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When the Minnesota Vikings take the field against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, they will do so without starting tight end Josh Oliver . It’s great that T.J. Hockenson is back, but Sam Darnold was probably wondering who was going to help block the edge, in Oliver’s absence. There is now an answer.
Nick Muse back for the Minnesota Vikings
With Oliver out, the only other tight end on the Minnesota Vikings depth chart was Johnny Mundt. That changes, with 2022 7th round pick Nick Muse returning to the active roster. Muse took only a week of his 21-day practice window, before his activation.
The #Vikings have announced the following roster moves
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 23, 2024
– Activated TE Nick Muse from IR. Muse will enter tomorrow's game without an injury designation.
– Elevated TE Jake McQuaide to the active roster for tomorrow's game
– Downgraded OLB Gabe Murphy to out
– Waived CB Akayleb… pic.twitter.com/qD6NvCey3o
A roster spot was needed for Muse, and Minnesota handled that by waiving former starting cornerback Akayleb Evans. Muse has played in two games this season, but logged just 3% of the offensive snaps. Prior to his injury, The William & Mary alum was relied on much more heavily on special teams.
We’ll see if his role changes, with Oliver out. Muse has just a single reception to his credit, through three seasons. To his credit, it did go for 22 yards and a first down.
Aaron Jones sitting on a big game vs Bears?
The Vikings will have a chance to get their running game going on Sunday. Chicago’s defense is stingy in the secondary, but they can be beat on the ground. Aaron Jones turned in just 39 yards last weekend against the Tennessee Titans, and he looked hurt while doing so.
#Vikings RB Aaron Jones on not scoring a TD in a little over a month:
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) November 22, 2024
“I talk to my son about it, I talk to my mom, I talk about it every day… I miss it, I miss the end zone. I will be back soon.”
: @Vikings YouTube pic.twitter.com/nPr0DaEWWY
The veteran back says he’s in a better place this week, and Minnesota’s offense will benefit should that be true. Oliver is a key blocker on the line, so how Muse or the other tight ends fill that void remains to be seen.
Kevin O’Connell could feature T.J. Hockenson after the tight end caught just two passes for 13 yards last weekend. It seems unlikely that either Mundt or Muse will eat into his target share like Oliver did.
More must-reads:
- Could Cowboys use nuclear option with Micah Parsons?
- How Giants' Malik Nabers has grown while working with Russell Wilson
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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Jalen Milroe Surges Past Former NFL Starter on First Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart
Despite being viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe ended up sliding into the third round. The 22-year-old who was the starter for Alabama for two seasons was selected with the No. 92 pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Although every player's dream is to go in the first round, Milroe likely couldn't have gone to a better situation. There is virtually no pressure on him as the Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Sam Darnold, to a three-year, $100.5 million contract this offseason, and also have Drew Lock, who has started 28 career games on the roster as well. However, based on ESPN's initial depth chart, Milroe may be climbing the depth chart sooner than most expected. Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart As reported by ESPN, the Seahawks depth chart goes as follows: QB1: Sam Darnold QB2 Jalen Milroe QB3 Drew Lock If this truly ends up being the case, Milroe has taken major strides following his final season at Alabama. During his final year in Tuscaloosa, Milroe was criticized heavily for forcing passes into windows that weren't there after being late on reads. In his final season at Alabama, Milroe threw a career-high 11 interceptions to just 16 touchdowns, an increase of five more interceptions than he threw in 2023. Although training camp is still ongoing and the preseason games have yet to be played, clearly, Milroe is finding some success in the pacific northwest.
