Last week Andrew Van Ginkel sat out his second game of the season for Minnesota. With a second-straight international game on deck, the concern now is the offensive line continuing to lose talent.

Thursday’s injury report only compounded Wednesday’s problems.

Nine Minnesota Vikings sidelined on Thursday

With time running out ahead of their Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns, the injury report grew on Thursday. Eight players didn’t practice on Wednesday, and Dallas Turner bumped it to nine on Thursday.

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/uY8iEi6qgD

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 2, 2025

It wouldn’t seem that Turner’s issue is long term. Being described as an illness, it’s likely he is back on the field tomorrow. However, if it is something that lingers, that would be a problem considering he is the top backup with Andrew Van Ginkel out.

Donovan Jackson is still recovering from his wrist surgery and will be out through the Week 6 bye. It doesn’t look like Brian O’Neill will be available Sunday either as he heals his sprained MCL.

The center position has taken a huge hit with both starter Ryan Kelly (concussion) and backup Michael Jurgens (hamstring) off the field. The Vikings don’t have another center on their active roster or practice squad, which would force Blake Brandel into the role for the first time in his career.

Cleveland is definitely a beatable team even with the injuries Minnesota is trying to overcome. They will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel for his NFL debut, and pass rusher Myles Garrett didn’t practice on Wednesday.

Minnesota can’t afford to overlook the Browns though. That defense is legit, and they already upset the Green Bay Packers earlier this season.

The Vikings and Browns are set to kick off at 8:30 am central time Sunday. Minnesota will hope to get a cleaner bill of health in the final days leading up to the contest.

While most of the team is focused on being ready for a football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers about 36 hours after they lost six of what would normally be sleeping hours, there will be a few players just hoping to have their bodies physically ready for action by kickoff.

And the injury updates coming out of the Vikings’ final practice in America, before their two-weekend business trip, isn’t exactly an upgrade from the disappointing injury report that dropped one day earlier.

Minnesota Vikings injury report Thursday brings bad news on Andrew Van Ginkel

According to Emily Leiker (Star Tribune), C.J. Ham — who is eligible to return to the active roster this week — was on the field working out with a training. Javon Hargrave — who missed Wednesday’s practice with a rib injury — was back on the field with teammates.

Unfortunately, starting EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel was not. His absence was confirmed shortly after Emily’s tweet, when Thursday’s official injury report dropped.

Of note from today’s Vikings practice, the last in Eagan before team departs for Dublin:

— C.J. Ham (knee) was on the rehab field working out with a trainer. He’ll be eligible for return from IR after Sunday.
— No Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), but Javon Hargrave (ribs) was out there

— emily leiker (@emleiker) September 25, 2025

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/zDlBCXJeiU

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 25, 2025

Being listed as a “DNP” on the first injury report of the week is not worth sounding the alarm over. That first practice is often used as a rest day for veteran players who might be banged up. Missing two straight practices to start the week, however, is much more concerning.

Other Vikings injuries

We knew Javon Hargrave would likely progress through the week and be ready to play Sunday. The head coach told reporters after week 3 that the Minnesota Vikings’ new defensive tackle could have returned to the game vs Cincinnati, had the team needed him.

With Donovan Jackson out, the offense could really use CJ Ham’s services both in run block and pass pro. He was not listed on the official report, which has to be good news.

Christian Darrisaw did not practice, but his official listing was just for rest, meaning the Minnesota Vikings are keeping their one day on, one day off practice schedule with their superstar left tackle, who returned from 2024 knee surgery in week 3.

Dallas Turner’s time to shine…?

If Andrew Van Ginkel cannot go against the Pittsburgh Steelers, most of his workload will likely be passed off to 2024 first round pick Dallas Turner, who totalled 5 tackles and 4 QB hurries last weekend, scoring his best PFF grade of the season, with 55.7.

Van Ginkel played just 8 total snaps last weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals, somehow still managing 2 sacks, an additional QB Hit and a 72.6 PFF grade, with his limited playing time. But it’s worth remembering that the Wisconsin alum is not dealing with the same injury he was last week.

Instead, Van Ginkel was listed on Wednesday’s injury report with a neck injury, not concussion. It’s a lingering injury that head coach Kevin O’Connell says the 2024 Pro Bowler has been battling since training camp. His status for Sunday morning took a major hit this afternoon, however.

Although Kirk Cousins will be holding the clipboard, his Atlanta Falcons come to town for a Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 2. Michael Penix Jr. gets another crack at besting McCarthy after losing to him in the National Championship the last time they squared off.

If Minnesota is going to emerge victorious, there are a few areas they must focus in on. Here are three keys for Sunday Night.

Who steps up in absence of MN Vikings starters?

Last week the Minnesota Vikings were without Harrison Smith and Christian Darrisaw. The former was expected, while the latter was something of a surprise. Darrisaw already being ruled out for Week 2 is relatively problematic.

Justin Skule stepped in at starting left tackle for Darrisaw. Only Adam Thielen produced a worse offensive grade per Pro Football Focus. Skule was 44th out of 64 tackles and gave up two sacks. He simply has to be better, and will be in there starting again.

Dallas Turner, defensive end?

Brian Flores got his top 3 edges on the field at the same time — putting Turner on the line (often hand down) with Van Ginkel outside or stacked behind as an OLB or off-ball LB

Turner was strong vs the run from this alignment, and got a pressure pic.twitter.com/MKQjYn1DE7

— Krauser (@Krauserrific) September 10, 2025

Smith being available would help the defense. Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah are both out with concussions. That puts a serious amount of pressure on second-year edge rusher Dallas Turner to shine. Blake Cashman also hit injured reserve earlier this week and Eric Wilson will take over his role. Linebacker Gabriel Murphy will get a shot as well.

