Daily Clips Thursday, September 10, 2020

DAILY CLIPS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Thursday, September 10, 2020

Pioneer Press

Vikings’ Kirk Cousins seeks to bounce back from shaky 2019 showings against Packers By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/09/vikings-kirk-cousins-seeks-to-bounce-back-from-shaky-2019-showings- against-packers/

Vikings will lose home-field advantage vs. Packers with no fans at Sunday’s game By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/09/no-fans-mostly-means-no-homefield-advantage-for-vikings-against-packers/

Vikings place DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve; he will miss at least three games By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/09/vikings-place-de-danielle-hunter-on-injured-reserve-he-will-miss-at-least- three-games/

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook will play against Packers — even without new deal By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/09/vikings-rb-dalvin-cook-will-play-against-packers-even-without-new-deal/

Star Tribune

Vikings' Danielle Hunter to miss at least three games while on injured reserve By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/defensive-end-danielle-hunter-remains-sidelined-five-days-before-vikings- opener/572361492/

Dalvin Cook says 'I'll be out there' against the Packers By Ben Goessling https://www.startribune.com/still-without-new-contract-cook-says-i-ll-be-out-there-against-packers/572362282/

Forbidden love: Vikings superfans must taunt Packers from afar this week because of COVID rules By Patrick Reusse https://www.startribune.com/forbidden-love-vikings-superfans-must-taunt-packers-from-afar-this-week-because-of- covid-rules/572365342/

Vikings' social justice committee discussing ways to raise cause awareness on game days By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/vikings-social-justice-committee-discussing-ways-to-raise-cause-awareness-on-game- days/572366132/

The Athletic

Vikings Mailbag, Week 1: Season outlook, Dalvin Cook’s frustration and more By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/2054554/2020/09/09/vikings-mailbag-week-1-season-outlook-dalvin-cooks-frustration-and- more/

SKOR North

Waiting game: Dalvin Cook remains patient as other NFL running backs get big paydays By: Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/09/waiting-game-dalvin-cook-remains-patient-as-other-nfl-running-backs-get-big- paydays/ Zulgad: Vikings’ lack of transparency means we must assume the worst when it comes to Danielle Hunter By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/09/zulgad-vikings-lack-of-transparency-means-we-must-assume-the-worst-when-it- comes-to-danielle-hunter/

Purple Insider

The rundown: Hunter to IR, Cook contract update and systems in Year 2 By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/the-rundown-hunter-to-ir-cook-contract

Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rogers are going different directions By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/kirk-cousins-and-aaron-rogers-are

NATIONAL NEWS: Thursday, September 10, 2020

ESPN

Minnesota Vikings place Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29846918/minnesota-vikings-place-pro-bowl-de-danielle-hunter-injured-reserve

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook 'not worried' about contract situation days before opener By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29845841/vikings-rb-dalvin-cook-not-worried-contract-situation-days-opener

CBS Sports

Vikings place Danielle Hunter on injured reserve as pass rusher continues to deal with undisclosed injury By Tyler Sullivan https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/vikings-place-danielle-hunter-on-injured-reserve-as-pass-rusher-continues-to- deal-with-undisclosed-injury/

USA Today

Minnesota Vikings place Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve By Jack White https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2020/09/09/vikings-place-minnesota-de-danielle-hunter-on- ir/113728356/

NFL.com

Vikings DE Danielle Hunter placed on IR with undisclosed injury By Kevin Patra https://www.nfl.com/news/vikings-de-danielle-hunter-s-status-in-doubt-for-week-1-vs-packers

Associated Press

Vikings put Hunter on IR; star DE must miss at least 3 games By Dave Campbell https://apnews.com/7a012217e6a4b466ba122506c404ea03

Maven Media

Vikings Announce Six Captains For 2020 Season By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-announce-six-captains-2020-season

Vikings Place Danielle Hunter on IR, Meaning He'll Miss at Least Three Games By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-place-danielle-hunter-injured-reserve-miss-three-games

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Thursday, September 10, 2020

Rapoport: Vikings Don't Consider Hunter's Injury A Long-Term Issue, Could Be Back For Week 4 By NFLN https://www.vikings.com/video/rapoport-vikings-don-t-consider-hunter-s-injury-a-long-term-issue-could-be-back-

The Voyage | Episode 01 | Season 2 By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/the-voyage-episode-01-season-2

Danielle Hunter to Miss at Least Three Weeks By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=2e5d963a-6fe8-4228-baed-4a6a0b332c7e

Vikings to Start Season Without Hunter By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=a08c589b-5404-426c-be1d-50502aa0027c

Hunter Placed on Injured List By WCCO http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=eda050d9-492f-413f-b382-afd63f8224e5

Vikings Place Hunter on Injured Reserve By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=342b12ae-ac05-4325-be6e-6f56f0339d6c

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK NEWS: Thursday, September 10, 2020

After Hunter Move, No Vikings on 1st Injury Report of 2020 By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/injury-report-packers-week-1

Vikings Place Hunter On Injured Reserve By Vikings PR https://www.vikings.com/news/danielle-hunter-injured-reserve-roster-moves

Kirk Cousins & Vikings Offense Focused on Little Details vs. Packers Defense By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/kirk-cousins-vikings-offense-focused-on-little-details-vs-packers-defense

Water Break with Anthony Harris By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/anthony-harris-feature-packers-week-1

Presser Points: Vikings Build on Familiarity without Fresh Packers Tape By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/packers-week-1-mike-zimmer-build-on-familiarity

Lunchbreak: Cook, Hunter & Thielen Among Predicted 2020 Stat Leaders by ESPN By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/dalvin-cook-danielle-hunter-adam-thielen-2020-stat-leaders

Vikings Announce 2020 Team Captains By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/dalvin-cook-kirk-cousins-harrison-smith-2020-team-captains

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings’ Kirk Cousins seeks to bounce back from shaky 2019 showings against Packers

By Chris Tomasson

Kirk Cousins had the best season of his eight-year career in 2019, but it sure wasn’t because of anything he did against Green Bay.

The Vikings quarterback had his two worst games of last season against the Packers. In a 21-16 loss at Lambeau Field in Week 2, he completed 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a 52.9 passer rating. In a 23-10 home loss in Week 16, he completed 16 of 31 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a 58.8 passer rating.

You can bet he has given those those two losses much thought heading into Sunday’s opener against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I think you’re just aware of where we came up short,” Cousins said Wednesday. “You’re aware of how you need to be better. I think they did a great job defensively, and we’ve got to have a great plan, and then we have to go execute that plan. … We can’t afford to waste plays or make mistakes or turn the ball over.”

Cousins wasn’t as good overall in his first Vikings season of 2018 but he was way better against the Packers. In two games against Green Bay that season, he completed 64 of 86 passes for 767 yards with seven touchdown passes and one interception. Minnesota went 1-0-1 in those games.

TURNER HOPES TO PLAY Green Bay starting right tackle Billy Turner, a Shoreview native and former Mounds View High School star, hasn’t ruled out being able to play Sunday. Turner hasn’t practiced since injuring a knee in an Aug. 30 scrimmage.

“I just got knocked up in the scrimmage,” he said. “It was nothing major. I’m progressing forward. It’s a day-to-day thing. We’ll see when Sunday gets here. It just kind of depends on how the injury goes, but it’s definitely getting healthy, showing good signs.”

Packers coach Matt LaFleur wouldn’t speculate on the chances of Turner playing.

“We’re kind of in a holding pattern to see where he’s at,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s doing everything in his power to come back, and if he’s available and ready to play, we’ll have a decision to make.”

The only other Packers player who did not practice Wednesday was linebacker Randy Ramsey (groin). Defensive lineman Montravius Adams (toe), linebacker Oren Burks (groin) and safety Raven Greene (quadricep) were limited in the workout.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings will lose home-field advantage vs. Packers with no fans at Sunday’s game The Loop Fantasy Football Report: Week 1 Vikings place DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve; he will miss at least three games Vikings RB Dalvin Cook will play against Packers — even without new deal Packers tackle, Shoreview native Billy Turner hoping to ‘make a difference’ by speaking out on social-justice issues VIKINGS PROTECT KICKER Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new rule this season allows the Vikings to protect up to four practice squad players each week from being picked up by another team. However, the Vikings elected to protect only kicker Chase McLaughlin this week.

Each player can be protected just four times during the season, and apparently the Vikings wanted to save a week of protection for three other players. All of the players on Minnesota’s 16-man practice squad have been available to join any team following cuts made last weekend.

A source said it made sense for the Vikings to protect McLaughlin because if something unexpected were to happen with Dan Bailey due to the pandemic, it could be difficult to replace a kicker at the 11th hour. Practice squad players are eligible to be activated on game day this season, and not have to go through waivers to return to the squad.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings will lose home-field advantage vs. Packers with no fans at Sunday’s game

By Chris Tomasson

Like all fans, Maurice Turner won’t be able to attend Sunday’s game between the Vikings and Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic. But he’s not that torn up about it.

Turner, a Shoreview resident and former NFL running back with the Vikings, Packers and New York Jets, is the father of Green Bay offensive lineman Billy Turner.

“It’s disappointing, but looking at it from an advantage standpoint, it takes the crowd noise out of it for the Vikings, so any advantage I feel (the Packers) can get, I’m all for it,” Maurice Turner said.

Maurice Turner, who cheers for the Vikings when they’re not going against his son’s team, added that he supports the safety aspect of fans being barred from the game. The Vikings announced two weeks ago that, after consultation with government officials, it was determined there would be no fans in attendance at the first two home games. The situation will be reevaluated after the Sept. 27 home against Tennessee.

For now, the Vikings must go against their biggest NFC North rival without the benefit of their usually raucous home crowd.

“It’s going to be hard to replace our fans at home,” said Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks, in his sixth season. “Throughout the years I’ve been here, we’ve done a fantastic job of getting rowdy, and we’re not going to be able to replace that. It is what it is, but as far as the whole thing with playing with no fans, I feel like we’ve already kind of known that going into the season, so we’ve been mentally preparing for that.”

Green Bay (seven) or Minnesota (four) have combined to win 11 of the past 13 division titles. Possibly frustrating for the Vikings is that when they play at Lambeau Field on Nov. 1, fans might be allowed at that game.

“Yeah, so we’ve got to take full advantage of the opportunity that’s ahead of us,” running back Dalvin Cook said. “That’s winning a football game, There’s not going to be any fans (Sunday), so that’s not going to be an advantage for us. We’ve just got to play football.”

During the game, prerecorded crowd noise will be played throughout the stadium, according to NFL regulations, at a maximum of 70 decibels. Crowds at U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016, have been reported to be as loud as 120 decibels.

“We’ll get whatever home-field advantage we can without fans, which is probably not much,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said.

The Vikings got a feel for the artificial crowd noise during an Aug. 28 scrimmage at U.S. Bank Stadium. Head coach Mike Zimmer said Sunday’s noise will be “really in between plays” and will “be different than a regular full-stadium crowd.”

That means there will be no chance for crowd noise to rattle Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Then again, Rodgers, bound for the hall of fame, wasn’t exactly rattled when the Packers defeat the Vikings 23-10 in their last visit to U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 23, 2019.

With little noise at Sunday’s game, Packers coach Matt LaFleur reiterated Wednesday that Rodgers will have “free reign” to change plays at the line of scrimmage.

“That’s one of the louder environments in the National Football League,” LaFleur said of U.S. Bank Stadium with fans. “That is a tough place to play. Certainly, I think both teams quite honestly feed off the energy of the crowd, so I think it’s going to be an adjustment for both sides.”

Billy Turner, who hasn’t practiced since injuring a knee in an Aug. 30 scrimmage but hasn’t ruled out playing Sunday, said it would “be weird” playing without fans and would remind him of some road games he played before tiny crowds while at North Dakota State.

Vikings receiver Adam Thielen, who attended Division II Minnesota State Mankato, also played in front of some very small crowds in college.

“It’s going to be fun just to be out there Sunday in our stadium,” Thielen said. “I know there won’t be any fans, but there will be a lot of people watching, so it will still be a great atmosphere.”

Zimmer is optimistic his players still will have plenty of “energy” and “juice.” Then again, he acknowledged it will be a bummer looking up and seeing nothing but empty seats.

“Obviously, U.S Bank Stadium is a great venue for us as a home team. … It’s just nice to have your home crowd there backing you,” he said. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings place DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve; he will miss at least three games

By Chris Tomasson

The unveiling of perhaps the top defensive end duo in the NFL will have to wait.

