Throughout 8 weeks, the Vikings have already gone through a lot this season. After ending the 2022-2023 season with a 13-4 record with new head coach Kevin O’Connell, expectations were high for the upcoming season. During the offseason, due to the pressing issue of the Vikings salary cap deficit, some trades were made concerning players and their contracts, which led to the Vikings releasing a few veteran players. Some notable names included Adam Thielen who was a nine year veteran, as well as all pro linebacker Eric Kendricks, and Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook. Along with the changes to the player roster, there were changes made in the coaching personnel as well, the big one being the firing of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, and the hiring of Brian Flores to replace him. Despite the high expectations coming into the season, close one-score losses against the Buccaneers, Eagles, and Chargers caused the Vikings to start the season with an 0-3 record.
The Vikings eventually ended up winning 4 of their next 5 games which helped them climb their way back up to a 4-4 record, with their only loss coming from the defending super bowl champion, the Kansas City Chiefs, which was also in a close one-score game (20-27). However, all this didn’t come without many internal losses, WR Justin Jeffers on ended up suffering a hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of the game against the Chiefs. He was put on injury reserve for at least 4 weeks, meaning rookie Jordan Addison would have to step up in place of him. Even with the injury of the star wide receiver, the largest cost was yet to come, as a few weeks later in their game against the Green Bay Packers, QB Kirk Cousins would go down in the fourth quarter of the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury, however an MRI the following morning would confirm that it was actually an Achilles tear, which meant Cousins would be out for the remainder of the season.
This would then lead to questions regarding whether this would be the end of Cousins’ career with the Vikings as he is currently on the final year of his contract. With the loss of veteran QB Kirk Cousins, fans wondered who would take his place. Initially, it looked like rookie QB Jaren Hall would most likely have to be the one to step up in place of him, however, right before the end of the trade deadline, the Vikings ended up acquiring QB Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals in turn for a 7 round pick at the draft. Josh Dobbs, a player with more experience will most likely be the Vikings starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Despite the many losses the Vikings have suffered and the uncertainty they face regarding the future, players stepping up and moves being made in the front office indicate there still appears to be hope for this Vikings team moving forward.
