Team news: Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold has played well enough to leave the Vikings more open-minded about their 2025 plans than many realize, according to sources familiar with the Vikings' thinking. They have not ruled out offering him a contract for next season, despite widespread assumptions they will let him sign elsewhere in free agency and hand the job to J.J. McCarthy, who has spent his rookie season recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Related players: Daniel Jones

The story added the Vikings have also prepared to move on from Darnold, especially if he receives a more lucrative offer from another QB-needy team. Darnold agreed to wear a modified camera on his helmet during practices and walk-throughs to help McCarthy during his recovery process, the story said. McCarthy uses the video to simulate practice reps via virtual reality. The Vikings also signed Jones, who was released by the Giants, to their practice squad last month, a move widely viewed as an early look at a potential candidate to replace Darnold next season as the veteran alongside McCarthy.

The Vikings have started the clock on getting a couple of special teamers back in the lineup.

The team announced on Tuesday that kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola have been designated for return from injured reserve.

Related players: Parker Romo

Romo has gone 11-of-12 on field goals and 7-of-8 on extra points with Reichard out of the lineup. It's not yet clear which kicker will be in action this week. The Vikings are in the early Sunday window at home against the Falcons.

Former Giants QB Daniel Jones plans to sign with the Vikings practice squad, after having cleared waivers, per me, @TomPelissero and @CameronWolfe.

A new beginning and opportunity for Jones with a chance to the backup.

Related Players: Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Brett Rypien

This seems like a great signing for both parties; Jones breathes new life into his NFL career and the Vikings have a legit backup in case anything happens to Darnold. We'll see if KOC can work his magic on Jones and revive a career that was heading in a terrible direction.

A high-ranking league official told me they have the impression QB Daniel Jones has zeroed on a "leading" choice. While another high-ranking league source told me their understanding is Jones "is telling teams tomorrow."

Jones seems headed for a backup job and the Ravens, Vikings and Bucs seem like teams that could be in the market. There is a report that says Jones has eliminated the Raiders from contention. As the report said, a decision could come Wednesday from Jones.

Quarterback Daniel Jones cleared waivers as expected Monday, making him a free agent.

Jones now is free to sign with any team.

The story said a team claiming him off waivers would have had to pay Jones $11.83 million for the rest of the year and assume $23 million in injury guarantees. The Giants now are responsible for the $11.83 million. The story also added, 10 teams reportedly already have reached out to Jones. The story suggested Jones' best move would be to sign to a contender’s practice squad because it would allow Jones to sign to the active roster of a different team if a starter gets injured. The Ravens, Vikings and Raiders have been rumored to be interested in Jones.

Giants are releasing Daniel Jones.

Related Players: Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock

It looks like it's all up to DeVito and Lock to carry the team toward a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Neither one is particularly exciting in a bad Giants offense, but DeVito is a fine streamer for desperate managers in Week 12.

T.J. Hockenson said this week that "I would expect things to go up" in terms of snaps moving forward. Certainly a possibility Sunday if Josh Oliver (ankle) can't play.

Seifert also noted that Hockenson's snap rate is down at 45.5% after hitting 79.5% last season. The tight end has a decent matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, making him a low-end TE1 option.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that the team would use its bye week to evaluate all options at quarterback and they’ve reportedly made their decision.

According to multiple reports, the Giants will bench Daniel Jones for their Week 12 game against the Buccaneers. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Tommy DeVito is expected to take over as the team’s starter.

Related players: Drew Lock

This news shouldn't come as a surprise as we detailed last week perhaps the biggest reason the Giants would bench Jones after their bye week - his $23 million injury guarantee. The story speculates no one is likely to trade for Jones after the season, and so it's expected he'll be released by the team at some point. The decision to start DeVito does make some sense as he was a popular player during his 15 minutes of fame last season, and he does at least bring some rushing upside in terms of fantasy. His only value for now comes in deeper two-QB or superflex leagues.

Vikings QB Sam Darnold (right hand), RB Aaron Jones (ribs) and LT Cam Robinson (foot) are all off the injury report and good to go vs. the Titans.

Related Players: Cam Akers, Ty Chandler

With Jones fully off the injury report, he can be considered an RB2 in Week 11, while Darnold should be benched in place of a QB streamer in almost all formats.

NFL insider Adam Schefter recently said his 'guess' is Daniel Jones has played his last down for the Giants.

Related players: Drew Lock

The Giants have a bye this week, so it seems like as good a time as any to make a change. Schefter said Brian Daboll's tone changed this week with his comment about evaluating everything after being more firm in the past about Jones being the starter whenever he was asked. Jones has a $23 million injury guaranteed as well, according to Schefter. Schefter compared the Giants situation with Jones to when Russell Wilson, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo all got benched during the season. Schefter added he would expect Lock to get the start when the Giants are back in Week 12.