Through 2 weeks of the 2025 NFL Season the Minnesota Vikings are a team that has already been battered and bruised by the amount of injuries that have piled up on the team.
Week 1 was excusable, some players are still recovering from injuries from last season, some may have been dinged up in preseason or during training camp, but as the NFL season quickly moves on, Minnesota players seem to be dropping like flies.
Harrison Smith, and Christian Darrisaw were notable week 1 scratches when the Vikings came back and beat the Bears on Monday Night Football, with Blake Cashman suffering an injury during the game.
Week 2 is where the injuries began to pile up. Both Darrisaw, and Smith were out again along with Cashman, cornerback Jeff Okudah, and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel all being sidelined with injuries.
After the Vikings poor performance against the Falcons where they lost 22-6, it was announced that starting quarterback JJ McCarthy would miss some time with a sprained ankle that from observation was suffered during one of the teams 6 sacks where McCarthy was rolled up by a Falcons defender. McCarthy could miss 2-4 weeks with the injury, and the Vikes will call on the number of Carson Wentz to carry the team.
To go with the news of J.J. McCarthy’s ankle injury, the Vikings also announced that starting running back Aaron Jones has been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss at least 4 weeks with a hamstring injury. Jones had a subpar start to his 2025 season carrying the ball just 13 times for 46 yards, and Jordan Mason is expected to become the Vikings lead back which is a situation Mason is used to. Last year, the running back had to carry the load for the San Francisco 49ers when Christian McCaffery missed time with the same injury.
Mason so far this season HAS been the Vikings lead back, being the powerhouse back who can run between the tackles and gain tough yards, carrying the ball 24 times for 98 yards and averaging 4.1 yards per carry. The Vikings and new starting quarterback Carson Wentz could use Mason to gain the tough yards on short downs to extend drives and keep the Vikings defense off the field.
The new look (Not for the good) Vikings will take the field this Sunday for Week 3 in the NFL staying home to take on another team who is reeling with a massive injury to hit their locker room, the Cincinnati Bengals who will be without starting quarterback Joe Burrow for the next 3 months as he deals with a toe injury.
Can Carson Wentz take the reigns of the Vikings offense and gets something going now that the young J.J. McCarthy is going to miss some time? Wentz, like McCarthy will still have the arsenal of Justin Jefferson, and TJ Hockenson to throw too, and Mason has been the best back for Minnesota this season, the car is ready to go, Wentz just has to drive. But can the offensive line hold up long enough for Wentz to set up a throw? Plenty of storylines to watch from the Purple and Gold this weekend!
Photo Credit: NFL.com, The Minnesota Vikings, NFL Players Association.
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