The Vikings placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve Wednesday, meaning he will miss at least the first three games of the season. The Vikings did not disclose his injury, but ESPN reported that Hunter, who hasn’t practiced since Aug. 14, has a neck injury.

Minnesota acquired defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on Aug. 31 from Jacksonville, and he and Hunter had been expected to take the field together for the first time in Sunday’s opener against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ngakoue made the Pro Bowl in 2017 and Hunter has made it the past two seasons, leading Ngakoue to say last week the two want to be the “best of the best” among NFL defensive ends.

Head coach Mike Zimmer downplayed Hunter’s injury during training camp, saying he had a “little tweak.’’ On their first injury report of the season, the Vikings on Wednesday listed no players. They did not have to include Hunter since he had been shelved before the report came out.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, new rules call for a player on injured reserve to be able to return after missing a minimum of three weeks compared to the previous eight weeks. Hunter also must sit out games at Indianapolis on Sept. 20 and at home against Tennessee on Sept. 27. He can return to practice as soon as the week of Sept. 28 and first will be eligible to play Oct. 4 at Houston, a game in his hometown.

“They’re lucky they made that trade,’’ NFL analyst Mike Tice, Minnesota’s head coach from 2002-05, said of the acquisition of Ngakoue on a one-year, $12 million contract. “Now, he’s got to step up and show them that he was worth it. And I’m sure he’s going to be up for the task. This kid’s got a chance to step up and make a great impact early in the season, and they’re going to be that much better when Danielle Hunter comes back.’’

Sunday’s starters at defensive end will be Ngakoue and Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had been expected to be the starting right defensive end before Ngakoue was acquired. It remains to be seen who will be on which side.

Ngakoue played left defensive end for the Jaguars and could replace Hunter at that spot before perhaps moving to the right side when he returns. Or Odenigbo, who had a breakout season in 2019 and finished third on the Vikings with seven sacks, could step in for Hunter on the left side.

“It’s going to be hard to replace a guy like (Hunter), but we have guys that also are hungry and want to step up, too,” said Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings’ Kirk Cousins seeks to bounce back from shaky 2019 showings against Packers Vikings will lose home-field advantage vs. Packers with no fans at Sunday’s game The Loop Fantasy Football Report: Week 1 Vikings RB Dalvin Cook will play against Packers — even without new deal Packers tackle, Shoreview native Billy Turner hoping to ‘make a difference’ by speaking out on social-justice issues Hunter did not go through stretching to start Wednesday’s practice, which was moved indoors because of inclement weather. He then arrived with Director of Conditioning and Development Mark Ueyeyama for isolated rehab work while the team went through individual workouts. Shortly thereafter, he was placed on injured reserve.

Hunter, who has not missed a game since Week 3 of his rookie season in 2015, will have his consecutive games played streak end at 77. Hunter took so much pride in his streak that he played just the first snap of last season’s meaningless finale against Chicago to keep it alive.

Hunter, 25, is the youngest player in NFL history to have recorded 50 sacks. He finished last season with 54 1/2 for his career and has 29 sacks over the past two seasons.

The loss of Hunter figures to hamper Minnesota’s ability to put pressure on Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Tice believes the Vikings will find a way to make the loss of Hunter not as significant as it might seem.

“I think Coach Zimmer and (co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach) Andre Patterson and the staff, they’re going to find a way to put things together and get that pressure on the quarterback that they need,’’ Tice said. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook will play against Packers — even without new deal

By Dane Mizutani

Vikings star Dalvin Cook left little doubt about his status for Sunday’s season opener against the rival Green Bay Packers. Asked whether he will play, even without a new contract, the 25-year-old running back quickly replied, “If Coach Zim calls my name, I’ll be out there.”

There was no hesitation from Cook, which was somewhat surprising considering the Vikings and his agent Zac Hiller have yet to agree on a contract extension. Both sides reportedly hit a stalemate last month and haven’t made any progress since.

Not that Cook seems too concerned. He said last month that he has no plans of holding out this season and he doubled down on that Wednesday during his weekly media availability.

“Not worried,” Cook said. “I’m prepared enough to go play and I’m physically ready to play. We have a young group that I’m looking to lead and to get somewhere this season. I’ll let the business take care of the business.”

It was a politically correct answer from Cook not to ruffle any feathers. As the interview progressed, though, he seemed to give subtle hints about how he actually feels.

While he claims not to compare himself to other players, he knows all about the lucrative contact extensions being doled out to running backs across the league. Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey ($16 million per year), Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott ($15 million) and Tennessee’s Derrick Henry ($12.5 million) all signed big, new deals this offseason.

Even Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon ($12 million per year) and Cleveland’s Kareem Hunt ($6.5 million) got paid with new deals this month. Neither has been nearly as productive Cook in their careers.

Meanwhile, Cook will make a base salary of $1.3 million this season as he wraps up his rookie contract. He is coming off the most productive season of his career, during which he he rushed for a career-high 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns, and caught a career-high 53 passes for 519 yards.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings’ Kirk Cousins seeks to bounce back from shaky 2019 showings against Packers Vikings will lose home-field advantage vs. Packers with no fans at Sunday’s game The Loop Fantasy Football Report: Week 1 Vikings place DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve; he will miss at least three games Packers tackle, Shoreview native Billy Turner hoping to ‘make a difference’ by speaking out on social-justice issues “Just hope the Vikings and my agent come to an agreement on a deal that values me,” Cook said. “Until then, I’ve got to wait my turn.”

Asked if he feels valued by the organization right now, Cook juked the question like would-be tackler in the open field.

“I’m going to give 100 percent on the field every time I walk in the building and every time I’m out in the community,” Cook said. “Just hope both sides come to an agreement so they can value Dalvin Cook on and off the field.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings' Danielle Hunter to miss at least three games while on injured reserve

By Andrew Krammer

Star defensive end Danielle Hunter will miss at least the first three games of the 2020 season after the Vikings placed him on injured reserve Wednesday, just four days before Sunday’s season opener against the Packers.

Hunter, according to an ESPN report, is dealing with a neck injury. Head coach Mike Zimmer has downplayed the injury since it first sidelined Hunter on Aug. 16, calling it “a tweak.”

Podcast: Previewing the oddest of Vikings-Packers season openers Podcast: Previewing the oddest of Vikings-Packers season openers Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand preview the oddest of season openers Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings and Packers will play in front of no fans and amplified crowd noise. They also answer your Vikings questions. This season, players on injured reserve can return to practice after three weeks instead of eight. That means Hunter could be back at practice as early as Monday, Sept. 28, and play a game as early as Oct. 4 in Houston.

But there’s no guarantee Hunter will be ready by then, having participated in only a few practices during a training camp that was already abbreviated by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s going to be hard to replace a guy like that,” linebacker Eric Kendricks said Wednesday, “but we have guys who are hungry and want to step up, too.”

Ifeadi Odenigbo is next up in Hunter’s spot, and the Vikings’ trade with the Jaguars for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on Aug. 30 comes into clearer focus.

It’s difficult to overstate the impact of Hunter’s absence. He already set top-tier standards for production and durability, last season becoming the youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks (54.5 sacks in five seasons).

Zimmer has spoken to the importance of a pass rush helping the Vikings’ young cornerbacks, and they’ll be tested early against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Sunday’s opener.

Hunter will also miss at least Sept. 20 in Indianapolis and Sept. 27 vs. Tennessee.

Hunter, who turns 26 next month, is part of the star power Zimmer touted this offseason when asked about maintaining a strong defense while retooling parts of the roster. Losing Hunter will shorten up the possible defensive line rotations while applying pressure to Ngakoue and Odenignbo.

Ngakoue, a former Pro Bowl selection with 37.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in four NFL seasons, will have only five practices under his belt before facing the Packers.

Odenigbo, a third-year pro, is positioned to make a big leap. Last year as a part-time pass rusher, he burst onto the scene with seven sacks in just 33.5% playing time, which could double now as a starter.

The injury will end Hunter’s active NFL games played streak by a defensive end at 77, third longest in the league. His streak trailed New Orleans’ Cameron Jordan (144 games) and Buffalo’s Jerry Hughes (131 games). Hunter had been active for 78 of 80 NFL games so far in his career.

No other Vikings players missed Wednesday’s practice.

Packers’ injury report: OT Billy Turner (knee) and LB Randy Ramsey (groin) did not practice; DL Montravius Adams (toe), LB Oren Burks (groin) and S Raven Greene (quad) were limited on Wednesday. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/10/20

Dalvin Cook says 'I'll be out there' against the Packers

By Ben Goessling

With four days left before the start of the regular season, Dalvin Cook doesn’t have the new contract the Vikings have said all offseason they wanted to complete with the running back.

Despite the lack of a new deal, Cook said he’s planning to play Sunday against the Packers.

“If Coach Zim calls my name, I’ll be out there,” Cook said Wednesday in a videoconference.

The Pro Bowler, who posted 1,654 yards from scrimmage last season, will be a team captain for the first time, after coach Mike Zimmer said this offseason he wanted to recognize Cook as a leader.

He ran for 154 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ first game against the Packers last year, a 21-16 loss in Week 2, before missing the second one as the team opted to be cautious with him because of a shoulder injury before the playoffs. “I’m prepared enough to go play and I’m physically ready to play,” Cook said. “We’ve got a young group that I’m looking to lead and to get somewhere this season. I’ll let the business take care of the business.”

The Vikings broke off negotiations on a contract extension with Cook’s agent on Aug. 19 and then made a trade for former Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue that absorbed $12 million of cap space. According to NFLPA records, the Vikings had about $2.2 million in remaining cap space as of Wednesday, following their restructured deal with tackle Riley Reiff to clear $5 million.

Cook’s search for a new deal comes after another running back from his 2017 draft class — Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon — got a four-year, $48 million deal from the Bengals. Packers running back Aaron Jones, who was taken three rounds after Cook, said in an interview this week his agent is talking to the Packers about a new contract before Jones, like Cook, enters the final season of his rookie contract.

It’s long been believed Cook would accept a deal in the range of the contracts the Cardinals gave David Johnson in 2018 and the Jets gave Le’Veon Bell. Those two deals have a yearly average around $13 million, and contracts for Derrick Henry in Tennessee and Mixon in Cincinnati would seem to set the market between $12 and $13 million per season for Cook.

The Vikings, though, would likely need to restructure another contract to clear requisite cap space for Cook, who would presumably get upfront cash that would hit the salary cap in 2020.

“I’ve never been a guy to look at this guy or look at that guy,” Cook said. “Everybody is human. You go out and bust your tail and do what you’ve got to do and you expect a reward to come behind that. I just hope the Vikings and my agent come to an agreement of a deal that values me. Until then, I’ve just got to wait my turn.”

If the Vikings don’t sign Cook this season or work out a deal before the start of free agency in 2020, they could place the franchise tag on the running back, keeping him on the roster for another year and delaying his entry to the open market until age 27.

“It’s just like if I value you as a person, I would treat you such as I value you,” Cook said. “It’s the same thing with me. I’m going to give 1,000 percent on the field, every time I walk in the building, every time I’m out in the community. It’s kind of the same thing. Like I said, I just hope both sides come to an agreement so they can value Dalvin Cook on and off the field.”

In the meantime, Cook says he will be on the field against Green Bay this Sunday.

“He’s a load, man,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “He ripped one off on us for about 80 yards last year [in the first game between the two teams]. You’ve got to be aware of where he is at all times. He’s big, he’s powerful, so you’ve got to be able to wrap up.” PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/10/20

Forbidden love: Vikings superfans must taunt Packers from afar this week because of COVID rules

By Patrick Reusse

Syd Davy spent over 30 years as a Winnipeg-•based engineer at the helm of a locomotive for the Canadian Pacific railroad. Susan Davy worked as an investment adviser.

The combination of Syd’s terrific pension and Susan’s knowledge on what to do with their finances allowed the Davys to purchase a retirement condo in White Rock, British Columbia.

White Rock is 35 miles south of Vancouver and five miles from the U.S. border. The Davys moved to the “City by the Sea” seven years ago. The condo has Pacific Ocean views from all sides, and those can include whales trucking along north or south, or just lollygagging.

Being married to a wise financial investor can be beneficial, right Susan? “Yes … we’re living the dream,” she said. “I should point out we did not have children. That also helps the finances.”

