Disaster Hits Former MN Vikings on Sunday

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Daniel Jones
Credit: Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Washington Commanders on Sunday, and with a 4-8 record, there wasn’t much left for Kevin O’Connell’s team to play for. Mercifully they ended a long stretch of ineptitude by shutting out Dan Quinn’s squad.

Now at 5-8, the Vikings would need a miracle to turn this season into anything meaningful. And for fans hoping to celebrate by checking in on former Vikings around the league, Sunday didn’t offer much good news, as several familiar faces suffered major setbacks.

Daniel Jones Looks to be Done with the Indianapolis Colts

For reasons known only to the Colts, Indianapolis continued allowing Daniel Jones to play through a fractured fibula. He had parlayed his time in Minnesota into a strong season, but everything came crashing down on Sunday.

One of the dangers of playing through an injury is how the body compensates. Jones was already dealing with a fractured fibula, and on Sunday he appeared to suffer a torn achilles in the opposite leg. That was confirmed on Monday and he will undergo season-ending surgery.

It’s an incredibly unfortunate development considering how well he had been playing. Before exiting early on Sunday, Jones had led the Colts to an 8-4 record, completing 67.9% of his passes with a 19/7 TD/INT ratio.

With what is likely a year-long recovery ahead, Jones has almost certainly missed out on a multi-year contract and may even have cost himself the franchise tag. It’s a brutal outcome for both the quarterback and the Colts.

Adam Thielen Does Nothing in Steelers Debut

After being a healthy scratch for the Minnesota Vikings, Adam Thielen sought a fresh start to finish his career. The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed him, giving future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers another weapon. Despite being active just days after joining the team, Thielen was barely involved.

His usage didn’t change much from his final days in Minnesota. Thielen saw just one target from Rodgers, hauling in a four-yard reception in his Steelers debut.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s third wide receiver, Jalen Nailor, the player originally expected to fill Thielen’s role, caught all three of his targets for 30 yards on Sunday.

Cousins Embarrassed by Darnold

Last weekend, the Vikings faced former quarterback Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks but fell short as Max Brosmer struggled. This week, Darnold faced another former Viking, Kirk Cousins, and things went even worse for the Atlanta Falcons starter.

Filling in for the injured Michael Penix Jr., Cousings was expected to resemble the steady veteran who signed yet another massive contract. Instead, he was abysmal. Cousins completed just 15 of 30 passes for 162 yards, threw two interceptions, and posted an 18.4 passer rating.

Darnold, meanwhile, continues his resurgence with Seattle. Revitalized under Kevin O’Connell before departing last offseason, Darnold went 20 for 30 for 249 yards and three touchdowns. His lone interception proved meaningless in a 37-9 blowout.

Cousins has long been known for cashing checks while delivering minimal impact in the win column, and Sunday only cemented that narrative. The Falcons will have a potential out in his contract this offseason, and it’s safe to say the Vikings won’t be lining up to give him another payday.

Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.