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Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

Vikings Activate LB Ivan Pace, Waive LB Jamin Davis

December 28th, 2024 at 7:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Ivan Pace had his practice window opened earlier this week, indicating he could be available to the Vikings in Week 17. The second-year linebacker has indeed been activated, per a team announcement.

Pace was moved to injured reserve one month ago as a result of a hamstring injury. That ensured he would miss at least four games, but at the first opportunity to do so he will return to the lineup. The 24-year-old will not carry an injury designation into tomorrow’s game against the Packers, so he will reprise his starting role on defense. In a corresponding move, fellow linebacker Jamin Davis was waived.

A UDFA last spring, Pace appeared in every game as a rookie and made 11 starts. His snap share (62%) has essentially been matched in 2024, allowing him to remain a key figure for Minnesota. Despite the missed time, Pace has already set a new career high in sacks with three; he has added 59 tackles and a fumble recovery which was returned for a touchdown. His return will be welcomed by the NFL’s No. 3 scoring defense.

Davis was on the Packers’ practice squad before he made the intra-divisional move to the Vikings’ active roster in the wake of Pace’s injury. The former Commanders first-rounder saw his time in Washington come to an end this season, ending his underwhelming tenure in the nation’s capital. Davis’ move from inside linebacker to edge rusher did not last long, and during his four games with the Vikings he reverted back to his original position. With Pace back, it will be interesting to see if Minnesota retains Davis on the practice squad provided he clears waivers.

Pace’s activation leaves the Vikings with two for the remainder of the regular season. Like all teams, though, Minnesota will receive an additional two activations for the postseason. For now, attention will turn to Pace’s ability to return to his pre-injury form as the team looks to compete for the top seed in the NFC.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/24

December 26th, 2024 at 6:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: OL Matthew Jones

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: QB Emory Jones

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: LB DaRon Gilbert

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: LB Michael Tutsie

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

December 24th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two weeks remain in the regular season, and while a number of teams are jockeying for playoff spots several others are still in contention to land a coveted draft slot. It remains to be seen where the No. 1 selection will wind up.

The Giants and Raiders entered Sunday’s action with two wins apiece, and New York’s loss kept the team strongly in contention to kick off the draft in April. By virtue of winning against the Jaguars, though, the Raiders hurt their chances of finding themselves in that position. A top-two spot (or thereabouts) may be required to draft either of this year’s top passers, but a small move up the order positioning Vegas to add one could still be on the table.

Five teams currently sit a 3-12, and a head-to-head matchup between the Titans and Jaguars on Sunday will be key in deciding where each of them wind up. Another three squads own a 4-11 record, so plenty of potential exists in terms of changes being made to the order at the top of the board. Numerous expected suitors for a Day 1 quarterback (including teams like the Browns and Jets) may very well find themselves out of reach for Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders without a trade-up being necessary. The Panthers’ starting situation with Bryce Young is certainly not settled for 2025, but adding a passer on Day 1 would come as a surprise at this point.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. New York Giants (2-13)
  2. New England Patriots (3-12)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
  4. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
  5. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
  6. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
  7. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
  8. New York Jets (4-11)
  9. Chicago Bears (4-11)
  10. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
  11. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
  12. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
  13. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
  14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
  15. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
  16. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
  17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
  19. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
  20. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
  21. Houston Texans (9-6)
  22. Denver Broncos (9-6)
  23. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
  24. Washington Commanders (10-5)
  25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
  26. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
  27. Green Bay Packers (11-4)
  28. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
  29. Buffalo Bills (12-3)
  30. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
  31. Detroit Lions (13-2)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/24

December 24th, 2024 at 5:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: K Andre Szmyt

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

Szmyt spent time on the Bears’ practice squad last year before playing with the USFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks recently. The 26-year-old terminated his pact with the spring league club to take a deal in Cleveland. A former All-American and Lou Graza winner as the country’s top kicker during his college career, Szmyt could see time late in the year given the Browns’ kicking struggles in 2024.