NFL Hall of Famer reveals why he chose to join Deion Sanders' Colorado coaching staff
Marshall Faulk is Colorado's new running backs coach, and the Buffaloes could not ask for someone with better experience for the job. That's, of course, because this is Faulk's first coaching gig. As a player, though, there were few better than the Pro Football Hall of Famer. In 12 seasons in the NFL, he rushed 2,836 times for 12,279 yards and 100 total touchdowns. He was a league MVP, a seven-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champ. Faulk was the real deal, and now he has a chance to pass his experiences on to the running backs at Colorado. For him, it's more than just the opportunity to coach football, though. He gets to coach under Deion Sanders, whom he views as a major difference-maker for the game of football. "You guys know him in a different way than I know him," Faulk said in a recent media availability (h/t On3). "We’ve been friends for many years. We worked together in television. We always talk just about the game and probably more about kids coming up in the game. How do you affect and make sure they come into the game the right way? He’s one of those way makers. When you pay attention to kids that’s gonna leave this program and go to the next level, they’re gonna do it in a certain way and you’re gonna say, 'Wow, they were coached by a guy who understands how to get it done.' I identify with that." Colorado can certainly use Faulk's expertise heading into 2025. There are several players battling for the starting role after Isaiah Augustave transferred to South Carolina. Even then, he was Colorado's leading rusher last season while rushing for just 384 yards and four touchdowns, so it's not like the Buffs have a big gap that they're trying to replace. Dekalon Taylor transferred in from Incarnate Word, where he rushed for 909 yards and nine touchdowns last season, so he'll be a player to watch. Dallan Hayden, Micah Welch, Simeon Price and Charlie Offerdahl are also names to know. Faulk will have his work cut out for him, but he seems excited to make a difference both on and off the field for these young Buffaloes. "So coming here not just to win games on the field, but to win the game off the field, which is to make sure that these young men in life become what they want to become outside of football. They become the father that they want to be, the brother, the husband. Making sure that they do that, that’s the important part. That was attractive," he said.
Angel Stadium experiences embarrassing issue after game
Angel Stadium is apparently doing its best impression of Oakland Coliseum. The Los Angeles Angels hosted the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon for a game at their Anaheim, California, home. It was the Rays who emerged victorious by a 5-4 final score, turning in some impressive plays along the way as well. After the loss by the Angels, the baseball gods continued to rain on them … literally. While reporters were gathered in the media room waiting for Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery to give his press conference, the roof in the room was noticeably leaking, resulting in water puddling on the floor and on a nearby trash can. Sam Blum of The Athletic shared the footage, noting that Montgomery’s press conference was ultimately moved to a different room. Angel Stadium opened back in 1966 and has served the home of the Angels ever since (also notably housing several other professional and collegiate teams, including the Los Angeles Rams from 1980-94). But it is clear that some renovations are badly needed at this point (beyond the trash can that appeared to have been intentionally placed under the leak to deal with the dripping water). Angels owner Arte Moreno, who has owned the team since 2003, is often accused of penny-pinching, particularly when it comes to resources and accommodations. Now that Angel Stadium looks to be slowly falling apart as well, perhaps Moreno will call for cups to be taped to the ceiling like other MLB teams have done before to stop leaks.
What Cowboys' Dak Prescott said to Micah Parsons after trade request
As of Thursday morning, there was no indication that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was close to either giving Micah Parsons a lucrative extension or trading Parsons after the pass-rusher in the final year of his rookie contract requested a trade on Aug. 1. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently spoke with Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports and revealed the message he sent to Parsons after the 26-year-old went public with his trade request. "(Expletive), man," Prescott said about what he told Parsons. "It wasn't '(Expletive) you, Micah,' or '(Expletive) them.' It's more of a '(Expletive), this is frustrating for everybody involved.'" Prescott previously voiced his frustrations over the fact that contract stalemates involving star Dallas players are seemingly "an each and every year conversation." Last summer, news about Prescott's four-year contract extension broke only hours before Dallas' regular-season opener got underway. Weeks earlier, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb received a four-year, $136M deal after the club completed the preseason portion of its schedule. "Not many people, especially here, have been in that position," Prescott said about reaching out to Parsons. "So, I know what that means just to support him." It's assumed Parsons is looking to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL after T.J. Watt reset the market for edge-rushers when he agreed to a three-year, $123M extension that included $108M guaranteed in July. Parsons has attended training camp as a non-participant while he deals with a supposed back injury that probably has more to do with his contract situation than with how he's feeling this summer. Multiple Cowboys players made it known via social media that they feel Jones should pay Parsons before Dallas begins preparing for its Week 1 game at the Philadelphia Eagles. Prescott clearly agrees with his teammates. "Obviously, I believe he should get paid," Prescott added. "But I think he’s making the right approach by being at training camp because a lot of times [players] forget how much joy and love being around your teammates [brings] and how much of that is truly football when you’re focused on a contract and you’re just waiting for that to be done. ...He’s a guy that’s done a lot for this team and deserves to have his stance." Jones raised eyebrows when he admitted that he "absolutely" couldn't say for sure that Parsons will play against the Eagles on the first Thursday of September. As much as Prescott and others in the locker room may not like it, it sounds like the Parsons saga will continue to hover over the Cowboys through the preseason.
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