Syd was looking at the Pacific while engaged in a phone conversation this week and said:

“I have received so much heartbreak in my life. And now this. This has been my favorite week of the year. We get to see all our friends.

“And now we can’t. It’s depressing.”

OK, Syd might be living the retirement dream daily, but as the founder of the Viking World Order, the first Vikings fan to advertise himself as “100% Cheese-Free” and the notorious catcher of Randy Moss in a Metrodome end zone, his beloved Vikings are opening their 60th season on Sunday — vs. the Cheeseheads! — and Syd and Susan won’t be there.

Depressing, for sure.

“We were married at the end of December in 1985,” Davy said. “Susan told me, ‘Your passion is the Vikings. Let’s go to some games. We can afford it.’

“The first game we attended was on Sept. 28, 1986. Tommy Kramer threw six touchdowns and we beat the Packers 42-7. The Metrodome crowd was insane. We decided right then, ‘We have to be part of this all the time.’ ”

The Davys rode Vikings fan buses (tickets included) from Winnipeg through the 1988 season. Then, in 1989, they bought season tickets and started making the drive themselves, 1,000 miles down-and-back.

“It was cheaper and we started getting better seats,” Syd said.

Susan and Syd have been to over 400 Vikings games, counting road games. Syd went to every home game for over two decades, and “Susan missed only two,” he said.

Syd confesses to passing on the 1,000-mile drive for some exhibitions in their later years living in Winnipeg. Since moving to White Rock in 2014, they have maintained season tickets and regular attendance.

“For Sunday games, we drive to Seattle, fly in on Friday, see friends, tailgate, and come home Monday,” Syd said. “Now, we can’t even get across the U.S. border. It’s been closed both ways since the middle of March because of the pandemic.

“Playing the Packers … and we fans can’t be there, trying to make life miserable for Aaron Rodgers. We haven’t missed an opener since 1987. This is terrible.”

Green Bay’s last visit to Minneapolis — a 23-10 Monday night beatdown of the Vikings that wrapped up the NFC North title — was mentioned to Davy.

Truth: Syd went silent for 20 seconds and finally said, “I don’t know what happened to our offense that night.”

This was not the longest stretch of silence experience by Syd — and Susan — when it came to reflecting on a Vikings defeat. The upset loss to Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 17, 1999, ranks No. 1 among Davy heartbreaks, with a bullet.

“Absolutely, the worst,” Syd said. “Gary [Anderson] hadn’t missed anything, not a single kick [all season].”

And then he did. Overtime. Falcons 30, Vikings 27.

“We drove home Sunday night,” Syd said. “Five hundred miles and I don’t think either Susan or I said a word. We cried, but we couldn’t talk.”

The Davys wiped away the tears and returned for another two decades-plus of Vikings zealotry. Not everyone did.

“A man who owned radio stations — I think in Duluth — sat next to us and said to me as Gary lined up for the field goal, ‘We’re going to Miami for the Super Bowl and we’re taking Susan and you with us,’ ” Davy said.

“And this is a fact: Gary missed, we lost, and I never saw the guy at another Vikings game. He disappeared.”

Don’t worry about the Davys. They’ll always be back, and ever suspicious of Packers favoritism inside the NFL.

“What worries me is we don’t get to have fans in our stadium for Sunday’s game against the Packers, and by the time we go to Green Bay on Nov. 1, they’ll figure out a way to have fans in Lambeau cheering for the Packers,” Susan said.

That would be just like the Packers, wouldn’t it? “Exactly,” she said. “They’re sneaky.”

Plus, they proudly eat cheese. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings' social justice committee discussing ways to raise cause awareness on game days

By Andrew Krammer

The Vikings’ social justice committee, including linebacker Eric Kendricks, linebacker Anthony Barr, running back Ameer Abdullah and safety Anthony Harris, met during the players’ day off Tuesday to discuss how to attract attention to social justice causes on game days. Players have “a couple things on the docket” and have yet to decide, Kendricks said.

“We discussed that for a while, the social justice committee, that is,” he said. “We’ll be developing that as we get to Sunday. But yeah, the conversation is alive. I don’t want to say we’re going to do one thing, but we have a couple things on the docket. We’ll see.”

Cousins’ next step?

Quarterback Kirk Cousins knows wins are the primary stat for quarterbacks, and his boss had a clear answer when asked about the quarterback’s next step entering his third Vikings season. Coach Mike Zimmer would like to see more of what Cousins did in overtime of the playoff upset at New Orleans last season.

“The biggest thing for Kirk is to continue the things that he’s done well and then, when we get to the end of ballgames, to go win,” Zimmer said. “That’s what everybody wants out of the quarterback, is to go win games in the fourth quarter.”

2020 captains named

The Vikings designated captains for the 2020 season, including safety Harrison Smith and running back Dalvin Cook as first-time season-long captains under Zimmer. They’re joined by tight end Kyle Rudolph (four times), left tackle Riley Reiff (three), quarterback Kirk Cousins (three) and linebacker Anthony Barr (three).

McLaughlin ‘protected’

NFL teams this season can “protect” up to four practice squad players per week from being signed to another team’s roster, and the Vikings on Wednesday made such a designation with newly signed kicker Chase McLaughlin. He’s untouchable to other teams through Sunday’s game.

Star Tribune writer Mark Craig contributed to this report. PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings Mailbag, Week 1: Season outlook, Dalvin Cook’s frustration and more

By Chad Graff

Our weekly Vikings mailbag is back with a Week 1 edition. And even after being at training camp practices for most of August, it’s still just dawning on me that the NFL season is actually starting this weekend.

It’ll be weird to be at a game without fans, but such is life, and I’m thrilled just to be covering a live sporting event again.

So let’s get going on our mailbag. We have lots of questions, so I kept answers brief to get to them. And, as always, questions may have been edited for clarity and grammar.

What is the most important position in terms of winning a Super Bowl and do you think the Vikings have a top-5 group in that position?

— John C.

The obvious answer is quarterback, so let’s take that off the board. After quarterback, I’ll actually give you an outside- the-box answer and say it’s less about an on-field position and more about the head coach.

Football, more than any other major sport, is largely dependent on who the coach is. Take, for example, the last five Super Bowl-winning coaches: Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Doug Pederson, Gary Kubiak and Pete Carroll. You could easily argue that all are top-10 coaches.

If you can pair a top-10 coach with a top-15 quarterback, I think that is the recipe for opening your team’s Super Bowl window. So where do the Vikings fit in that? Probably just barely inside both categories. I think Mike Zimmer is probably somewhere around the eighth- or ninth-best coach in the league and Kirk Cousins is probably in the 10-15 range of quarterbacks. So that gives the Vikings a chance especially when you consider Kubiak is the offensive coordinator.

But it also takes some luck (both injury luck and luck in close games). And then, of course, there’s the entire rest of the team.

Kirk Cousins Kirk Cousins (Brad Rempel / USA Today) Is the NFL going to allow artificial crowd noise like the other sports have? Home-field advantage is a big deal in the NFL. Just the noises and volume of the speakers hurt my ears at the home opener in 2019.

— Ryan B.

It won’t be anywhere near that loud. The league sent a memo to all teams outlining plans for the season.

Each team received an audio file tailored to their club that is to be played for the entirety of games this season even if teams have a reduced number of fans in attendance. That audio file is to be played at a constant 70 decibels regardless of who has the ball.

The audio will be able to reflect what’s happening on the field so if the Vikings score a touchdown, the audio will include cheering, though the volume won’t get any louder. They used the audio file during the team’s scrimmage at U.S. Bank Stadium and I actually thought it worked quite well. It just offers a low hum that simulates thousands being in the stadium.

The league also informed teams that they’ll have a representative on the sideline to take volume readings and ensure no team ever exceeds 75 decibels including music and the public address announcer. For reference, a quick Google search indicates 70 decibels is about what you’d hear from a vacuum or hairdryer.

Are there any concerns about tackling? I don’t remember reports of live tackling and, say what you want about the departed cornerbacks, but their tackling abilities were near elite.

— Kyle W.

That’s a good point, Kyle. But Zimmer has routinely had one of the best-tackling teams and it’s not because they do live tackling even in a normal season.

The Vikings don’t typically take down ball carriers in any practice regardless of whether it’s organized team activities or minicamp or training camp. So the bigger detriment was not having preseason games.

Given that, I think the opener might be a bit sloppier than we typically expect from a Zimmer-led defense. But I don’t anticipate it being a season-long problem.

Stefon Diggs, new Buffalo Bill (James P. McCoy / Pool Photo via AP) Which player that was on the team last year but has moved on will most impact their new team?

— Hunter H.

There are three obvious candidates: Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, Everson Griffen in Dallas and Linval Joseph in Los Angeles.

Griffen is on a good team with a good defensive line. I think the Cowboys are one of the best teams in the NFC. But Griffen’s play also declined toward the end of last season and while I still think Griffen is a good player, I’m not going to pick him.

My second choice would probably be Joseph. He, too, is a part of an excellent defensive line on an up-and-coming Chargers team. He’ll bring a veteran leadership to that group and help plug up the middle of the line.

But Diggs has the best chance to make the biggest difference. The Bills have badly wanted a wide receiver going back to their near-trade for Antonio Brown. And while there are plenty of fair questions still about Josh Allen’s game, there’s no doubting his arm strength. If he’s willing to give Diggs a chance to make contested catches (something he excels at and something he wishes he had more opportunities for in Minnesota), he could play a big role in the Bills winning the AFC East.

How will the offensive gameplan differ from what (Kevin) Stefanski did last year? Are there any big differences in coaching philosophy?

— Kameron W.

There are some slight differences, but the offense was so heavily dictated by Kubiak, that I’m almost more interested to see what the Cleveland Browns offense looks like when Stefanski is calling plays without Kubiak. The offense hired coaches largely chosen by Kubiak and even used his verbiage in the playbook.

In the past, Kubiak has had more of a propensity to throw the ball than the Vikings displayed last season. But that may not be as much about Kubiak vs. Stefanski as it is an order from the head coach.

On a scale of 1-10, how worried should we be that Dalvin Cook holds out at any point in the season?

— Sam B.

Maybe a three. I don’t think Cook will hold out in the middle of the season, but it’s possible if things go awry. On Wednesday, he was asked whether he’ll for-sure play against the Packers in Week 1 even if a deal isn’t completed.

“If Coach Zim calls my name,” he said, “I’ll be out there.”

But Cook also expressed his most frustration to date with the situation. If a deal were to get done, this would be the most likely week for it to happen with players and the team focussed on the season starting Sunday. That’s part of why you’ve seen several players sign contract extensions in recent days including Deshaun Watson and Jalen Ramsey. While things could change, Cook and the Vikings remain at an impasse. And on Wednesday, Cook made his most vocal call for a new contract yet.

“You go out and bust your tail and do what you’ve got to do and you expect a reward to come behind that,” Cook said. “I just hope the Vikings and my agent come to an agreement of a deal that values me. Until then, I’ve just got to wait my turn.”

Conceivably, Cook could hold out after playing in Week 1 and wouldn’t be subject to the same penalties he would’ve been had he skipped training camp. And after playing at the start of the year, he would earn his right to free agency after the season. That’s something that’s certainly in play.

But for now, Cook said he’s ready to play this season.

“I’m not worried,” Cook said about the contract talks. “I’m prepared enough to go play and I’m physically ready to play. We’ve got a young group that I’m looking to lead and to get somewhere this season. I’ll let the business take care of the business.”

How tight do you think the race for the division will be this year?

— Rob H.

Extremely tight. Like most, I think the Packers regress quite a bit. And I think the Bears are simply not that good. The Lions could surprise teams by being better than expected, but they’re not ready to win the division. And, of course, the Vikings are debuting a revamped roster with a defense that had plenty of turnover.

I think there’s a chance that a nine-win team could win the division, but I’m picking the Vikings to win the NFC North with 10 wins, one ahead of the Packers.

Minnesota Vikings Ezra Cleveland (Hannah Foslien / Getty Images) Once again, it feels like the offensive line was neglected this offseason. Yes, drafting Ezra Cleveland seemed like a nice pick, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be starting this year. Is there much hope things will be different with the line this year? Or should we expect more of the same?

— James R.

Expect a similar performance to last year with an outside chance at improvement if Garrett Bradbury is able to take a leap in his second season. You never want to say it all comes down to one player, but you pretty much know what you’re going to get from the other four offensive linemen.