Thomas appeared to be on his way to join the Colts after he was claimed off waivers by Indianapolis. The veteran corner failed his physical upon arrival with his new team, however, leading to another trip to the waiver wire. No teams put in a claim this time around, but shortly after reaching free agency Thomas has landed a deal. The former 49er has 42 games and 11 starts to his name, and he will provide Minnesota with cornerback depth through the closing stages of the campaign.

Vikings LB Ivan Pace Returns To Practice

December 23rd, 2024 at 8:12pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings should soon have one of their top linebackers back in the lineup. The team announced today that Ivan Pace has been designated for return from IR and has returned from practice. The team will now have 21 days to activate the linebacker to the active roster, although ESPN’s Kevin Seifert hints that Pace could be back for Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Pace suffered a hamstring injury last month that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. His return to practice indicates that he may only need a minimum stay on IR, a positive development as the Vikings prepare for the postseason.

A 2023 UDFA, Pace quickly established himself in Minnesota as a rookie, finishing with 102 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He continued that production into 2024. The sophomore started all nine of his appearances while collecting 59 tackles, three sacks, and six tackles for loss. Pace was also sidelined for Week 3 and Week 4 while he nursed a quadriceps/ankle issue.

The Vikings have barely had both Pace and Blake Cashman healthy as the same time in 2024, forcing the team to lean on their depth. Most recently, the team has mixed and matched different linebackers to play alongside or in relief of Cashman. Kamu Grugier-Hill (11 snaps), Bo Richter (10 snaps), Brian Asamoah (nine snaps), and Jamin Davis (eight snaps) all got looks in Week 15, although that grouping was shutout in Week 16 as Cashman appeared in 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

Vikings Hope To Retain Sam Darnold; Browns Interested In QB?

December 22nd, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Rory Parks

Recent reporting on Sam Darnold’s future with the Vikings suggested that the team has resigned itself to the fact that Darnold’s play in 2024 has priced him out of Minnesota, and that the club has not engaged in extension talks with the resurgent quarterback. However, the Vikes may not be willing to give up on a Darnold return just yet.

Per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Minnesota indeed hopes that it will be able to retain Darnold, who has piloted the Vikings to a 12-2 record and a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Jones’ sources confirm prior reports that the 27-year-old passer has set himself up for a contract that would pay him at least $25MM per season, which is of course a considerable raise on the one-year, $10MM deal he signed with the Vikings this year.

That said, Minnesota is projected to have upwards of $70MM in cap space in 2025, so a “middle-class” QB deal would be feasible. It may even be a bargain if Darnold, under the tutelage of head coach Kevin O’Connell, has truly blossomed into the player the Jets believed he would be when they made him the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft.

Darnold’s 104.9 QB rating is the fourth-highest mark in the league, he has led four game-winning drives, and the Vikings are eighth in the league in scoring as of the time of this writing. That performance, combined with Minnesota’s win-loss record, make it no surprise that the team wants him back.

Of course, the Vikes signed Darnold this offseason with the intention of making him a bridge passer, not a long-term fixture under center. As such, the team selected J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick of this year’s draft, and McCarthy was the player deemed to be the quarterback of the future.

According to Jones, that has not changed. The Vikings’ level of faith in McCarthy is as high as it was when he was drafted, and the season-ending knee injury he suffered in August has not altered the club’s view of his career trajectory. However, Darnold’s efforts this season cannot be ignored, and one AFC executive told Jones that McCarthy could become Minnesota’s version of Green Bay’s Jordan Love (a first-round pick who sat behind Aaron Rodgers for several seasons before finally getting a chance to run the show).

Since Darnold’s combination of youth and ability could make him the most desirable QB in this year’s free agent class, it is still possible that his asking price goes beyond the Vikings’ comfort level. But his 2024 showing has afforded him the ability to be selective about his future home, and Jones says the USC product will naturally exercise caution to avoid undesirable situations, like those he found himself in as a member of the Jets and Panthers. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the Browns would have interest if Darnold hits the open market, though it is unclear whether Cleveland — despite the presumptive presence of a well-respected offensive mind in HC Kevin Stefanski — would qualify as a desirable situation.

