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Welcome back from the break. I hope everyone enjoyed the Independence Day holiday and celebrated the United States of America’s 250th birthday as they wanted.
It was wonderful to be able to catch up with family and friends, as well as unwind with a bit of adventure during the break.
Before we get to questions, I’d like to take a minute’s pause on the news that three-time Pro Bowler Chris Johnson has been diagnosed with ALS, which was publicly announced last Monday during an interview with Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan.
The interview poignantly illustrated the severity of the challenge that “CJ2K” is facing at just 40 years old.
Johnson’s 4.24 time in the 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine was a record for nine years and so elite it was printed on shoes. That translated to him zipping past defenders for electric touchdowns. His first five touchdowns of 2009 when he won NFL Offensive Player of the Year were from 57, 69 (receiving), 91, 52 and 89 yards. He later added another 85-yard run and 66-yard receiving score that season.
Johnson was coming off his 2,006 rushing yards in 2009 (and 2,509 scrimmage yards!!) when I joined the Titans as a graduate intern in 2010. He was at superstar status (and opened that season with TD runs of 76 and 4 yards) but quite unassuming. He was shy but cordial. I learned quite a bit from observing him, and believe I grew as an interviewer and storyteller through the opportunity to cover him.
Johnson joins his former teammate Tim Shaw, who had been picked up by the Titans on waivers after 2010 roster reductions, in confronting ALS. Both are beloved by “Titans Nation.” May Chris, Tim and others facing this obstacle know that people care about them.
Today marks the two-year anniversary of former Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson and his friends Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton, Jr., passing away in a car wreck in Maryland.
The Khyree Jackson Foundation hosted its inaugural Youth Football Camp on June 27 at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School for more than 100 athletes ages 6-17.
Before campers took the field, Jackson’s parents and Mothers Against Drunk Driving CEO Stacey Stewart spoke about the importance of safe driving as part of a national driver safety initiative intended to prevent future tragedies.
Also in June, Hazel’s parents launched the Isaiah Lee Hazel Foundation, which is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for young people through scholarships and financial support.
View the Vikings rookie records for most points and most touchdowns scored in a season.
Man am I glad to have our bookend tackles coming back! I also like the way the o-line as a whole is healing. It’s nice to hear things showing promise but, hey, it’s camp! Shorts and helmets. Plus, we’re not going to punch our teammates around. Save that for the enemies. (Sorry. Old timer here! But you get it. I recall six-preseason game seasons and players not only playing for jobs and positions but to teach the ones lined up against them a lesson).
The addition of Demond Claiborne I think is underrated. I believe he’s got a chance to make a noticeable difference on the ground along with receiving.
The defense? C’mon! We got Brian Flores! It wouldn’t surprise me if he took a high school D and put a formidable show against a pro team. I’m truly shocked we’ve been able to keep him in Minnesota, and he hasn’t taken a head coaching gig elsewhere.
This season will rely strongly on our QB play. I’m good with the rest of the team, so our QBs probably have the most pressure on them than any other team when you consider the roster that’s available to them.
‘Tis far better to push people around in football than to be pushed around, and the Vikings offseason has shown glimpses of bolstering both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Some of the reinforcement has been through improved health at the starting tackle spots. Christian Darrisaw navigated his recovery track from the knee injury suffered in Week 8 of 2024. Aside from the Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury in 2023, Darrisaw’s injury is arguably the most significant one Minnesota has experienced during Kevin O’Connell’s tenure.
Similar to Cousins’ injury, Darrisaw’s was just ahead of the trade deadline and prompted a trade, with Minnesota acquiring Cam Robinson to play left tackle. While Robinson filled in well with the change on the fly and helped Minnesota launch a 9-game win streak, “Big Dog” had been reaching an elite status at the time of his injury.
Darrisaw worked through the situation last season, playing in parts or all of 10 games, but he’d probably be the first to say he didn’t feel like his best self.
O’Neill was a warrior after suffering a knee injury during a questionable tactic by the Steelers during their FG block attempt in Dublin.
While clean health is never guaranteed, the thought of having both players back is quite encouraging. The Vikings were crafty in signing Ryan Van Demark during free agency and have confidence in his ability to step in at either spot if needed. Minnesota also drafted Caleb Tiernan in the third round.
We’ll learn much more about the lesser-experienced/known players through training camp (once the pads are strapped) and preseason games when opponents can go full-throttle at QBs, but it did seem like the “Minnesota Moving Company” was building some nice momentum this spring.
Having experienced the shift from four to three preseason games in 2021 (plus a fifth in 2015 when the Vikings were in the Hall of Fame Game), I can’t even imagine what it was like when teams played six exhibition contests (and starters participated in all or most of those).
Source: www.vikings.com
