Minnesota Vikings Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

The Broncos and Vikings agreed on a trade Saturday, one that will send Stephen Weatherly to Denver. The Vikings are trading the veteran edge defender to the Broncos in a deal that will see the teams swap seventh-round picks, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Weatherly and a 2023 seventh-rounder will go to Denver, which is sending a 2022 seventh to Minnesota. This will reunite Weatherly with new Broncos GM George Paton, who was with the Vikings when they drafted the sixth-year vet back in 2016. Weatherly sought a trade, according to Pelissero (on Twitter), and the Vikings obliged for low-level compensation.

This move will give the Broncos some much-needed depth. Denver finished its Thursday game without all four of its starting linebackers. Von Miller avoided serious injury, but the team is still without Bradley Chubb for an extended stretch. Malik Reed and seventh-round rookie Jonathon Cooper served as the Broncos’ primary edge rushers in Thursday’s 17-14 loss to the Browns.

Weatherly, 27, has played less than 20% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps in each of their past four games. He has served as a key special-teamer for the Vikings and started nine games for the Panthers in 2020. The Broncos are decimated at linebacker, having lost both starters and special-teamers, so Weatherly will likely be plugged in on special teams soon with his new squad.

The Panthers signed Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5MM deal in March 2020 but cut bait after one season. The Vikings brought him back this year. Less than $1MM remains on Weatherly’s contract, which runs through season’s end. The Broncos are not exactly up against the cap, however, holding more than $15MM in space.

To clear a roster spot, the Broncos moved linebacker Micah Kiser to IR. The former Rams ILB starter suffered a groin injury during the Broncos’ Thursday tilt. Vic Fangio said the Broncos are looking for help at this position as well.

13 comments Denver Broncos Minnesota Vikings Transactions Micah Kiser Stephen Weatherly

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/21

By Zachary Links | at October 19, 2021 12:38 pm

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Promoted: P Ryan Winslow
Placed on IR: WR Brandon Zylstra

Chicago Bears

Placed on IR: S Deon Bush
Promoted: S Teez Tabor

Dallas Cowboys

Waived: FB Nick Ralston

Denver Broncos

Promoted from practice squad: LB Curtis Robinson, LB Barrington Wade
Placed on IR: LB Andre Mintze
Waived: WR David Moore

Houston Texans

Signed off Raiders practice squad: OL Jimmy Morrissey

Indianapolis Colts

Promoted: K Michael Badgley, NT Antwaun Woods
Waived: QB Jacob Eason, DT Chris Williams
Activated from IR: QB Sam Ehlinger
Placed on IR: WR Parris Campbell

Jacksonville Jaguars

Released: OL Rashaad Coward

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed: CB Desmond Trufant

Los Angeles Rams

Promoted: DB Donte Deayon, RB Buddy Howell
Placed on IR: RB Jake Funk, TE Johnny Mundt

Minnesota Vikings

Activated from reserve/injured: RB Kene Nwangwu
Released: RB Ameer Abdullah

New York Giants

Promoted: OT Korey Cunningham, WR Dante Pettis
Placed on IR: WR C.J. Board

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: CB Rashard Robinson
Waived: G John Molchon

Tennessee Titans

Activated: S Brady Breeze
Placed on IR: WR Cam Batson, CB Caleb Farley (story)
Waived: P Johnny Townsend

Comments Closed Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings New York Giants Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions Ameer Abdullah Andre Mintze Antwaun Woods Barrington Wade Brady Breeze Brandon Zylstra Buddy Howell C.J. Board Caleb Farley Cameron Batson Chris Williams (DL)Curtis Robinson Dante Pettis David Moore Deon Bush Desmond Trufant Donte Deayon Jacob Eason Jake Funk Jimmy Morrissey John Molchon Johnny Mundt Johnny Townsend Kene Nwangwu Korey Cunningham Michael Badgley Nick Ralston Parris Campbell Rashaad Coward Rashard Robinson Ryan Winslow Sam Ehlinger Teez Tabor

Vikings Place Patrick Peterson On IR

By Zachary Links | at October 18, 2021 3:18 pm

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters that Patrick Peterson will be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Fortunately, it’s not believed to be a season-ender, so the cornerback could return in as little as three weeks, per league rules.

Peterson joined the Vikes on a one-year, $8MM deal in March, choosing Minnesota over the incumbent Cardinals and other NFC clubs like the Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles. Through six games, the 31-year-old has tallied 13 stops and two passes defensed for his new club.

“I was just frustrated and upset at how [Cardinals] upper management handled the situation,” Peterson said earlier this year. “You tell me one thing, then when it’s time to talk, you turn your shoulder on me like it’s cold shoulder. I’ve been in this league a long time. Thirty years old. Grown man. Talk to me like a grown man, not like a child or your side piece.”

So far, things are going well for P2 in Minnesota. Still, he’ll have to rest up for a while before getting back to business.

2 comments Minnesota Vikings Transactions Patrick Peterson

North Notes: Darrisaw, Carpenter, McFarland

By Rory Parks | at October 17, 2021 11:17 am

Let’s round up a few items from the league’s North divisions:

Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw, the No. 23 overall pick of this year’s draft, has undergone two procedures for a groin injury in 2021, which delayed the start to his pro career. But he saw his first snaps at the left tackle position in last week’s win over the Lions, and he will get the start there against the Panthers today, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Rashod Hill had been trying to hold down the fort in Darrisaw’s absence, but he struggled, and today marks the true beginning of the Darrisaw era on the blindside.
The Ravens worked out free agent guard James Carpenter on Friday, as Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus tweets. Baltimore is on the lookout for OL depth after placing rookie guard Ben Cleveland on IR earlier this week. This marks the first reported interest in Carpenter since he was released by the Falcons in March.
Even though the Steelers drafted RB Najee Harris in the first round of this year’s draft, 2020 draftee Anthony McFarland hoped to have a meaningful role on offense. But as Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review details, McFarland sustained a torn MCL during the preseason and has been on IR ever since. He was designated for return last week, and Rutter says the Maryland product will most likely be back on the field after the Steelers’ Week 7 bye.