Obviously, Minnesota has proven to be a perfect fit, and if the Vikings are willing to spend, it appears that the door to a multiyear pact between Darnold and the club remains open.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/24

December 21st, 2024 at 7:34pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

After being activated from injured reserve in early November, Bates only played two games before suffering a concussion. The 27-year-old has not played since Week 11 and will now miss the remainder of the season on IR. Bates is under contract through 2025.

Raiders Place DE Maxx Crosby, RB Sincere McCormick On IR

December 18th, 2024 at 8:03pm CST by Ely Allen

The Raiders opened up two roster spots today after placing defensive end Maxx Crosby and running back Sincere McCormick on injured reserve, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. They filled one 53-man roster spot by signing defensive end Andre Carter II off of the Vikings’ practice squad. The other was filled with the promotion of practice squad running back Chris Collier to the active roster.

The Crosby move is no surprise after reports that he would undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle. Carter won’t likely add much on defense for the Raiders, but his addition adds much-needed depth along a beleaguered defensive line.

The loss of McCormick hurts a team that has struggled mightily in the run game this year. The Raiders currently rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense.

After going undrafted out of UTSA in 2022, McCormick finally made his NFL debut this season and earned two starts in place of an injured Alexander Mattison, even remaining the starter last week when Mattison returned. He earned his first start after rushing for 64 yards on 12 carries in Week 12, a total Mattison had only reached once all season and that Zamir White failed to reach in any of his starts. McCormick followed that up with a 78-yard rushing performance in his first NFL start the next week.

With McCormick out, Mattison should retake starting duties with Ameer Abdullah continuing in his backup role. Collier will add depth behind those two and sixth-round New Hampshire rookie Dylan Laube.

In addition to all the active roster updates, Las Vegas signed defensive end Ovie Oghoufo and running back Isaiah Spiller to the practice squad.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

December 17th, 2024 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

This NFL season saw several teams slip out of contention quicker than usual, slimming wild-card races and expanding the pursuit for the No. 1 overall pick. Two teams now lead that race.

While no prospect on the Caleb Williams level is dangling for the Raiders and Giants, an interesting showdown has formed. With three weeks to go, the Giants would currently hold the top 2025 draft choice. But based on projected strength of schedule, the Raiders would win the tiebreaker if the results held. The team with the weaker overall strength of schedule would win that. The Giants still have a game against the 12-2 Eagles, while the Raiders’ upcoming matchup with the 3-11 Jaguars works in their favor.

The Giants have not held the No. 1 pick in the common draft era (1967-present), last making a choice atop a draft in 1965 (running back Tucker Frederickson). Their Eli Manning trade occurred after the Chargers had chosen the quarterback to start the 2004 draft. The Raiders have held the top pick once in the common draft era, famously choosing JaMarcus Russell to start the ’07 draft. Both teams have coaches fighting for their jobs, but each also has seen All-Pros (Dexter Lawrence, Maxx Crosby) removed from equations. Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders follow their Jaguars matchup with games against the Saints and Chargers. The Giants, who have dropped nine consecutive games, go Falcons-Colts-Eagles to close the season.

Five 3-11 teams sit behind the Raiders and Giants presently, with the NFL having nine teams who have already lost double-digit contests. If a Giants or Raiders win occurs, there are candidates to move toward pole position in what could be races for Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Though, a non-Giants or Raiders team finishing in the top two creates a bit more intrigue, as both those clubs are in dire need of QB help.

With an eye on teams’ projected strength of schedule based on current records, here is how the draft order looks with three games to go:

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
  2. New York Giants (2-12)
  3. New England Patriots (3-11)
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
  5. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
  6. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
  7. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
  8. New York Jets (4-10)
  9. Chicago Bears (4-10)
  10. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
  11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
  12. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
  13. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
  14. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
  15. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
  16. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
  17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
  19. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
  21. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
  22. Washington Commanders (9-5)
  23. Denver Broncos (9-5)
  24. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
  25. Houston Texans (9-5)
  26. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
  27. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
  28. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
  29. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
  30. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
  31. Detroit Lions (12-2)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
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