Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 5

Former Bears and Packers TE Robert Tonyan signed with the Vikings.

Related Players: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt

Good move by Minnesota to solidify their pass-catching tight ends while Hockenson works his way back to the field. Tonyan had a down year behind Cole Kmet last season but should be able to rotate in toward the beginning of the year with Oliver and Mundt.

Aaron Jones is expected to sign with the Vikings on a one-year deal for $7 million.

Related Players: Ty Chandler,

This is a nice snag for Minnesota, as Jones can operate in a one-two punch with Chandler. The offense as a whole is in a questionable spot without a quarterback, though. Jones and Chandler should be considered low-upside options in 2024.

The Packers are releasing star RB Aaron Jones. A three-time 1,000-yard rusher, Jones missed time with injuries last season and was due $12 million in 2024. Instead, he hits the market at age 29.

Related Players: Josh Jacobs

This is huge news for Jacobs, as he will likely only be competing with Patrick Taylor for touches as it stands, unless the team is contemplating keeping an under-performing A.J. Dillon. Jones will definitely land somewhere, so we'll be keeping an eye out.

The Packers are expected to sign Josh Jacobs.

Related Players: Aaron Jones, Zamir White

Jones had restructured his deal with Green Bay, so this will be a two-headed attack with Jones/Jacobs. Both options figure to canibalize each other, but it's a clear talent upgrade for the Packers backfield.

Zamir White is the RB1 in Las Vegas as it stands, with the team expected to target the position in the NFL Draft.

Bears practice report:

DNP: Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet
Limited: Lucas Patrick
Full: Teven Jenkins, Noah Sewell, Equanimeous St. Brown

Related Players: D.J. Moore, Byron Pringle, Dante Pettis, Robert Tonyan

Justin Fields' legs yet again saved a mediocre passing game last week, and it looks like he may have to do without some of his best weapons yet again. D.J. Moore should be peppered with targets upon his return, which will make him a safe WR2 for Championship Week.

The Vikings are making another QB change: Jaren Hall will start Sunday night against the Packers.

With playoff hopes on the line in a primetime rivalry game, Minnesota is giving the ball to the rookie from BYU.

Related Players: Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs

With Mullens being very turnover prone —to say the least— through his two starts, the team will see if the rookie can keep things under control. This is actually a great spot for fantasy, with Hall proving in the preseason that he isn't afraid to take off with the ball, including his five scrambles in his last appearance. He can be considered a QB streamer for the desperate.

Via Alec Lewis of TheAthletic.com, O’Connell also mentioned that receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) and cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) are both day-to-day.

Related players: K.J. Osborn, Brandon Powell

Addison left last week's game and didn't return. With T.J. Hockenson lost for the season at TE, the Vikings will need all hands on deck as they sit at 7-8 on the season. There is also a report that any of their three QBs could get the start in Week 17. If Addison can't go, Osborn could be in line for more targets. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this offense right now.

The Vikings won’t have tight end T.J. Hockenson for the rest of the season.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed in his Tuesday press conference that Hockenson suffered a torn ACL and MCL during Sunday’s loss to the Lions.

It’s a significant blow to the Vikings’ offense, as Hockenson leads the team with 95 catches and 960 yards in his first full season with the club. While Hockenson will finish with 15 games played, both are career highs for the 26-year-old tight end. Hockenson also has five touchdowns, the story all said. The worry now, of course, is how much time could Hockenson miss to start the 2024 season.

Brock Purdy aggravated the stinger injury he initially suffered against the Cardinals in Week 15. But Purdy said after the game that he’s expecting to be fine for the Week 17 game against Washington and head coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated the same on Tuesday.

“Just watching him, how he was that week [after the Cardinals game], and then just being able to hear how he was today and talk to him last night after the game, I think he’s going to be fine,” Shanahan said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “I don’t think it’s going to bother him too [much].

Related players: Sam Darnold

Purdy completed 18-of-32 passes for 255 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions, working out to a career-worst 42.6 passer rating. In his most extended playing time of the season, Darnold finished the game 8-of-14 for 81 yards with a touchdown and a pick, the story said. The Niners travel to Washington in Week 17.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Vikings are taking a long look at whether Nick Mullens should be benched for rookie Jaren Hall.

Hall was the first quarterback to play after starter Kirk Cousins tore an Achilles tendon against the Packers in late October. Hall suffered a concussion on the opening drive of his first start, at Atlanta. Hall is now healthy and ready. The question, given the various injuries the Vikings have suffered (tight end T.J. Hockenson, receiver Jordan Addison), is whether Hall has enough help around him to overcome the natural mistakes he’ll make as a first-year player, the story went on to say.