The Indianapolis Colts drafted Jonathan Taylor to complement their ground game. Now he’s the starter – and perhaps the finisher, too. On Sunday, the Colts are giving a 21-year-old rookie his chance to play a familiar part: workhorse back. ”Jonathan, I think has been in this mindset of he’s been a star and a starter […]
Elflein goes to injured reserve for Vikes
The Minnesota Vikings placed starting right guard Pat Elflein on injured reserve on Thursday, meaning the fourth-year player will miss at least three games. The Vikings did not disclose the injury for Elflein, who has not appeared on the injury report this season. NFL Network reported that Elflein hurt his thumb in practice on Thursday. […]
Vikings rookie CB is working hard
Cameron Dantzler picked up his nickname ”The Needle” in high school in Louisiana. ”I was always skinny,” the Minnesota Vikings cornerback said after he was drafted in the third round, ”and when I hit you, it hurt.” Dantzler’s entry into the NFL has predictably come with growing pains, too. His debut was a rough one […]
Vikings working hard up front
Though the Minnesota Vikings have used either a first or second round pick on an offensive lineman in the last three drafts, they’re hardly settled up front. Not since 2014, head coach Mike Zimmer’s first season with the team, have the Vikings opened with the same starting five as the year before. There’s no better […]
Cousins clarifies comments
Kirk Cousins said he’s sensitive to concerns about COVID-19 and believes in the importance of wearing a mask to help protect others, as the Minnesota Vikings quarterback tried to clarify comments on a newly released podcast that came across as dismissive of the coronavirus. In a wide-ranging interview for an NFL-themed podcast recorded about six […]
NFC North Preview
The pressure has clearly been on in the NFC North. Oh, there’s the usual urgency around Super Bowl aspirations and on-field improvement. Aaron Rodgers has reached the final stretch of his time in Green Bay. Minnesota is trying to keep a championship window open despite a wave of departures on defense. Chicago general manager Ryan […]
Vikings trade for Pro Bowl DE Ngakoue
Disgruntled pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue is headed north, far away from Jacksonville. A person familiar with the trade says the Jaguars agreed to send Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday for a second-round draft pick in 2021 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2022. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because […]
Zimmer, Patterson friendship helping create change
Mike Zimmer and Andre Patterson have worked together for four different teams, a football friendship first struck 32 years ago and renewed in 2014 with Zimmer’s inclusion of Patterson on his staff with the Minnesota Vikings. There they were at team headquarters on Thursday, as players held a deep discussion about race, justice and humanity […]
Sports trying to make impact
Moved by the videotaped shooting of Jacob Blake, many professional athletes – some who had previously donned Black Lives Matter T-Shirts and knelt for the national anthem to protest racial injustice – made a more dramatic statement. They refused to play. NBA players led the way Wednesday and Thursday by sitting out of scheduled playoff […]
Vikings’ Smith has heart surgery
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Cameron Smith’s surgery to repair an enlarged heart has gone as planned, after a false positive COVID-19 test earlier this month led to the diagnosis of the second-year player’s genetic defect. Coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday that Smith was ”in good shape” after the procedure Monday in Philadelphia, where he’ll stay ”for […]