Some positive and surprising news
Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings placed two rookies on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List ahead of the start of Training Camp. While we speculated that there could be more to come after the veterans arrived to camp today, it turns out we didn’t need to worry about it after all.
At a press conference just a short time ago, head coach Kevin O’Connell affirmed that the Vikings would not be making any more additions to the PUP List or the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List before practices officially get underway.
This is some pleasantly surprising news, as this means that some key contributors will be able to practice with the team from the start of camp, if that’s what the Vikings are planning. Offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw and Will Fries, along with wide receiver Rondale Moore, all suffered season-ending injuries last year but none of them will be going on the PUP list.
Moore tore an ACL before the start of the season with the Atlanta Falcons last year and missed all of 2024, while Fries suffered a leg injury in Week 5 with the Indianapolis Colts and Darrisaw tore his ACL in the Vikings’ first loss to the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Not only does this mean that all of those players will be able to fully participate in practice rather than being relegated to rehab work, it also opens the door for them to be available for Week 1 in Chicago. Had any of those players gone on PUP today and been there after the 53-man roster cutdown, they would be forced to miss the first four weeks of the regular season.
This means that the Vikings’ new-look offensive line, which will presumably consist of Darrisaw, rookie Donovan Jackson, free agent Ryan Kelly, Fries, and Brian O’Neill, could be ready to go when the Vikings trot out onto Soldier Field for Monday Night Football in about six week. I think any Vikings fan would have to be happy with that possibility.
So, training camp hasn’t even officially started in Eagan yet, but we’ve already gotten some pretty positive news about the purple. Here’s hoping that it continues.