With Bradbury, I don’t know what to expect. It’s reasonable to think that in his second season, he builds on the few really strong games he had last season and starts to look like the center the Vikings envisioned when they used a first-round pick on him. But it’s also reasonable to note that he was already an old draft pick, he was chosen because the Vikings thought he could play right away, and he was overmatched in multiple games.

Any chance our interior offensive line manages to improve from poor to at least lamely mediocre? Conversely, do you think Jaleel Johnson and Armon Watts could be pleasant surprises? Finally, who is your pick for stud we did not see coming?

— Jeffrey S.

Alright, a lot to get to here. As mentioned above, I do think there’s a scenario where the interior of the offensive line improves. It mostly comes down to Bradbury.

And I actually think both Johnson and Watts had a good camp and could be pleasant surprises. Johnson is the one who has impressed me more, and the one I think could quietly put together a really nice season.

I was tempted to even pick Johnson for the emerging player people didn’t expect. Instead, I’ll take Eric Wilson. I’m not sure if he’s under-the-radar enough for this question, but the guy is a starter in base defense, superb in pass coverage and still plays a role on special teams. With more playing time this season, I think he could really emerge.

What is the weakest position group in terms of depth based on training camp?

— Andy B.

Would it be rude to say safety and move onto the next question?

In seriousness, while the Vikings currently have zero depth at safety, I’ll assume you meant a different spot. Instead, I’ll pick the interior of the defensive line. We mentioned above that Johnson and Watts have looked good and bring upside. But Shamar Stephen is a below-average starter at defensive tackle. And the options behind them are bleak.

Hercules Mata’afa is still undersized and only has one role (pass-rushing) and he doesn’t seem to excel at that. And fourth-round pick James Lynch was really underwhelming in training camp.

The group doesn’t inspire much confidence if there are injuries there.

Are you surprised how the Vikings are dealing with the safety position?

— John H.

I’m not shocked that they didn’t keep any safeties on the roster and instead are scouring the waiver wire. But I’m still a bit confused as to the moves they made months ago.

With Anthony Harris’ contract situation in flux and him legitimately on the trading block, the Vikings still opted against signing a veteran backup for the position. Then in the draft (where they decided they weren’t trading Harris), they chose not to draft a safety before the sixth round.

I think the Vikings made a lot of smart moves this offseason. But this was one I don’t understand.

Justin Jefferson (Brad Rempel / USA Today) How involved in the offense do you think Justin Jefferson will be this season?

— Nolan K.

Quite involved. I think the Vikings will design plays specifically with Jefferson in mind. I think you could see jet sweeps and even tunnel screens for him. And Kubiak is going to give him a chance to play where he’s comfortable, namely in the slot.

He still has some work to do if he’s going to supplant Bisi Johnson for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. But he’ll be involved.

Do you see Adam Thielen having a disappointing season now that defenses don’t have to worry about Stefon Diggs, or have a Michael Thomas-like season as a far-and-away No. 1 receiver?

— Felix L.

Probably somewhere in between. I think Thielen is going to have a better season than many expect in his first year as a starter without Diggs. I would imagine he’ll get to 1,000 receiving yards without having to sweat it out in Week 17. He’s so good at creating space and I don’t think teams will strictly put bracket coverage on him because the Vikings can beat you in other ways, including with Irv Smith Jr.

But I also don’t think Thielen is a top-10 receiver. I think he’ll have a nice, respectable season and be the leader of the wide receiver group. But he’s not Thomas.

If you could name one player on each side of the ball to “break out” who would that be?

— Steve B.

Well, I already chose Wilson, so I’ll stick with him on defense.

As for the offense, I’ll take Smith Jr. That might seem like a cop-out since he was a second-round pick last season, but I think he surpasses Kyle Rudolph’s receiving yards this season and has a chance to make some big plays. He stood out in training camp and seems to have built on last year when he was one of the youngest rookies in the league.

Nearly every year, the hype around this team is legit (and usually deserved), yet we all know they will finish the season 9-7, 8-8, or 7-9 while most likely being in playoff contention (especially now with the added playoff spot). What has to happen for this team to not finish at or around .500?

— Willie P.

Let’s look at it both ways.

On the positive side, here’s a reasonable scenario where the Vikings reach double-digit wins: The offense picks up where it left off last season in the second year with the same system. While they lack Diggs, Johnson emerges as a true No. 2 option and Jefferson is a great No. 3 receiver in the slot. The running game really gets going behind an offensive line better at blocking in that phase of the game and Dalvin Cook stays healthy all season and is competing down the stretch to become the league’s rushing leader. The defense struggles at first with so many young players, but Zimmer gets them going in the second half and the Vikings pair a top-10 offense with a top-10 defense.

On the negative side, here’s a reasonable scenario where the Vikings reach double-digit losses: The passing game struggles without Diggs. Cousins, who usually requires receivers to be open before throwing, is stuck with receivers who aren’t easily shaking loose, and Thielen is stuck receiving constant double coverages. The interior of the offensive line is a mess with a first-time starter (Dakota Dozier), a second-year center who didn’t improve, and a right guard who makes it three straight years of below-average play. While the defense employs great duos at safety and linebacker, those positions aren’t nearly as important as others on that side of the ball. The new cornerbacks don’t serve as an improvement from last season’s veterans and the middle of the defensive line gets no push in the pass rush. And, because it’s the Vikings, the kicking game struggles.

Why do I keep watching this [redacted] team? What is my problem?

— Keith R. (who did his own redacting)

I was prepared to give you an uplifting message about hope in Week 1 and the importance of maintaining optimism. But then I wrote that paragraph about the worst-case scenario. I don’t know, man. At least football is finally, really, truly back. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/10/20

Waiting game: Dalvin Cook remains patient as other NFL running backs get big paydays

By Judd Zulgad

Everywhere Dalvin Cook seems to look these days running backs are being rewarded with new contracts. Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey and Tennessee’s Derrick Henry signed deals this offseason that will pay them $16 million and $12.5 million per season, respectively. Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon will make $12 million per season after signing a four- year extension this month and Cleveland’s Kareem Hunt agreed to a two-year, $13.25 million extension this week.

Cook, meanwhile, continues to wait on a contract extension that might not be coming. Talks between his agent and the Vikings broke down last month and apparently never picked back up. So, as the Vikings get set to begin the season on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, Cook is left to play on the final season of a rookie deal that will pay him a base salary of $1.3 million.

“(I’m) not worried,” Cook said Wednesday. “I’m prepared enough to go play and just be ready to play. We’ve got a young group that I’m looking to lead and to get somewhere this season. I’m going to let the business take care of the business.”

This has been Cook’s stance since he arrived at training camp. It came after he dropped out of the Vikings’ virtual offseason program and reports indicated that he would not return to the team until he got a new contract. He disputed that after showing up on time. On one hand, you have to admire Cook for his loyalty to the Vikings. On the other, you have to wonder if a talented player like Cook is making a wise move by playing on a contract that is far under market value for a guy with his skills. (Cook almost certainly would have staged a training camp holdout, if the new Collective Bargaining Agreement didn’t call for him to lose an accrued season if he failed to show up on time.)

“If Coach Zim calls my name, I’ll be out there,” Cook said when asked if he would play Sunday without a new deal in place.

Cook, 25, is one of the most important players in the Vikings’ offense when healthy. Last season, he rushed for a career-high 1,135 yards on 250 carries with 13 touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 519 yards in 14 games. The games played also was a career high for Cook, who missed 12 in his rookie season and five more in 2018. Cook is definitely taking a chance by playing under his current contract, but he’s also gambling that he can stay healthy and cash in with a significant payday on the free agent market after the season. There also is the possibility the Vikings will use the franchise tag on him.

What had to be especially frustrating for Cook was seeing the Bengals reward Mixon, while he continues to wait. Mixon was taken with the 48th pick in the second round of the 2017 draft, seven picks after the Vikings grabbed Cook. In fact, the teams had traded those picks, enabling the Vikings to get Cook.

Mixon has played in 44 games (35 starts) over three seasons, rushing for 2,931 yards on 693 carries (an average of 4.2 yards per carry) with 17 touchdowns. He also has caught 108 passes for 807 yards (an 8.1-yard average) with four touchdowns. Cook has been limited to 29 games (28 starts), rushing for 2,104 yards on 457 carries (4.6 yards per rush) with 17 touchdowns and has caught 104 passes for 914 yards (an 8.8-yard average) with two touchdowns.

“I’ve never been a guy that you look at this guy, you look at that guy, but everybody’s human,” Cook said. “You go out and you bust your tail and you do what you’ve got to do and you expect new rewards to come behind that. I just hope the Vikings and my agent come to an agreement of a deal that values me. Until then, I’ve just got to wait my turn.”

Cook has to wonder if that turn is going to come in Minnesota. That leads to a legitimate question about how much the franchise values him both for his work on and off the field.

“Seeing it from a standpoint that I’m seeing it now, and being in negotiations and seeing it from this side, you kind of put both of them together,” he said. ” … I’m going to give it 1,000 percent on the field, every time I walk in the building, every time I’m in the community. It’s kind of the same thing. I just hope both sides come to an agreement, so they can value Dalvin Cook on and off the field.” PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/10/20

Zulgad: Vikings’ lack of transparency means we must assume the worst when it comes to Danielle Hunter

By Judd Zulgad

The Vikings appeared to make a major upgrade on their defensive line in late August when they acquired right end Yannick Ngakoue from Jacksonville. Nose tackle Michael Pierce’s decision to sit out the season because of concerns about COVID-19 had been a blow to the interior of the line, but getting Ngakoue to be one of the bookends, with Danielle Hunter on the other side, gave the Vikings the potential to make life miserable on opposing offensive tackles.

There were a few mentions along the way that the Vikings made the trade because they were concerned about Hunter’s continued absence from practice, but coach Mike Zimmer had called Hunter’s injury nothing more than a “little tweak.” If that was the case, many of the questions about Zimmer’s pride and joy, the defense, had been put to rest, replaced by a newfound confidence.

That confidence was shattered on Wednesday when the Vikings announced Hunter had been placed on injured reserve because of a neck injury. Actually, the Vikings only announced that Hunter had gone on the IR, meaning he will have to miss at least three weeks. It was ESPN’s Courtney Cronin who unearthed the fact that Hunter has been dealing with a neck injury since he last practiced on Aug. 12. The fact Zimmer and the Vikings remained so secretive about Hunter’s absence in training camp was not surprising, considering they are under no obligation to report injury information until the first Wednesday before the Sunday opener.

But moving Hunter to IR late Wednesday afternoon — and thereby continuing to avoid revealing what is wrong with him — has to be considered a red flag. Of course, there is no such thing as a minor neck injury. A harness can be placed on an injured shoulder and a brace on a knee injury. But a neck issue that lands a player on the IR usually keeps him there for the long term.

The Vikings are going to point to the fact that in this pandemic-altered season they can return an unlimited number of players off injured reserve, although each player must spend three weeks on the list. That would mean, ideally, Hunter is back for the Week 4 game in Houston. But with how much the Vikings went out of their way during camp to create the impression that Hunter would be fine for Sunday’s game against Green Bay, there is no reason to believe anything they tell us about him at this point.

The Vikings, of course, aren’t going to care about what any of us think about how they handled this. Actually, the party with the most egg on its face might be the Jacksonville Jaguars, who took a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth-round pick in the trade for Ngakoue. If the Jaguars had known how desperate the Vikings were to get a top-end pass rusher, they almost certainly would have held out for a first-round pick.

The length of Hunter’s absence also could end up being tied to a contract that puts him 18th among edge rushers in the NFL when it comes to average annual salary, according to the Over The Cap website. He is averaging $14.4 million per season on a five-year, $72 million deal he signed in June 2018. That deal included $40 million guaranteed and a $15 million signing bonus and runs through the 2023 season.

We’re talking about a guy who has had 14.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons and should be among the top five paid edge rushers in the NFL. So is Hunter going to put his career in jeopardy to try and return as soon as possible? No way. Not going back on the field might look selfish but this is about self-preservation in a sport where far too few worry about the players.

The Vikings’ depth chart has Jalyn Holmes, a fourth-round pick in in 2018, listed as Hunter’s backup. The Packers’ offensive line and Aaron Rodgers will go from having to worry about Hunter coming from the left end and Ngakoue from the right, to focusing solely on Ngakoue.