0 comments Baltimore Ravens Minnesota Vikings Pittsburgh Steelers Anthony McFarland Jr.Christian Darrisaw James Carpenter

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/21

By Sam Robinson | at October 16, 2021 4:33 pm

The Week 6 Saturday minor move blitz:

Carolina Panthers

Promoted: RB Spencer Brown, G Michael Jordan

Chicago Bears

Promoted: G Dieter Eiselen, RB Artavis Pierce

Cincinnati Bengals

Promoted: LB Joe Bachie, RB Trayveon Williams
Placed on IR: G D’Ante Smith

Cleveland Browns

Promoted: DT Sheldon Day, CB Herb Miller, T Alex Taylor
Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Connor Davis

Dallas Cowboys

Promoted: FB Nick Ralston, TE Jeremy Sprinkle
Waived: T Brandon Knight

Denver Broncos

Placed on IR: CB Mike Ford

Green Bay Packers

Promoted: WR Juwann Winfree

Houston Texans

Activated from IR: WR Nico Collins
Promoted: QB Jeff Driskel, G Lane Taylor, OL Cole Toner
Placed on IR: T Laremy Tunsil (story)
Released: LB Joe Thomas

Jacksonville Jaguars

Promoted: OL K.C. McDermott, WR Laquon Treadwell, K Matthew Wright

Kansas City Chiefs

Promoted: DE Demone Harris

Las Vegas Raiders

Promoted: DL Kendal Vickers

Los Angeles Chargers

Promoted: LB Cole Christiansen, DL Breiden Fehoko

Los Angeles Rams

Promoted: CB Donte Deayon

Minnesota Vikings

Promoted: TE Luke Stocker

New England Patriots

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Isaiah Wynn
Promoted: OL James Ferentz

New York Giants

Activated from IR: LB Cam Brown
Promoted: T Korey Cunningham, WR Dante Pettis

Pittsburgh Steelers

Activated from IR: T Zach Banner
Placed on IR: J.J. Smith -Schuster (story)

Seattle Seahawks

Activated from IR: CB Tre Brown, C Ethan Pocic
Promoted: WR Phillip Dorsett, QB Jake Luton

Washington Football Team

Promoted: WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, T David Steinmetz

0 comments COVID-19 Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Matthew Wright Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Transactions Washington Commanders Alex Taylor Antonio Gandy-Golden Artavis Pierce Brandon Knight Breiden Fehoko Cole Christiansen Cole Toner Connor Davis D'Ante Smith Dante Pettis David Steinmetz Demone Harris Dieter Eiselen Donte Deayon Ethan Pocic Herb Miller Isaiah Wynn Jake Luton James Ferentz Jeff Driskel Jeremy Sprinkle Joe Bachie Juwann Winfree Kendal Vickers Korey Cunningham Lane Taylor Laquon Treadwell Laremy Tunsil Luke Stocker Michael Jordan Mike Ford Nick Ralston Nico Collins Phillip Dorsett Sheldon Day Spencer Brown Trayveon Williams Tre Brown Zach Banner

Vikings Inquired About Dallas Goedert Trade

By Sam Robinson | at October 14, 2021 3:28 pm

The Eagles have two tight ends with uncertain futures. Dallas Goedert is in a contract year. So is Zach Ertz, who spent the offseason as a trade candidate. This situation prompted the Vikings to reach out.

Despite Ertz being the one viewed as on the way out all year, the Vikings proceeded to contact the Eagles on Goedert’s potential availability, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes (ESPN+ link). This inquiry came following the news Irv Smith Jr. would be out for the season.

Smith’s injury altered the Vikings’ tight end plan, but they did not end up prying away Goedert, who is due for free agency in 2022. It is unclear if the Vikes also asked about Ertz, whose $8.5MM 2021 base salary made him a less enticing trade piece than Goedert ($1.2MM).

Regardless, the Eagles opted to keep Goedert, leading the Vikings to acquire Chris Herndon from the Jets in August. Through five games, Herndon does not have a catch with Minnesota. Tyler Conklin, whom the Vikings selected in the 2018 fifth round, has stepped in as Smith’s primary replacement.

Goedert is currently on the Eagles’ reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive this week. He will not play against the Buccaneers tonight, putting Ertz back in the TE1 position he held for years. At multiple junctures this offseason, Ertz believed he would be traded, Fowler adds. But he and Nick Sirianni established a strong rapport. This and the Eagles viewing themselves as a potential contender scuttled an offseason trade.

Seven-point underdogs against the Bucs, the Eagles would drop to 2-4 with a loss. That could put an Ertz trade back on the front burner. This year’s deadline is Nov. 2. Ertz and the Eagles were unable to come to terms on an extension during an acrimonious 2020, and his value has since declined after a down 2020 season. Ertz, however, changed his tune about staying in Philadelphia. Just before the season, Ertz said he wanted to retire an Eagle. The 30-year-old pass catcher has 14 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown this season.

4 comments Minnesota Vikings Philadelphia Eagles Dallas Goedert Nick Sirianni Zach Ertz