It’s been quite the ride for the Minnesota Vikings, tabulating a 9-2 record through the first 11 games of the season. What was expected to be a transitional year has become a hopeful campaign for fans, with the playoff in reach. The Arizona Cardinals are next on the schedule.
Vikings Again without an Unsung Hero on Sunday
A point of emphasis for the Vikings this season has been the rushing attack after a lackluster campaign in 2023 behind running backs Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler. Aaron Jones has taken the top spot in that room, leading to some improvement. Still, in some contests, the Vikings were unable to impose their will on the ground.
The Cardinals have allowed some decent rushing performances, but the blocking unit for the Vikings will be without Josh Oliver on Sunday. He is set to miss his second consecutive game with what the team is listing as wrist/ankle injuries.
The tight end did not practice this week and is, besides special teamer Jay Ward, the only player who’s ruled out. Offensive tackle Cam Robinson is questionable because of a foot injury suffered in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears.
Oliver surprisingly joined the club in 2023, signing a three-year contract worth $21 million, just a few months after the team acquired T.J. Hockenson via trade from the Detroit Lions. The deal didn’t make much sense on the surface level, but allowing Hockenson to focus even more on the receiving aspect while elevating the run blocking by getting one of the top guys in the league in that area surely is a smart move.
According to Pro Football Focus, the former Jaguars’ draft choice currently ranks fourth in the league in run blocking, and he has recently gotten some more targets in the passing game, registering some of his (statistically) most prolific games right before the injury, collecting 174 receiving yards in his last four contests.
Of course, Hockenson has returned as a focal point in the passing game, but the TE2 will be missed blocking for Jones and Cam Akers.
His offensive coordinator, Wes Phillips, made a strong claim three weeks ago: “Josh is the best blocking tight end in the league, you know. And that’s no disrespect to anyone else and for anyone who wants to use that as fuel, go ahead; I can’t say I’ve studied each one intently, there are some good ones out there, but we’ll take Josh over anybody in this league in the role that he’s in. He’s not only physical imposing, he’s a 270-pound man, but the attitude that he plays with, the physicality.”
Depth tight end Johnny Mundt will receive some more reps without Oliver in the mix. He came into focus last week when he deflected the onside kick, allowing Chicago to get back into the game. Nick Muse is on the practice squad and is a strong candidate for a gameday elevation to the roster as TE3.
Oliver has played in 27 games with the Vikings, catching 41 passes for 429 yards and five touchdowns.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over The Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