That will make life much easier on Green Bay — especially with the Packers’ right tackle situation unsettled — and other Vikings opponents in the coming weeks. How long will teams have that luxury against Minnesota? The Vikings aren’t about to tell us, but the assumption now has to be Hunter’s absence will be for the long haul. PUBLICATION: Purple Insider 9/10/20

The rundown: Hunter to IR, Cook contract update and systems in Year 2

By Matthew Coller

On Wednesday the Minnesota Vikings (and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur) spoke with the media about Sunday’s Week 1 matchup. There was plenty to take away from their comments. Here’s what we learned…

Danielle Hunter to IR Each day during training camp we wondered when Danielle Hunter would return to practice after a “tweak” kept him out of every workout since the first day that players returned to the field.

Turns out it’s going to be awhile before he’s back. The Vikings announced Hunter has been placed on Injured Reserve, which means he will miss at least the first three games.

“A guy like Danielle, he brings a whole other type of game in and it’s going to be hard to replace a guy like that but we have guys who are hungry and want to step up too,” linebacker Eric Kendricks said.

Hunter’s presence would have made for a massive advantage on Sunday against the Packers because Green Bay still hasn’t said who will be playing right tackle yet. They appear to be moving Billy Turner from guard to tackle but an injury has put his status up in the air. Hunter versus a backup would have been a nightmare for Aaron Rodgers.

Instead we may see Ifeadi Odenigbo or Jalyn Holmes start at left defensive end. Eddie Yarbrough also mixed in at that position during camp so he could be a situational rusher.

The drop off from Hunter to any backup is enormous. Over the last two seasons he has 29.0 sacks. The Vikings will now rely heavily on Yannick Ngakoue to create pressure.

Cook’s contract situation

Dalvin Cook said he plans to play regardless of whether he comes to an extension with the Vikings or not. Photo courtesy of the Vikings Dalvin Cook spoke to the media for the second time this offseason and the main topic of conversation in each Zoom call has been his contract status.

Earlier this offseason ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Cook was holding out of team activities until a new deal was done and then there was confusion over whether he would report to camp or stage a “hold in” where he was present at camp but didn’t participate. Neither of those things happened as he took reps every day throughout training camp.

Cook indicated he’s ready to play on Sunday.

“If Coach Zim calls my name, I’ll be out there,” he said.

Throughout the offseason we have seen numerous members of the terrific 2017 running back draft class sign contracts, including Christian McCaffrey and Joe Mixon both Aaron Jones and Alvin Kamara are reportedly close to extensions with their respective clubs.

One source with knowledge of negotiations said that the holdup has not been the interest from the the Vikings to sign Cook, rather the guarantees that would come along with an extension.

There is a difference between fully guaranteed dollars and money guaranteed only in the case of a career-ending injury. McCaffrey, for example, received $30 million fully guaranteed whereas only $10 million of Mixon’s deal is fully guaranteed (though he is very unlikely to be cut after this year so it essentially guarantees closer to $20 million).

Those two deals give the Vikings good bookends to work with. Cook belongs above Mixon but not quite in the range of McCaffrey by his usage. They could settle somewhere in the middle around $25 million guaranteed.

We’ll see if there’s a last-minute deal to be had before Sunday’s game. The Vikings haven’t signed players to extensions during the season in recent years.

Year 2 of the Packers’ system Earlier this week on the Purple Insider podcast, Aaron Nagler described last year’s Packers offense as a “hybrid” of things Aaron Rodgers liked to do in the past and noted that Rodgers looked more comfortable running Matt LaFleur’s offense in camp.

Zimmer said the scheme has often been a moving target for his defense.

“They’ve done so many different things since we’ve been here,” Zimmer said. “One year they’re all no-huddle, one year they changed personnel groups like every possession.”

The Vikings couldn’t be much more familiar of the basics of LaFleur’s system considering it is rooted in Shanahan/Kubiak style but Zimmer is expecting sharper execution from the players around Rodgers this year.

“Anytime you’re in the second year of your system that you’re running, you have more confidence,” Zimmer said. “And probably not Aaron, because it’s hard for him to be a little better than what he already is. But I think the players around him will understand it better, and he can communicate to them what he wants better. I think those kinds of things will improve.”

While teams can never predict exactly what new wrinkles will be included in Week 1 of opponents’ offenses, this year makes teams especially unpredictable because they haven’t gotten a look at the personnel on the other team during preseason games.

“The difference is maybe not seeing some of the players that they’ve added,” Zimmer said. “Where they’re going to line them up, maybe only seeing them on college tape as opposed to NFL tape or preseason tape. So some of the personnel things will be different. It’s going to be a game of adjustments like it always is, but probably a little bit more so this week.”

Rodgers and Zimmer have had many great battles since the Vikings’ head coach was hired in 2014. Since 2016 Rodgers is 3-3-1 against Zimmer with a 94.1 quarterback rating, nine touchdowns, two interceptions and 6.9 yards per pass attempt.

Zimmer always seems to get a kick out of playing against the future Hall of Fame quarterback. He talked about being wowed by Rodgers’s ability to make plays off schedule and dodge tacklers, especially in the red zone.

“He makes his hay in the red zone by moving out of the pocket and finding guys and buying time for his receivers, and the receivers do an unbelievable job of taking off and either heading back and changing direction, and then he’s able to find them with the great vision that he has,” Zimmer said. “I was watching some tape on him this morning, and some of the plays he makes take your breath away. It’s kind of like watching Barry Sanders run the football.”

No fans Sunday It will be surreal Sunday being inside US Bank Stadium watching the Vikings and Packers play without deafening noise on third downs. Instead there will be a subtle grumble of piped in crowd noise. The decibel level equates to less than half the noise you’d expect in a big situation.

The one benefit the Vikings have had in preparing for a murmur rather than something that sounds like a train coming through your living room is time to prepare. They scrimmaged at US Bank Stadium with the faux noise so it won’t be a shock to the system.

“I feel like we’ve already kind of known that going into the season so we’ve been mentally preparing for that,” Kendricks said. “We still have to get ready to play the game. We still have to get that energy ready. We still have to communicate and be effective when we’re out there.”

Mike Zimmer is certainly no stranger to bizarre circumstances. He harkened back to the team’s few seasons in between venues before US Bank Stadium opened.

“I kind of look at it like we’re back at TCF and we weren’t playing at our own home field, just borrowing the University of Minnesota’s field,” Zimmer said. “We had to go out and execute and play well. I don’t really believe the atmosphere or the energy of the juice, as you call it, will change. I think the players will still have plenty of that. It’s just nice to have your home crowd there backing you.”

Super Bowl odds There’s lots of different places you can find Super Bowl odds and different predictive models. ESPN posted Bill Barnwell’s analysis of each team’s chances to win The Big Game this year. Here’s how the Vikings came out:

Chance to win Super Bowl LV: 1.9% Chance to make the playoffs: 53.8% Caesars' Super Bowl odds: +2800

The Vikings tied for 12th place at 1.9% chance with the Indianapolis Colts. In the NFC they ranked behind New Orleans, San Francisco, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Seattle.

Minnesota’s spot seems about right until we can get some of the major questions answered. The most questionable one there is Philly. It’s hard to say how they got better than the last two years.

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider 9/10/20

Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rogers are going different directions

By Matthew Coller

There are few players more familiar to the Minnesota Vikings over the last two decades than Aaron Rodgers. Sunday’s matchup at US Bank Stadium will be the 24th time Rodgers has taken on the Vikings. In total he has gone 14-8-1 with a 107.2 quarterback rating against Minnesota.

But the version of Rodgers that put up a great deal of those statistics isn’t the same player that they will see this week.

“Rodgers at his best is a transcendent, Patrick Mahomes-type talent, that’s how he was being talked about in 2010, 2011, 2014 even but I think everyone accepts that guy isn’t there anymore,” PFF analyst Sam Monson said on the Purple Insider podcast.

Whether you use traditional stats or do an analytical dive deep into Rodgers’s game, it’s clear that he’s come back to the pack (pun intended). Here’s how he’s graded by PFF and traditional QB rating since 2012:

The underlying numbers tell us some of the story about the specific ways in which Rodgers’s game isn’t like it used to be.

While PFF ranked him fourth in “Big-Time Throw Percentage” in 2019, he was 23rd in positively graded throws and 20th in negatively graded throws. Put that together and you have Rodgers requiring magical passes on a regular basis to make up for being consistently inconsistent.

“The physical tools are still there,” Monson said. “He can still move around, his arm is still insane. Why is he not that guy anymore? I think the reason is that he’s developed some bad habits and got in a rut. If you’ve been doing the same bad habit for five years, it’s hard to snap out of that and change. And the bad habits that he has have always been elements of his game, it just didn’t matter when he was playing as well as he was.”

At one point in his career, Rodgers was considered the most accurate quarterback in the NFL but that was not even close to the case last year. He ranked 22nd in terms of “on target” throws and 15th in accuracy percentage relative to depth of target.

A major issue with Rodgers in recent years has been holding onto the ball for too long. Per PFF, he only threw to his first read on 58% of his passes. League average is 68%. He ranked second in the NFL in throw aways and lost 284 yards to sacks, fifth most among quarterbacks with at least 14 starts last season.

Aaron Rodgers was among the league leaders in yards lost to sacks. Photo courtesy of the Vikings Throwaways and sacks have sunk Rodgers’s yards per attempt when adjusted for sacks. From 2009-2014, his net yards per attempt was 7.40 but in the last three seasons it’s sunk to 6.16. That’s basically the difference between being Drew Brees and Marcus Mariota.

None of this is to say that the old Rodgers doesn’t exist in spurts.

Last year he still managed three games above a 125 quarterback rating and produced a 113.7 rating and 92.8 PFF grade in the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks.

But there is a blueprint for slowing him down unlike the past. One area where the Vikings have particularly solved Rodgers is with the blitz. Last year he averaged 4.9 yards per attempt on 21 blitzed drop backs. Rodgers hasn’t been above average in yards per play when blitzed since 2014.

How it plays out on Sunday, of course, is harder to say without the benefit of crowd noise inside US Bank Stadium. Rodgers at Lambeau against the Vikings has a 103.0 rating since 2015 and just a 78.3 rating in Minnesota.

Kirk Cousins is in a very different place in his career.

The Vikings’ quarterback is coming off his best season both by QB rating and PFF grading standards.

He ranked as the NFL’s fourth best QB when given a clean pocket in 2019.

“Kirk Cousins when the situation is good and he isn’t under pressure is as good as any quarterback in the NFL at putting the ball where it needs to go,” Monson said.

Last year’s scheme switch seemed to have a very positive impact on Cousins’s play, allowing him more time to throw and deliver the ball accurately. He ranked fourth in on-target percentage and had the fourth best rate of negatively- graded throws.

It appears Cousins has grown in terms of his recognition, producing his highest rating when blitzed last season at 122.5 and his best career rating under pressure. Last season was by far his best performance on third down (108.0 rating), where he had previously been around league average.

No matter the numbers — which largely suggest that the better player in 2020 is Cousins — there’s still an element of Cousins’s game that makes his ceiling lower than Rodgers’s. The Vikings’ QB had far fewer “Big Time Throws” ranking 13th and was only 21st in positively-graded throws. He also hasn’t displayed the mobility to work his way out of trouble when opponents like the Packers create interior pressure.

“You watch Kirk Cousins and there’s something missing between [him] and being a great quarterback, even when if you toss out Week 2 last year Kirk Cousins was our No. 1 graded quarterback,” Monson said. “He was playing almost as well as anybody for almost all of the season. But when you watch him play you know there’s something not there that is there with Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson.”

So there’s two ways to look at the Rogers/Cousins battle: Which would you rather have over the next five years and which would you rather have with the 2020 season on the line? Cousins seems to be peaking while Rodgers is on the “back nine” of his career, as he put it. But for Sunday’s game, which could eventually play into tie-breaking scenarios down the road this year, Vikings fans won’t be any less nervous facing Rodgers or more confident in Cousins facing a good defense than they have been in the past.

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/10/20

Minnesota Vikings place Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve

By Courtney Cronin

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.

A source told ESPN that Hunter has a neck injury.

