Behind Smith and Harris, the depth in Minnesota s safeties room drastically dropped off.
By season s end, rookie Josh Metellus was the Vikings only healthy safety (on the active roster) besides the pair of starters. The sixth-round draft pick did play 261 special teams snaps but was never in for a defensive play.
The only other safety to record a stat for Minnesota s defense in 2020 was veteran George Iloka, whom the Vikings re-signed on Sept. 17. Iloka was elevated from practice squad for games against the Titans and Texans in Weeks 3 and 4. On Oct. 10 he was promoted to the active roster, but he landed on Injured Reserve less than two weeks later.
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EAGAN, Minn. Kirk Cousins prolific performance against the Lions Sunday has garnered NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Cousins completed 28 of 40 passes (70 percent) for a season-high 405 yards and three touchdowns to total a passer rating of 127.6. He also rushed for a touchdown in leading Minnesota to a 37-35 win over Detroit in the 2020 season finale for both teams.
The showing continued a strong run of success against the Lions since Cousins joined the Vikings in 2018. He improved to 6-0 as a starter against Detroit in that time and recorded his ninth game of the season with a passer rating of 100 or higher, which also includes the Vikings 34-20 over the Lions in Week 9.
3. Game of momentum
Adam Thielen s 14 receiving touchdowns this season has increased his career total to 39. His climb to join elite company in franchise record books all began with a 44-yard touchdown catch against Chicago on Dec. 28, 2014.
It was quite the end to his first season on the roster and a sign of things eventually to come, even if he didn t fully begin to break through with increased opportunities in 2016.
Nonetheless, he knows the importance that finishing a season strong can have toward building momentum for the following season.
Wins in regular-season finales in 2014 and 2016 preceded the Vikings winning the NFC North in 2015 and 2017. Minnesota will try to replicate its odd-season success and return to the playoffs next season.
Minnesota Vikings
EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added left tackle Riley Reiff to the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Wednesday.
Reiff has started all 15 games thus far this season, his ninth in the NFL. According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, he s allowed one sack and one hit of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The Reserve/COVID-19 list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, his club is required to immediately place the player on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed-upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player s medical status other than roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether a player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: December 24th, 2020
Christmas Eve Open Thread
Good Morning, It’s Christmas Eve!
I’m back on service for the next seven days; I had last Christmas off but did offer to change days with my counterpart as she has young children, they had Christmas a day early (like we used to do when I was active duty) and their family didn’t miss a beat. We’re going to have Christmas at my house next Friday since that coincides with everyone’s schedule. I did receive the first of two Moderna Covid-19 vaccines yesterday, so far as of this writing I haven’t had any side effects @but I’m hoping the nanobots kick in and I get taller and have a full head of hair by Saturday morning@ Meanwhile we’ll carry on with our news and links full of crockpot recipes, nap strategies and beer recommendations; drop by for some fan wisdom, snark and it’s Christmas Eve, in the wise words of the American bard, Gone Fishin, keep your extended family close but have