Latest news with #MinnesotaVikings
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jefferson, Watt among 'most unlosable' NFL players
The Dan Patrick Show crew discuss which teams can't afford to lose certain players to an injury this year, highlighting Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings S Josh Metellus says he's 'easily' the most versatile defender in the NFL
After signing a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Josh Metellus made it known that he believes he is the most versatile defender in the NFL. The sixth-year safety appeared on 'NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov' on Tuesday, and was asked about his versatility as a defender. 'When you play different spots, you don't really get comfortable at a spot, but two years at multiple spots, I finally got comfortable at every single spot,' Metellus said. 'Whatever spot I'm at this year, I think I'll be able to excel a lot better than the past two years.' Ever since the Vikings brought defensive coordinator Brian Flores into the building back in 2023, Metellus' role has consistently grown. Flores' first year in Minnesota saw Metellus jump from 258 defensive snaps (22.22 percent) in 2022, to 1,065 (94.16 percent) in 2023. With his role expanding and becoming more familiar with the defense, Metellus was voted to be a captain by his teammates for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The former sixth-round pick uses his size and athleticism to help Minnesota out in many different facets throughout each game. Listed as a safety, the 5-foot-11, 207-pound defender lines up all over the field, with the ability to cover wide receivers, running backs and tight ends while holding his own in the trenches against the run and in pass rushing situations. Along with his success on the defensive side of the ball, Metellus still has a large impact on special teams, playing above 44 percent of the Vikings' snaps in that facet ever since his rookie season in 2020. Flores is one of the brightest and most creative defensive minds in the NFL, and with Metellus willing and able to affect the game in many different ways, the duo has consistently kept offenses guessing over the past two years.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Jefferson, Watt among 'most unlosable' NFL players
The Dan Patrick Show crew discuss which teams can't afford to lose certain players to an injury this year, highlighting Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Garrett Hartley's iconic 40-yard FG is the Saints Play of the Day
'I don't want you thinking about anything but hitting that fleur-de-[expletive]-lis' We're down to 40 days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season, and Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal against the Minnesota Vikings is our Saints Play of the Day. Now, a 40-yard field goal in itself isn't too exciting. But this kick in particular had the highest stakes of any play in team history. Hartley sent the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV by nailing his field goal in overtime of the NFC championship game. He followed Sean Payton's advice to aim for the team's black and gold fleur-de-lis waving on a banner between the uprights. It was one of the hardest-fought games in recent memory. The score was tied up four times and the Saints defensed hammered the Vikings offense, taking advantage of two Brett Favre interceptions and a three lost fumbles from Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, and Bernard Berrian. Minnesota's ball security proved to be their downfall when Favre threw his second interception in the final seconds of regulation; Tracy Porter picked it off, setting the stage for his iconic pick-six off of Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. As for Hartley? His season to this point was wild. He'd been suspended for the first four games and was inactive during the next seven contests before getting called in to replace John Carney. He went 9-of-11 on field goals and 10-of-11 on extra points in the team's last five regular season games, but he kicked things into gear in the playoffs. Hartley was perfect on each of his field goals (including three of them in the Super Bowl from distances of 46, 44, and 47 yards) and all 12 of his extra point tries. It's not enough to say the Saints wouldn't have won Super Bowl XLIV without him. Without Hartley, they wouldn't have even gotten there.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings training camp notebook, day 6: Defense has a strong showing
The Minnesota Vikings were in pads for the first time on Monday. That means we're one step closer to football, with players in the trenches able to get physical and give us a better glimpse of what they're capable of moving forward. One promising young player had a great practice in pads. A free agent addition made his first appearance in team drills. And we saw another highlight touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy. Let's go over some of the highlights of Day 6 of Vikings practice. But overall, the Vikings' defense bounced back after the offense had the upper hand on Saturday. That is bound to happen in the third year under Brian Flores with an even more formidable defensive front than last year. J.J. McCarthy continues to impress McCarthy had another highlight touchdown pass on Monday. After feeling some pressure in the pocket, McCarthy fired down the left sideline towards wide receiver Lucky Jackson. It appeared that safety Theo Jackson could intercept the pass, but the ball arrived a split second before he could get a hand on it. The pass once again displayed McCarthy's arm strength and willingness to be aggressive. A worse pass (or faster safety) could have led to an interception. Will Fries makes his debut in team drills One of the Vikings' biggest free agent additions of the offseason made his first appearance in team drills. Right guard Will Fries, who suffered a broken tibia in 2024, was cleared to practice when camp began last Thursday, but he was limited to individual work. On Monday, he was inserted into the starting lineup in 11-on-11 drills. Dallas Turner makes an impact Dallas Turner was limited to 310 defensive snaps in 2024. But he showed why the Vikings traded up to select him in the NFL draft. Several Vikings media members talked about Turner's impact on Monday, with one highlight making the rounds on X/Twitter when he got to backup quarterback Sam Howell before he could complete a pass downfield. Turner continues to draw praise as he looks to impact the defense more consistently in 2025. Metellus returns, Jefferson out Josh Metellus returned to practice after missing Friday and Saturday practices with an ankle injury. It was the safety's first practice back since signing his three-year, $36 million deal on Saturday. Justin Jefferson, who suffered a mild hamstring strain last week, was still out. Overall, it seemed as though the defense got the better end of the deal on Monday. The Vikings' social media team even singled out a pass breakup by cornerback Dwight McGlothern that was intercepted by safety Jay Ward. We'll see if the Vikings' offense can bounce back on Tuesday, but they will likely have many more tough practices if the defense is as strong as the coaching staff and front office envision it to be. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings training camp notebook, day 6: Defense has a strong showing