Hunter has not practiced since Aug. 14, the team's first official practice. The Pro Bowler has been sidelined for nearly four weeks with what coach Mike Zimmer referred to as a "tweak." He will not be listed on Wednesday's injury report given the move to injured reserve, where he must remain for at least three games.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Vikings counting on NFL's youngest group of corners in re-tooled defense "Not worried," Cook said. "I'm prepared enough to go play, and I'm physically ready to play. We've got a young group that I'm looking to lead and to get somewhere this season. I'll let the business take care of the business."

The two sides failed to come to an agreement on an extension during training camp, and the team chose to table negotiations Aug. 19. Sources told ESPN that talks have not picked up since that date.

Even if he doesn't have a new contract, the 25-year-old said he plans to play on Sunday.

"If Coach Zim calls my name, I'll be out there," Cook said.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook racked up 13 touchdowns and more than 1,600 combined yards last season. Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire Cook was one of the NFL's most productive running backs last season, recording the second-most yards from scrimmage per game and leading the league by averaging 11.3 yards after the catch. He recorded a first down on 40.6% of his targets, which was the third-highest mark of any running back with at least 30 targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Several running backs across the NFL have signed new deals recently, including Cincinnati's Joe Mixon, who became the sixth-highest-paid rusher and is set to average $12 million per year over the four-year extension, and Kareem Hunt, who signed a two-year, $13.25 million extension with Cleveland. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is "extremely close" to signing a lucrative contract extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In spite of seeing those deals come to fruition, Cook is not disheartened that he doesn't have one himself.

"I've never been a guy to look at this guy or look at that guy," Cook said. "Everybody is human. You go out and bust your tail and do what you've got to do and you expect a reward to come behind that. I just hope the Vikings and my agent come to an agreement of a deal that values me. Until then, I've just got to wait my turn."

Before training camp, Cook said he was looking for a "reasonable" deal that would value what he brings to the Vikings' organization on and off the field.

In addition to being one of the most prolific rushers in the NFL, Cook has been the face of "Vikings Table," a custom- built food truck with the mission of offering healthy meals and nutritional education to youth across the Minneapolis- St. Paul community, since its inception in 2019 and has been an active member of the team's Community Tuesdays.

"It's just like, if I value you as a person, I would treat you such as I value you," Cook said. "It's the same thing with me. I'm going to give 1,000% on the field, every time I walk in the building, every time I'm out in the community. It's kind of the same thing.

"Like I said, I just hope both sides come to an agreement so they can value Dalvin Cook on and off the field."

PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings place Danielle Hunter on injured reserve as pass rusher continues to deal with undisclosed injury

By Tyler Sullivan

The Minnesota Vikings placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve on Wednesday. Hunter did not practice on Wednesday and the Vikings brass has been pretty tight-lipped on the ailment that has kept their star pass rusher out of the majority of training camp. While the team is keeping Hunter's injury close to the vest, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports that it is related to a neck injury he sustained. The move to injured reserve now means that Hunter will miss at least three games, which is one of the changes to the IR rules the NFL has made for this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hunter has been a staple along Minnesota's front seven ever since the club selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of LSU. Over the last two seasons specifically, he has blossomed into one of the game's elite pass rushers, earning back-to-back Pro Bowl nods. In 16 games (all starts) last season, Hunter totaled 14.5 sacks, 15 tackles for a loss, and a career-high three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder also played in 80.7% of the defensive snaps -- fifth-most on the team in 2019.

"A guy like Danielle, he brings a whole other type of game in. It's going to be hard to a replace a guy like that, but we have guys that also are hungry and want to step up too," Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks told reporters Wednesday.

Luckily for Minnesota, the club did recently acquire fellow defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in a trade with the Jaguars, so he should be able to help provide some relief while Hunter is sidelined. As for someone who may be able to take that step up that Kendricks noted, Ifeadi Odenigbo, who totaled seven sacks last year, could see an uptick in playing time to start the year.

Over the first three weeks of the season, the Vikings will take on the Packers, Colts and Titans. The earliest game that Hunter may be able to suit up for is Week 4 against the Texans in Houston.

PUBLICATION: USA Today DATE: 9/10/20

Minnesota Vikings place Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter on injured reserve

By Jack White

Earlier this offseason, Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Danielle Hunter was sitting out from practice with what the coach called a "little tweak."

After that, Hunter kept missing practice, and hasn't participated in one since Aug. 14. On Wednesday, the team announced that Hunter will miss at least three games by placing him on injured reserve.

The defensive end became the youngest player to reach 50 career sacks in 2019. He has tallied 14.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons.

The next player up is Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had seven sacks in 2019, while taking limited reps behind Everson Griffen and Hunter. With Griffen signing with the Cowboys this offseason, Odenigbo already was expected to get more playing time. Jalyn Holmes can also be a run-stopping option there.

The Vikings also acquired pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 30. Ngakoue was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 when he registered a career-high 12 sacks.

The Vikings host the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers in Week 1.

PUBLICATION: NFL.com DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings DE Danielle Hunter placed on IR with undisclosed injury

By Kevin Patra

The Minnesota Vikings recently added a Pro Bowl pass rusher in Yannick Ngakoue. They will be without another Pro Bowl pass rusher for at least three weeks.

Following NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero report that Danielle Hunter's status for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers was very much in doubt due to an unspecified injury, the Minnesota Vikings announced they had placed Hunter on injured reserve.

It is not believed to be a long-term injury and is likely a back or neck injury, Rapoport reported.

Hunter did not practice on Wednesday and no reason was given to his placement on IR.

The back-to-back Pro Bowl pass rusher missed most of training camp due to an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Zimmer had been mum on the extent of Hunter's injury, saying Monday "we'll just have to see" if the defensive end plays. Zimmer has consistently downplayed the injury as a minor tweak.

Linebacker Eric Kendricks indicated his teammates were expecting to take on a division rival without the star pass rusher and proved prophetic.

"It's going to be hard to replace a guy like that but we have guys who are hungry and want to step up too," Kendricks said Wednesday, via Matt Coller of 1500 ESPN.

The 25-year-old is coming off back-to-back 14.5-sack seasons and had one QB takedown in each game against the Packers last year. With Green Bay still trying to sort out their right tackle situation, Hunter missing the season opener is welcomed news for Aaron Rodgers.

Hunter's injury underscores the importance of Minnesota acquiring Ngakoue before the season starts. PUBLICATION: Associated Press DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings put Hunter on IR; star DE must miss at least 3 games

By Dave Campbell

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve Wednesday, taking one of their most vital players out of action for the season opener against Green Bay and at least two more games after that.

Hunter has not practiced with the team since training camp activities were first opened to reporters on Aug. 14. Coach Mike Zimmer has only described the unspecified injury as a “tweak,” and because Hunter was placed on injured reserve the Vikings didn’t have to list the two-time Pro Bowl pick on their initial injury report.

Last year, Hunter, who will turn 26 on Oct. 29, became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks. Hunter has never missed an NFL game to injury, with his only absences coming as a rookie in 2015 when he was on the inactive list for two September games. When the Vikings played a meaningless finale against Chicago last season with their spot in the playoffs already clinched and rested almost all of their starters, Hunter took the first snap to stretch his appearance streak to 77 straight games.

“Danielle, he brings a whole other type of game in. It’s going to be hard to replace a guy like that,” linebacker Eric Kendricks said, “but we have guys who are hungry and want to step up, too.”

Revised roster rules for the 2020 season, which is being played during the coronavirus pandemic, allow NFL teams to reinstate players from injured reserve after only three weeks. There’s also no maximum amount of players who can come back. Normally, only two players can be designated for return from injured reserve, and they must miss at least six weeks of practice and at least eight weeks of games.

The other softening of this blow for the Vikings was the acquisition of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in a trade last month with Jacksonville. Ngakoue will essentially replace Everson Griffen, who departed after 10 seasons to sign with Dallas. Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had seven sacks last year, is the next defensive end on the depth chart. Jalyn Holmes has mostly taken Hunter’s place with the first team during the portion of practices that have been open to the media.

“He’s a fantastic player,” said Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been sacked 5 1/2 times by Hunter in nine matchups. “That’s definitely a loss for their defense.”

After hosting Green Bay on Sunday, the Vikings play at Indianapolis on Sept. 20 and return home to face Tennessee on Sept. 27. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings Announce Six Captains For 2020 Season

By Will Ragatz

The Vikings officially named their six captains for the 2020 season on Wednesday: Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Kyle Rudolph, Riley Reiff, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith.

The two differences from last year are that former captains Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph departed in free agency this offseason. In their place are first-time captains Cook and Smith.

This is the third straight year that Cousins and Barr are Vikings captains, and it's the fourth straight year for Rudolph and Reiff.

Here's a quick breakdown of all six.

Kirk Cousins, QB

This is Cousins' fifth straight year as a captain, dating back to the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Washington. Entering his ninth season in the NFL, the veteran quarterback is looking to build off of the most efficient and explosive season of his career. That could be difficult without Stefon Diggs, but Cousins still has plenty of weapons at his disposal. He has mentioned multiple times this offseason wanting to make more plays off-script and become more of a threat to scramble.

"We’ve talked about it quite a bit," Cousins said Wednesday of looking to improve when things get off schedule. "I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. I’ve had success playing with a certain style but if I can build on that a little bit, then I’ll look to do that.”

Dalvin Cook, RB

It's a major sign of the respect Cook has within the Vikings organization that he has been named a team captain in his fourth season. The 25-year-old star famously had some red flags coming out of Florida State, but he has been nothing but fantastic on and off of the field for the Vikings during his NFL career. The big question here is whether or not he's frustrated by the inability of his agent and the team to work out a long-term contract extension.

"From a standpoint where I’m sitting now and being in negotiations and seeing it from this side, you kind of put both of them together," Cook said when asked about being valued without having that new contract. "It’s just like if I value you as a person, I would treat you such as I value you. It’s the same thing with me. I’m going to give 1,000 percent on the field, every time I walk in the building, every time I’m out in the community. It’s kind of the same thing. Like I said, I just hope both sides come to an agreement so they can value Dalvin Cook on and off the field."

Cook hasn't said anything that indicates there's a possibility he won't be out there going 100 percent, even in the final year of his rookie deal.

"If Coach Zim calls my name, I’ll be out there," Cook said.

He's in line for another huge season in 2020 if he can stay healthy.

Kyle Rudolph, TE

Rudolph was named a captain back in 2017 and has been one ever since. The veteran tight end is one of the team's most important leaders in the locker room and an incredible representative of the organization. He's been the Vikings' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for two straight years because of all the amazing work he does with the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. Rudolph has also emerged as an important voice in the team's efforts to bring about change with various social justice initiatives.

On the field, he ranks in the top five in franchise history in receptions and touchdown receptions. Entering his tenth year with the Vikings, Rudolph is the team's longest-tenured player.

Riley Reiff, LT

It was somewhat surprising when the Vikings named Reiff a captain back in 2017 after acquiring the former Lions tackle in free agency. However, he lived up to that role with his leadership and like Rudolph, has remained a captain ever since.

"I was talking to some of the younger guys the other day about when he first came here, he kind of changed the culture of that offensive line room," Adam Thielen said of Reiff recently.

The past few weeks have been eventful for Reiff. After trading for Yannick Ngakoue, the Vikings needed salary cap space. So they went to Reiff and essentially told him he could either take a pay cut or be released. For a while, it looked like they were going to have to cut him. But Reiff eventually changed course and agreed to the pay cut, and he'll continue to hold down the left side of the Vikings' offensive line in 2020.

Anthony Barr, LB

Barr is a crucial part of the Vikings' culture on defense and handles a ton of complex roles and responsibilities as an outside linebacker who plays every single snap. Only Rudolph, Smith, and Thielen have been with the franchise for longer than the 2014 first-round pick out of UCLA. It was a big deal when Barr appeared to be headed to the Jets last offseason before changing his mind and staying in Minnesota.

Along with fellow linebacker Eric Kendricks, Barr is one of the leading voices on the team's social justice committee.

“I think this is the responsibility that we have not only as citizens but as athletes in the community, especially the event was so close and hit so close to home for us with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis," Barr said recently. "It only felt right to kind of be a little more proactive that I have been. I kind of put pressure on myself and my peers and my family members to the do the same. Obviously the work is far from done."

Harrison Smith, S

Smith is the second longest-tenured player on the team and the longest-tenured player on Mike Zimmer's defense. He's been one of the NFL's best safeties for nearly a decade now; Smith can take over a game with his combination of mental acuity and physical talent.

