![Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) breaks the grasps of Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) for a short pass to Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) for a touchdown in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO., on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. ] Elizabeth Flores • liz.flores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/AQ73W3AKZQE2C7KLOWGASRQAKM.jpg?&w=1080)
It’s too early to be too concerned about the Vikings, who I thought would be 2-0 at this point in the season but are in reality fortunate to be 1-1.
There is still plenty of time for the Vikings to settle in, to play better, to change a vibe that has been riddled with adversity so far.
But ... we also need to acknowledge that it feels a little bit too much like 2023 so far in 2025.
Maybe it was the flurry of moves this week, all of them reasonable in their own right, that pushed me over the edge.
I talked about it on Wednesday’s Daily Delivery podcast, but consider this as we begin today’s 10 things to know:
- The Vikings’ quarterback depth chart less than a month ago, going into their final preseason game against the Titans, was: J.J. McCarthy, then Sam Howell, followed by what seemed like a tie between Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer. The QB depth chart as of Wednesday is Carson Wentz, Brosmer and Desmond Ridder, with McCarthy hobbled by a sprained ankle, Howell traded and Rypien cut.
- Four different QBs started games in 2023, when the Vikings went 7-10: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs and Jaren Hall. Wentz will be the Vikings’ second starting QB so far this year. Let’s hope for the Vikings’ sake that there aren’t any more because QB consistency was a key driver of success in 2022 and 2024 (when Cousins and Sam Darnold, respectively, started every game for Minnesota). McCarthy’s injury is short-term while Cousins was knocked out for the season in 2023, a key difference in the two years.
- The Vikings in 2023 started 1-4 the year after going 13-4 and just generally seemed off. This year’s Vikings have seemed similarly off beyond just questions at quarterback, and injuries at a lot of key positions are playing a role.
- Wentz might have a lot to say about where the season goes from here, with the Vikings having three winnable games on their schedule before a bye week and a more daunting stretch. One area where he should be an immediate upgrade over McCarthy: Getting rid of the ball. In his last full season as a starter in 2021, Pro Football Focus says Wentz took sacks just 15.2% of the times he was pressured. McCarthy is at 40.9%, a key driver of this graphic that shows how much he has contributed to sacks in two games.
- The Lynx have a chance Wednesday night to do what Atlanta and Las Vegas could not do on Tuesday: Close out their best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series via a sweep with a Game 2 road win. Las Vegas had its 17-game win streak halted in a three-point loss at Seattle, while Atlanta was routed by Indiana. Both of those favored teams now face a must-win Game 3 at home to advance. The Lynx would love to take care of business at Golden State and avoid any drama.
- Minnesota United is facing a strange problem: Trying to get its normally rabid fan base interested in an important match.
- The Twins get some points for making things interesting Tuesday, rallying from a 10-1 deficit but ultimately falling 10-9 to the Yankees. Byron Buxton stole two bases and now has 24; can he get six more in the final 11 games of the season and reach the 30-30 plateau?
- This Chris Hine interview with new Wolves/Lynx CEO Matt Caldwell was interesting, particularly as he laid out the timeline for opening a new arena. Long story short: Plan on seeing the Wolves and Lynx at Target Center for at least the next five years.
- Randy Johnson was my guest on Wednesday’s podcast as we broke down what went wrong for the Gophers football team in a loss at California and what they need to work on during their bye week before the Rutgers game.
- Star Tribune Wild writer Sarah McLellan is expected to join me on Thursday’s podcast ahead of the start of Wild training camp. The big question: When (or if) Kirill Kaprizov will sign an extension.
