Vikings' Danielle Hunter wins top NFC defensive honor, says he wasn't concerned about trade talk

The Vikings received calls about trading edge rusher Danielle Hunter this week, according to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but the NFL's sack leader wasn't concerned about being traded because he wasn't asking to be.

"I've had people talk to me about that," Hunter said Thursday, "but it was never really in the back of my head. I was always going to be here."

Hunter, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday after finishing five October games with five sacks, said he always wanted to finish his eighth Vikings season before he's scheduled to be a free agent in March. He added that he's used to being linked to trade rumors, as the Vikings have had trade discussions about him since the first contract impasse with Adofo-Mensah's front office in spring 2022.

"I just wanted to be here," Hunter said. "There's always some stuff going on with that, and you don't ask me, you ask the GM. My job is to play football, and that's why I'm here. I've always loved doing what I'm doing, so I don't pay attention to outside noise."

Hunter's standout season so far, with a league-leading 10 sacks, is setting him up for a nice payday from someone in free agency, if not the Vikings. Adofo-Mensah was brief when asked about trade calls he got regarding Hunter.

"He's a talented pass rusher," Adofo-Mensah said Wednesday. "He's leading the league in sacks, there's gonna be phone calls."

Receiver Jordan Addison was named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month for October, when his five touchdown catches tied for most in the NFL. Addison is the Vikings' first offensive rookie to win the honor since Cordarrelle Patterson in December 2013.

Kicker Greg Joseph's kickoff out of bounds at Lambeau Field, giving the Packers starting field position at the 40-yard line, was on holder Theo Jackson, according to special teams coordinator Matt Daniels. Jackson, by NFL rule, had to hold because the ball twice fell off the tee. Daniels said Jackson took his hand off before Joseph kicked, causing the ball to fall forward in the process.

But Joseph's 42-yard miss in the first quarter "was very unlike Greg," Daniels said.

"He just took a bad line there trying to play the wind a little bit," Daniels said. "Those are kicks we got to have, and he knows. He holds himself to a high standard."

Jalen Nailor's return would help Daniels' situation at gunner, where the punt coverage team has cycled between five different players in eight games. Last week, safety Lewis Cine returned to the lineup with safety Jay Ward. Nailor started the season at gunner with rookie NaJee Thompson, who was benched after five games in the role.

"The gunner position is one that's really, really difficult," Daniels said. "Things are happening really fast running 21 miles per hour."

Vikings defensive lineman Dean Lowry (groin) remained sidelined. Linebacker Brian Asamoah II (ankle), cornerback Akayleb Evans (neck), receiver K.J. Osborn (chest) and receiver Brandon Powell (shoulder) were limited in Thursday's practice.

Falcons receiver Drake London also remained sidelined due to a groin injury.