The Minnesota Vikings are going into the 2024 season with a very different looking team than they had at the end of last year’s campaign. Of course, Kirk Cousins choosing to sign with the Atlanta Falcons made headlines across the league.
Signing Sam Darnold and drafting J.J. McCarthy set up the next era for Vikings football. However, there is another report coming out of Minneapolis that has fans concerned once again.
The Minnesota Vikings Announce Another Season Ending Report
As Aaron Wilson reports, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Najee Thompson has been placed on injured reserve (IR), effectively ending his season. Thompson cleared waivers with an injury designation on August 22.
Thompson was sidelined for most of training camp due to a knee injury. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reports Thompson was cleared to practice this week, but his injury flared up and he was placed on injured reserve.
Thompson’s role as a gunner on special teams caught the Vikings’ eye last season. Following his July 22 placement on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), he changed positions to safety but took no reps during training camp.
According to Journalist Trevor Squire:
This has been an unprecedented year in Vikings history for their cornerback room. In a month, the team added six different cornerbacks to their roster.
Losing promising fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson in a tragic car accident was just the start of their misfortune. Thompson was placed on the PUP before the start of training camp, and Mekhi Blackmon suffered a season-ending knee injury at the team’s first practice. Starter Shaq Griffin missed the majority of training camp with a hamstring injury he suffered on the second day of camp.
The Vikings signed Duke Shelley, Jacobi Francis and safety Bobby McCain, who has taken snaps at cornerback before August. Second-year safety Jay Ward has also filled in for cornerback reps.
A 2022 second-round pick, Andrew Booth Jr. did not show enough this summer. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for 2021 third-round cornerback Nahshon Wright.
Barrett is back from injury, and the arrival of Stephon Gilmore has given the Vikings semblance of a competent cornerback room. Gilmore and Barrett will start on the outside, flanking Byron Murphy Jr., who will get to start in the slot, his preferred spot, after playing outside corner primarily in 2023. Undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern looks like he could make the 53-man roster and contribute this year.