This is his first time being a captain, but it's basically a guarantee that he's been asked before if he wants that honor. Smith has certainly earned it. However, he's always been a fairly quiet guy who leads by example rather than being a super vocal motivator. But with Griffen and Joseph leaving, a captaincy role opened up and Smith has finally accepted.

PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings Place Danielle Hunter on IR, Meaning He'll Miss at Least Three Games

By Will Ragatz

The Vikings have placed superstar defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve, meaning he'll miss at least the first three games of the season. This comes just days after Mike Zimmer said he was expecting Hunter to play against the Packers in Week 1.

Hunter has been out for nearly a month with an undisclosed injury that Zimmer has only described as a "little tweak." He last practiced on August 14th, the Vikings' first full-team session of training camp.

According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, "the 'tweak' is related to a neck injury he sustained." Given the dangerous nature of neck injuries, it makes sense for the Vikings to be cautious in bringing him back to full speed.

With Hunter missing practice again on Wednesday and linebacker Eric Kendricks giving a telling quote about having to replace him, it appeared highly unlikely that he would be able to play on Sunday.

Now, it's clear that this injury is more serious than the Vikings have been letting on. Hunter will miss Week 1 against the Packers, Week 2 at the Colts, and Week 3 against the Titans. He'll first be eligible to return from IR for a Week 4 game in Houston on October 4th.

Losing Hunter for at least three games is a major blow for a Vikings team that plans to contend for an NFC North title. He is one of the more physically dominant edge rushers in the league, having recorded 29 sacks over the past two seasons. Just 25 years old, Hunter was the quickest player in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks and was set to step into more of a leadership role this season with longtime teammate Everson Griffen departing.

However, the Vikings have the depth at defensive end to survive without Hunter for as long as they have to. They recently traded for former Jaguars star Yannick Ngakoue, who has 37.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles over the past four years. They also have Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had seven sacks in a rotational role last year and was in line to start opposite Hunter prior to the Ngakoue trade. Losing Hunter means veterans Jalyn Holmes and Eddie Yarbrough could see some rotational snaps on the edge.

"Danielle, he brings a whole other type of game in and it’s going to be hard to replace a guy like that," Kendricks said. "But we have guys who are hungry and want to step up too."

This is a tough loss, considering Hunter is arguably the best player on the Vikings' roster. But given their depth, it's not one that has to derail the season. Hunter will continue to rehab his injury in the hopes of returning as soon as Week 4. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

After Hunter Move, No Vikings on 1st Injury Report of 2020

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — Danielle Hunter was placed on Injured Reserve Wednesday by the Vikings ahead of Sunday's season-opening clash against the Packers.

After the move of Hunter, there are no Vikings on the first injury report of 2020.

Hunter has not practiced since a non-padded session on Aug. 14.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer has only described Hunter's injury as a "tweak."

With the Vikings moving Wednesday's practice inside because of rain in the area, ESPN's Courtney Cronin served as a pool reporter and snapped a few pics of Hunter doing side work:

RELATED LINKS Vikings Place Hunter On Injured Reserve Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos 2020 Schedule in Photos Through the Years: Vikings vs. Packers The premiere pass rusher, who has posted consecutive seasons with 14.5 sacks on his way to a pair of Pro Bowls, will miss the first significant time of his career. The 25-year-old has started 48 and appeared in 77 consecutive regular-season games. The starts streak is the third-longest current run by a defensive end. Both streaks will come to a close Sunday.

Minnesota last week acquired Yannick Ngakoue via trade with Jacksonville. Although, Ngakoue's first practices of 2020 did not occur until he joined the Vikings, the edge rusher could be tasked with providing an immediate impact.

Practice Photos: September 9 View photos of the Vikings preparing to take on the Packers during practice at TCO Performance Center on Sept. 9.

Packers Injury Report

As for Green Bay, LB Randy Ramsey (groin) and G/T Billy Turner (knee) did not participate Wednesday. DL Montravius Adams (toe), LB Oren Burks (groin) and S Raven Greene (quadriceps) were limited.

Table inside Article PACKERS Position Injury Wednesday Randy Ramsey LB Groin DNP Billy Turner G/T Knee DNP Montravius Adams DL Toe LP Oren Burks LB Groin LP Raven Greene S Quadricep LP Practice Status

DNP - Did not participate in practice

LP - Limited participation in practice

FP - Full participation

(-) - Not listed PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings Place Hunter On Injured Reserve

By Vikings PR

Eagan, Minn. (September 9, 2020) – The Minnesota Vikings have announced the following roster moves:

PLACED ON RESERVE/INJURED:

NO...... PLAYER...... POS…EXP...... COLLEGE

99...... Danielle Hunter...... DE...... 6...... LSU

PRACTICE SQUAD PROTECTED:

NO...... PLAYER...... POS…EXP...... COLLEGE

9...... Chase McLaughlin...... K...... 2...... Illinois PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Kirk Cousins & Vikings Offense Focused on Little Details vs. Packers Defense

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — Kirk Cousins turned in the best season of his pro career in 2019, earning a Pro Bowl spot after recording a career-high passer rating of 107.4 and going 10-5 as a starter.

He didn't produce eye-popping stats, totaling 3,603 yards, but he was as efficient as ever. Cousins completed 69.1 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns and six interceptions, a career low since becoming a starter with Washington in 2015.

A trio of those interceptions, however, came against the Packers, who come to town for a Week 1 matchup Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Cousins threw two picks in a Week 2 road loss and another in a Week 16 home loss that allowed Green Bay to clinch the division.

Despite his fantastic season as a whole, Cousins' two worst statistical games in 2019, at least according to passer ratings, were the pair of Border Battles. He had a rating of 52.9 in Week 2 and a rating of 58.8 in Week 16.

And as the 2020 season gets underway, Cousins and his offensive teammates have a chance for a fresh start Sunday against their biggest division rival.

"I think you're just aware of where we came up short. You're aware of how you need to be better," Cousins said Wednesday in a video conference with Twin Cities media members. "I think they did a great job defensively, and we've got to have a great plan, and then we have to go execute that plan and understand that they're a very good defense. We can't afford to waste plays or make mistakes or turn the ball over.

"If you do that, you're kind of allowing a really good defense and a good team to play with the wind at their back. So, it's about many of the same things it's always about — protecting the football, running the football, time of possession. I could go on and on," Cousins added. "But if you do those things or most of those things, you'll give yourself a great chance even against a really good defense."

Under Center with Kirk Cousins: Joe Mauer Joins + Week 1 Packers Preview (Full Show) Minnesota's offense will feature plenty of familiar faces Sunday, as all 11 projected starters were on the roster a season ago.

Up front, Cousins will be protected by a veteran group of linemen. Riley Reiff, Garrett Bradbury, Pat Elflein and Brian O'Neill were all primary starters a season ago, but Elfein is now at right guard instead of left. Dakota Dozier is the starting left guard.

That group will be tasked with stopping a three-headed monster of pass rushers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith (no relation), plus defensive tackle Kenny Clark. That trio combined for 31.5 sacks in 2019, including all five in the Week 16 game in 2019.

Dozier said Minnesota's linemen are up to the challenge against Green Bay's front seven.

"That is a good defensive front, and they really take advantage of teams when they get in passing situation, and so obviously we're going to have to be able to throw," Dozier said. "But I think one thing we can really do [on Za'Darius Smith] is focus on being physical up front.

"[Just] really helping our team stay in good situations, good down-and-distance, running the ball and just being physical and aggressive with them," Dozier added.

Those five linemen will not only be protecting Cousins, but opening up holes in the run game, too.

The Vikings had a pair of up-and-down rushing performances against the Packers in 2019. In Week 2, Minnesota rushed for 198 total yards, including a 75-yard score by Dalvin Cook.

But with Cook and Alexander Mattison inactive in Week 16, the Vikings managed just 57 yards on 16 attempts.

Cousins will have plenty of options in the passing game, too, as Adam Thielen, Bisi Johnson, rookie Justin Jefferson, Tajaé Sharpe, Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith. Jr, all had productive camps.

Cook, who had 53 catches for 519 yards in 2019, is also a factor in the passing game.

"I think, offensively, we're in a good spot," Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday. "Obviously, we'll find out come Sunday.

"But I feel good about the guys we have, feel good about Kirk taking a leadership role and the things he's doing that way in preparing for this football game," Zimmer added. "I think we've got some weapons, and hopefully we can get them in some space."

Getting mismatches against a stout Packers defense will be the job of Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, who is in his first season in that role with the Vikings and second in Minnesota.

With no preseason games, Cousins said he's gotten a feel during game-like situations in recent weeks for how Kubiak likes to call a game.

"I just have a lot of confidence in him. He's been around the block," Cousins said. "He's seen what great offenses look like. He's been around world champions and won a couple himself.

"So just knowing the experience, knowing that he's been around some of the best and knows what it should look like, I just trust him and do what he tells me, and that's about all I can do," Cousins added.

Sunday's game between the Vikings and Packers is just one of 16 for Minnesota this season, and won't decide their playoff fate or the division race by any means.

But it's a chance for Cousins and his offensive teammates to remove the bad taste of getting swept in 2019 and start the 2020 season off on the right foot.

"Just looking forward now to Week 1, getting started at the real thing," Cousins said. "It's been a long time coming, and you can feel the energy around the building and the excitement of real football." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Water Break with Anthony Harris

By Lindsey Young

Sunday's Border Battle between the Vikings and Packers will mark Anthony Harris' second season opener as a full- time starter.

Harris stepped in alongside All-Pro safety Harrison Smith partway through the 2018 campaign and hasn't looked back since.

He opened 2019 by picking off two passes and recovering a fumble against Atlanta, becoming the 15th Vikings player to record three takeaways in one game.

Harris finished the season tied for the league lead with six interceptions. He also recorded 60 tackles (coaches' tally), a tackle for loss and 11 passes defensed.

He's had quite the journey since joining the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

Harris has made sure to appreciate every part of the process. anthony-harris-vertical Minnesota Vikings "Each year just taking it one step at a time, whether it's OTAs or training camp and then into the season. It's been a lot of fun," Harris said. "[I've been] living in the moment, enjoying the time in the locker room with the guys, enjoying the moments on the field and continuing to take all the experiences and continuing to strive.

"I'm taking motivation from individuals back home watching and people all over the world and trying to be an inspiration while performing the game that I love to play," he added.

Harris is on the Vikings Social Justice Committee. He has participated in multiple discussions, including a summer session with Anthony Barr for Positive Coaching Alliance.

After Minnesota practiced at U.S. Bank Stadium last month, Harris described the team's ongoing efforts.

"We're trying to bridge the gap, getting to know each other better, getting to know the community better, and we need each person at home to try to impact one life," Harris said. "If we can do that, change perspectives, get to know each other better, learn to treat each other as human and see each other as individual people, and our uniqueness, then we can one day accept each other, and we'll be halfway closer to our goal. So one step at a time, we're taking it together, and we'll just ask you to join the fight."

Anthony Harris 2019 Season Highlights We caught up with Harris for this week's Water Break presented by Crown Royal to chat about his chemistry with Smith, assuming more of a leadership role and his expectations for the 2020 defense.

Q: How have your viewed your role this year in helping lead the younger DBs?

A: "I've always viewed myself in that leadership role, speaking up and giving direction where I think it's really needed. I'm not really one to speak just because people will listen. But I think this year [with] the pandemic, a young team and then the social justice issues, it's been becoming more of a necessity for me to speak up as an individual who's been in the league a while now. … Coming out undrafted and being unable to physically do anything for the first couple of months [due to injury], I was there and I was in the meetings, but I couldn't actually physically do any of the drills or participate in any of the plays. So this year I was just trying to be there to support them mentally [through the virtual spring programming] – because that's going to be biggest adjustment."

Q: For those who haven't played for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer previously, what's required to succeed in his defense?

A: "I would say you have to be smart, a quick thinker with being able to process information. You have to be able to tackle in space, and you also have to be able to cover. … You definitely have to be smart. That's one of the first things, for sure."

Q: How far has the communication between you and Harrison come over the past five seasons?

A:"There was a point where I'd be communicating to him a lot just to make sure we were on the same page, and I think for him it was kind of like, 'I know this, I've got it,' and I'm like, 'Cool, we're actually on the same page.' So then it became a little less communication as far as during the play. Now we kind of build that in during the week, just looking at stuff and really being able to communicate and get to an understanding where we're seeing it the same way and we can cover each other."

