for first time since Week 2

Minnesota's bye week ended with the return of quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Monday. McCarthy practiced for the first time since he was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain in the Vikings' Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Buffalo Bills News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NFL 250-passing-yard game leaders' quiz

How many of the NFL quarterbacks with at least 50 250-passing-yard NFL games can you name in six minutes?

The 'Most starts by an NFL quarterback' quiz

The 'Season passing touchdown leaders by NFL team' quiz

The '100-rushing-yard games by NFL QBs' quiz

NFL News / Yardbarker

2026 first-round NFL mock draft: Three QBs in the top 10

With the month of September in the books, both the top college prospects and 2026 NFL draft order are coming into focus. Here's a look at our latest first-round NFL mock draft as of October 13, 2025.

Arch Manning salvages season with Red River Rivalry win

Manning taunted Oklahoma fans

Bijan Robinson has a simple message for Texas QB Manning

Ty Simpson has Heisman moment in road win at No. 14 Missouri

Penn State QB Drew Allar's season comes to an end after injury

Blake Cashman News / Pro Football Rumors / October 13

Vikings designate LB Blake Cashman for return from IR

Blake Cashman has been out since Week 1, but he could be back in the fold for the Vikings soon. The veteran linebacker returned to practice today, per a team announcement.

NFL News / Yardbarker

The 25 best single-game rushing performances in NFL playoff history

To go with Yardbarker's offerings on the best playoff passing and receiving performances, here are the top rushing games in NFL postseason history.

Minnesota Vikings News / A to Z Sports / October 13

Kevin O'Connell provides positive injury news for Minnesota Vikings that will change the course of the team out of the bye week

The Minnesota Vikings are coming out of the bye week with a lot of injuries, but they are getting healthier. Head coach Kevin O'Connell gave us an update on Monday during his press conference, with the big news being that inside linebacker Blake Cashman will have his practice window activated ahead of Monday's practice.

Minnesota Vikings News / Minnesota Vikings on SI / October 13

Kevin O'Connell shares encouraging injury updates on 7 key Vikings

Blake Cashman's 21-day practice window has been opened. That gives the Vikings three weeks to activate him from injured reserve, which is an indicator that he's close to returning from the hamstring strain he suffered in Week 1 against the Bears.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NFL 250-passing-yard game leaders' quiz

The 'Team USA men's basketball coaches' quiz

The 'Most starts by an NFL quarterback' quiz

The '100-rushing-yard games by NFL QBs' quiz

Minnesota Vikings News / purplePTSD.com / October 13

Kevin O’Connell Delivered Some Good News on Monday

The injuries have not been kind to the Minnesota Vikings all year, as the list of absent players has continuously gotten longer and longer ahead of the bye week.

Minnesota Vikings News / Larry Brown Sports / October 13

Kevin O’Connell suggests JJ McCarthy might be benched

The Minnesota Vikings are poised to get quarterback JJ McCarthy back from injury in Week 7, but coach Kevin O’Connell does not sound totally committed to the idea of giving him the starting job back immediately.

Minnesota Vikings News / purplePTSD.com / October 13

After Report Claiming “A Lot to Sort Through” at QB, Vikings Could be Teetering on Disaster

The Vikings could end up in a bad spot in Week 7. Tom Pelissero is the national insider who best understands what’s taking place in Minnesota. As Janik Eckardt previously detailed, J.J.

NFL News / purplePTSD.com / October 13

The Eric Kendricks Rumor

The Minnesota Vikings have worked through no shortage of injuries, leading to some questions about the linebacker spot. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are untangling its own linebacker issue, leading one to wonder about Eric Kendricks.

Minnesota Vikings News / purplePTSD.com / October 13

Sunday Hurt a Little for Minnesota Vikings Fans

It was a strange Sunday for Minnesota Vikings fans, as their squad had its annual bye week. Six NFL Sundays have passed, and the Vikings have played only once at noon, with two games having earlier kickoffs overseas and two contests slated for primetime.

Minnesota Vikings News / A to Z Sports / October 13

Vikings EDGE Dallas Turner remains a controversial player despite thriving in Brian Flores' defense

When we look at Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's NFL Draft classes, they are a mixed bag. We know how the 2022 NFL Draft class ended up, and Adofo-Mensah has addressed his strategy.

J.J. McCarthy News / purplePTSD.com / October 12

There’s a J.J. McCarthy Injury Update

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury in Week 2’s loss versus the Atlanta Falcons and hasn’t played since. In each of the last three contests, backup Carson Wentz captained the offense, guiding his squad to a 2-1 record.

Minnesota Vikings News / purplePTSD.com / October 12

NFL Has a Bizarre Response to a Recent Vikings Controversy

The Minnesota Vikings had two attempts to pull off game-winning drives in their two-week overseas trip, and they managed to complete one of them. Led by a perfect Carson Wentz late in the fourth quarter, the purple squad secured a victory over the Cleveland Browns and remains unbeaten in London.

J.J. McCarthy News / NFL on ClutchPoints / October 12

Vikings rumors: Why J.J. McCarthy’s injury still has QB situation ‘murky’ after bye

J.J. McCarthy just can’t catch a break. In his rookie season, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback suffered a season-ending injury before the regular season even began.

Minnesota Vikings News / Larry Brown Sports / October 12

NFL makes decision after Vikings kicker appeals to have his perfect season reinstated

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard saw his perfect kicking season spoiled by a SkyCam wire. However, the NFL has no plans of righting the wrong. Reichard entered the Vikings’ Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns with a perfect 8-for-8 record on field goal attempts.

Minnesota Vikings News / EssentiallySports / October 11

Vikings Star Risks Getting Fined After Going Against Controversial NFL Decision That Cost Kevin O’Connell’s Side

The new K-ball rules have undoubtedly changed the game for NFL kickers, who have been hitting clinical conversion rates. But the last Sunday, when Vikings kicker Will Reichard, of all people, missed a 51-yarder against the Browns, that would have tied the game.