Q: You guys are friends off the field, too. Do you think your cats, Cookie and Ella, and Harrison's dog, Deuce, would get along?

A: "(Laughing) I don't know how that would go, because one of my cats acts like a dog, so I don't know if there might be an ego/pride thing that will get in the way. I'm not sure how that would work out…"

Q: With so many unknowns at the start of this season, what are your expectations for the 2020 defense?

A: "I think the [key] that I see from a defensive standpoint is not letting up and not really taking a step back. We have to take whatever challenges we've faced … in stride and just step up and be ready to go. [The mindset is] getting better one day at a time, but I think the expectations always remain high." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Presser Points: Vikings Build on Familiarity without Fresh Packers Tape

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – There's zero preseason film for opponents to study of one another heading into Week 1, but there's plenty of familiarity between the Vikings and Packers.

The division rivals are set to open the 2020 regular season at U.S. Bank Stadium at noon (CT) Sunday.

In a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of preseason games, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was asked Wednesday if it's advantageous to play a team he preps for at least twice every season.

"I do think it helps a little bit. You get to know those guys … I just wish they weren't quite as good as they are. They're a really good football team," Zimmer told Twin Cities media members. "They know us pretty well, and we know them pretty well. Obviously, there will be new wrinkles on both teams. There will be new players that we haven't been able to see on tape, other than college tape, so that part will be a little bit new as well. But, yeah, it's better than playing someone you don't really know very well, I guess."

Zimmer said they "try to practice everything" leading up to the regular season kickoff in hopes of anticipating what Green Bay will throw at them.

He noted that, even in a typical year that includes a preseason, teams often don't expend their fresh ideas during exhibition games.

"But the difference is not seeing some of the players that they've added," Zimmer reiterated. "So some of the personnel things will be different. It's going to be a game of adjustments like it always is, but probably a little bit more so this week."

Next Gen Stats: Can Packers Keep Cook Contained on Sunday? Here are four other topics Zimmer addressed during his media availability.

1. Prepping for a Packers defense

Zimmer was asked how much the Packers defense has changed under Mike Pettine, who assumed the role of defensive coordinator in Green Bay in 2018.

His response? Quite a bit.

"They've got an extremely stout front. Kenny Clark is a terrific player who shades on the nose quite a bit," Zimmer said. "They've got the two Smiths (Za'Darius and Preston) who can really rush the quarterback. They've changed schemes a lot, but they've added a lot of good players in the secondary. The two safeties (Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos) are really good players, the corners. Jaire Alexander is a tough, competitive kid. I think that's added to everything they've done.

"Both their offense and defense were in the top 10 in the league in points scored and points against," Zimmer added. "They're a good team."

He feels confident in the ability Minnesota's offense has to combat the dynamic defense, though.

"I think, offensively, we're in a good spot," Zimmer said. "Obviously, we'll find out come Sunday. But I feel good about the guys we have, feel good about Kirk [Cousins] taking a leadership role and the things he's doing that way in preparing for this football game. I think we've got some weapons, and hopefully we can get them in some space."

Through the Years: Vikings vs. Packers Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Packers.

2. Always have to be ready for Rodgers

Earlier this week, Vikings safety Harrison Smith said there's one piece of information he gives to young defensive backs when preparing to face Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers:

"The first thing I would mention is that the play might be longer than you're used to," Smith said. "Every play seems to last a little longer when you play Aaron Rodgers and the Packers."

When Zimmer was asked about that, he said, "I guess we hope we have that problem," because if the play lasts longer it means that Minnesota's defenders aren't leaving targets wide open for Rodgers.

"But yeah, that's part of facing a quarterback that moves in and out of the pocket," Zimmer said. "He makes his hay in the red zone by moving out of the pocket and finding guys and buying time for his receivers, and the receivers do an unbelievable job of taking off and either heading back and changing direction, and then he's able to find them with the great vision that he has.

"I was watching some tape on him this morning, and some of the plays he makes take your breath away," Zimmer added. "It's kind of like watching Barry Sanders run the football."

Vikings-Packers Preview and Predictions | NFL Network 3. First-round pick in first game

Vikings fans will get their first glimpse of first-round pick Justin Jefferson on Sunday.

Zimmer pointed out that the former LSU standout is used to the big stage and bright lights after playing in a number of important games – including the CFP National Championship – during his collegiate career.

"Obviously, this is different. I'm sure he'll be nervous; it's his first professional game, and he'll want to do good," Zimmer said. "I'll just tell him to go out and play the way he knows how. 'Don't think about all the outside things that you're worried about. Focus on your assignment on that particular play and then go out and do what you do best.' "

4. Irv Smith making the jump

Tight end Irv Smith, Jr., showed progression throughout his rookie season, playing a larger role in the offense and becoming more comfortable in the system.

Although he didn't get a chance to play in any preseason games, Smith demonstrated during training camp practices that he's seemingly taken another big step forward.

"I feel like Irv has grown quite a bit, as far as just watching him out there at practice and running routes, and his blocking and different things that we're trying to do with him," Zimmer said. "Each guy is different. Some guys become better blockers their second year. Some guys understand route recognition and how to set up defenders better than other guys. So it a little bit depends on that, but he's done a great job this camp." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Lunchbreak: Cook, Hunter & Thielen Among Predicted 2020 Stat Leaders by ESPN

By Lindsey Young

As the great Kevin McCallister said in Home Alone, "This is it. Don't get scared now."

Ready or not, the 2020 NFL season is upon us.

It seems Week 1 came flying out of nowhere, considering the cancelation of all four preseason games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But in just four days, the Vikings will host the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium for their season opener. Kickoff is set for noon (CT).

Heading into this unprecedented season, which players will come out as the year's stat leaders?

ESPN recently asked four of its analysts to weigh in on a number of statistical categories, and three Vikings – Dalvin Cook, Danielle Hunter and Adam Thielen – were among the names highlighted as projected standouts this season.

ESPN's Matt Bowen expects Cook to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns this season. Bowen wrote:

Cook led the NFL with 29 goal-to-go carries and posted 13 rushing scores last season. One of the league's best tight red zone runners, he combines upper-level acceleration and vision to find daylight for a run-heavy offense in Minnesota.

Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano picked Cleveland's Nick Chubb, and Mina Kimes tabbed Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott.

Saints receiver Michael Thomas unanimously was predicted to have the most catches, but Fowler predicted that Thielen will lead the league in receiving yards.

He was dominant in 2018 when healthy, and his target share should reach career-high levels with Stefon Diggs in Buffalo. Expect Thielen to be among league leaders in third-down conversions.

Other players who received votes for most yards were Thomas (Kimes), Julio Jones (Bowen) and Odell Beckham, Jr. (Graziano).

On the defensive side of the ball, Bowen projected Hunter to be the NFL's sacks leader for 2020.

Hunter has racked up 29 sacks over the past two seasons. He's long at the point of attack, with the ability to win with speed, power or counters. The 25-year-old Hunter has some explosive traits off the ball.

Graziano and Kimes selected Cleveland's Myles Garrett for the category, and Fowler highlighted Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack.

To see ESPN's stat-leader projections in their entirety, click here.

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of September 6, 2020.

PFF predicts Holton Hill as Minnesota's 'breakout player' in 2020

It's no secret that the Vikings cornerbacks group experienced significant turnover during the offseason, and fans have been eager to see which young players step into vacated starting roles in Minnesota's backfield.

According to the Vikings depth chart released Monday, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill were listed as the starting outside corners.

Hill recently was highlighted by Anthony Treash of analytics site Pro Football Focus, who predicted the 23-year-old to be Minnesota's "breakout player" in 2020. Treash highlighted one player from each of the NFL's 32 teams. He wrote the following of Hill, who has four career starts:

Hill enters the 2020 season as a likely starter for the Vikings after Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Mackensie Alexander departed this offseason. … In his two years on the field, Hill has produced a 73.0 coverage grade on just over 300 coverage snaps. He's allowed under a yard per cover snap in that span, which is impressive for a former UDFA.

Some of his best work has come in tight coverage, where he brings physicality and allowed just two of 16 targets to be caught while forcing eight incompletions. Minnesota needs multiple of the young corners on its roster to step up in 2020, and Hill looks like he can fulfill that.

Who did Treash highlight for the Vikings division rivals?

For Chicago, he tabbed receiver Javon Wims; for Detroit, defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand; and for Green Bay, cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Vikings will face Alexander and the Packers on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

This breakout is a little bit different than others on this list. Alexander is already among the league's top outside cornerbacks, but he's not in the conversation as the best … yet. This year, he is a prime candidate to change that and join the NFL's elite in that conversation.

[…]

He's shown flashes of that same play in his two years at the NFL but just hasn't done it on a consistent basis. Take the first half of 2019, for example, when he was the second-highest-graded cornerback through the first four weeks but then gave up 201 yards to Amari Cooper and Dallas in Week 5. Alexander can go toe-to-toe with some of the NFL's best route-runners — he's proven that several times when going up against the former Minnesota duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs — he just can't have those one or two games where he gets toasted from start to finish. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/10/20

Vikings Announce 2020 Team Captains

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – Vikings team captains for the 2020 season will include first-timers Dalvin Cook and Harrison Smith, the team announced Wednesday.

The teammates will join returning captains Anthony Barr (2018-20), Kirk Cousins (2018-20), Riley Reiff (2017-20) and Kyle Rudolph (2017-20).

While the roles became official this week, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer told "Voice of the Vikings" Paul Allen in late July that he planned to designate Cook with the honor.

"I love Dalvin," Zimmer told Allen on KFAN's 9 to Noon. "I'm going to make him a captain because of the things he represents here and the way that he's gone about his business and works."

Zimmer shortly thereafter spoke to Twin Cities media members and reiterated praise for Cook's character.

"Dalvin is a great person," he said. "He's a really good leader in the offensive room, he's good with all his teammates, he loves to play the game of football."

Cook was asked during his own media availability about what it would mean to be a team captain.

"I love being in Minnesota, being around these guys, and I just hope my hard work and everything I do shows those guys that 'I love this game, and I love being around y'all,' " Cook said. "I'd give it all for those guys.

"It just takes the hard work, and if you put the work in, it'll pay off for you," Cook added.

The running back has been a positive presence in Minnesota's locker room since being drafted 41st overall in 2017. Whether battling to come back from an ACL tear suffered during his rookie campaign or last season while rushing for career bests of 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to his first career Pro Bowl, Cook always seems to have a smile on his face.

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of September 6, 2020.

Vikings running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu said Cook "has an energy about him" that is contagious to his teammates.

"He captures up young men. He lives it," Polamalu said. "He works his tail off, he's a smart football player, he wants [his teammates] to have joy and have fun because he loves the game and he loves being a teammate.

"It's well-earned," Polamalu continued. "Since he's walked through the doors here, all he's done is work hard and produce. The definition of a leader is to make everybody around him better, and I believe he has."

Cousins has served as a team captain for the Vikings since signing with Minnesota as a free agent in 2018.

The quarterback said that Cook has earned the recognition not only for his play on the field but also the standard he sets off of it.

"He's just a player that doesn't get too high when things are going well and doesn't start to pat himself on the back and let his guard down. He just keeps his head down and keeps working," Cousins said earlier this summer. "That's certainly something in our locker room that we try to do, from the first guy to the last guy, and Dalvin helps set that example."

Added Cousins: "When you're a great player and you carry yourself the right away, someone like Dalvin ought to be a captain."

The same things can be said of Smith, who has quietly and authentically gone about his business since being drafted by the Vikings 29th overall in 2012.

2020 Schedule in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 schedule in photos including all opponents for the regular season.

Although Smith isn't the most vocal guy on the team, the five-time Pro Bowler and 2017 All-Pro lets his actions do the talking.

Zimmer called Smith a "terrific player and great teammate" at the NFL Scouting Combine in February and later in the offseason emphasized, "Harrison leads by the way he works and the way he does things."

Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones emphasized the benefit of Smith's mentorship for an especially young Minnesota secondary.

"It's unspeakable. You can't really gauge that," Jones said of Smith and Anthony Harris. "Harrison, the years of service, taking these young guys under his belt. Sharing with them certain things that he's picked up along his way.

"Just being that mentor to the young guys has really taken a totally new aspect and approach to how they are bringing these guys along and helping us get better in that way," Jones added.