The #Vikings have elevated OLB Gabe Murphy and CB Fabian Moreau to the active roster for tomorrow night's game. pic.twitter.com/BX5gIIX812

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 13, 2025

There is an opportunity at cornerback, and in the front seven. Can Dwight McGlothern, or an elevated Fabian Moreau, be enough on the outside. Is this the game Turner shows off just how good he can be? Brian Flores needs the help, and multiple players have to provide it.

Containing Penix Jr. a point of emphasis

In Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was 27-of-42 for 298 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball six times for 21 yards and a touchdown. That offensive production took place without second wide receiving option Darnell Mooney.

This week Mooney will rejoin Drake London and give the Vikings two wideouts to cover. Running back Bijan Robinson led the receiving game with six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown as well. Penix Jr. has plenty of weapons to challenge Minnesota’s defense, and he’s shifty as well.

Michael Penix Jr. has led a go-ahead/game-tying drive in 3/4 games as the starter 🔥

Dialed in when it matters most ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/FPljawxV8Q

— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) September 8, 2025

Minnesota got beat by Caleb Williams for 58 yards on six carries. Penix Jr. is probably even a more adept runner, and they can’t allow his ability to create an opportunity to open up the offense. Containing Penix Jr. in the pocket will give the secondary a better chance to hold on despite being down some talent.

Last season Penix Jr. made just a single road start in his five games. U.S. Bank Stadium will be the most hostile environment he has experienced, and the home field advantage can play into the hands of the Minnesota Vikings as well.

Will the wide receivers please step up

It was expected there would be some growing pains in the passing game. McCarthy had never previously started and NFL game, and the Vikings opted against a real dress rehearsal in the preseason. Both Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen registered drops while Aaron Jones tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 44.

J.J. McCarthy's 27-yard TD pass to Aaron Jones was Jones' 8th deep reception of his career, the most deep receptions by a running back since 2017.

Only Saquon Barkley (5) has more deep touchdowns than Jones (4) among RBs in that span.#MINvsCHI | #Skol pic.twitter.com/8qXRvfuUPj

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 9, 2025

Last season the Falcons were middle-of-the-pack when it comes to receiving yards allowed. There’s an opportunity for Jefferson to make his first mark of the season, and Thielen can help to substantiate why he was brought back to Minnesota.

If McCarthy is going to thrive going forward, it will be because the sum of all parts around him work at a high clip. In Week 1 Jordan Mason and Jones created a nice two-headed monster on the ground. McCarthy threw for just 143 yards, and there weren’t a ton of explosive plays through the air. If Kevin O’Connell can find opportunities for shot plays, the wide receivers need to come through.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Wasted No Time Delivering Legendary Message

Should McCarthy have his first 200-yard passing game of his career on Sunday, it would seem likely that the Minnesota Vikings are in a good position to best the Atlanta Falcons.

Kickoff is set for 7:20 pm for Sunday Night Football. The return of Thielen to U.S. Bank Stadium, and the introduction of McCarthy to home fans, should be a sight to behold.

By next week, head coach Kevin O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the rest of the MN Vikings coaching staff will start getting serious about who will make the final 53-man roster, not to mention where those who do make the it will fit into the Vikings’ week one regular season depth chart.

One position where Minnesota has a ton of talent and one of the best starter groups in football, is EDGE rusher (or outside linebacker in the Vikings’ base 3-4 defense). Last season, a now 28 y/o Jonathan Greenard and 30 y/o Andrew Van Ginkel combined for 23.5 sacks, 91 tackles and 41 QB hits.

Greenard has been excellent today against Decker. Pressure allows Van Ginkel to strip Goff pic.twitter.com/qtKkXSeJxp

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 20, 2024

In 2025, the Minnesota Vikings hope to inject more of sophomores Dallas Turner and Gabe Murphy into their EDGE rotation, to help keep Greenard and Van Ginkel fresh, and opposing offensive lines guessing.

Dallas Turner underperforming at MN Vikings camp + preseason?

But a KFAN radio rant on Wednesday, from popular voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, seems to call into question everything from Turner’s development to his role within Minnesota’s defense for the upcoming season.

PA clearly came away feeling underwhelmed by Dallas Turner’s performance last weekend, and concerned that O’Connell might feel the same way, though he makes it clear that he hasn’t spoke to the Vikings head coach, about Turner, since Saturday.

For the audio crowd 👀

(Via: @KFAN1003) https://t.co/M3g3n3ILGp pic.twitter.com/3D0Z9IFtvQ

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 13, 2025

“What do you do with Dallas Turner? I’m just going to lay it out like that. What do you do with Dallas Turner? Where do you play him, how much do you play him? Do you care that he was a first round pick, do you care that Gabriel Murphy is outperforming him in training camp and the Texans game?

Do you care that O’Connell came into the Texans game really, really excited to watch the Dallas Turner performance. I certainly can’t say the HC of the Minnesota Vikings thought it was a bad performance, I wouldn’t know.

I just know that there wasn’t a lot said about [Turner] after the Texans game, and there was a lot said about [Gabe Murphy]. So I guess that would be the potential proverbial dark cloud on the horizon.”

Paul Allen – KFAN Radio

Dallas Turner, Gabe Murphy trying to rebound from slow rookie starts

Behind their two Pro Bowl outside linebackers, the Vikings get young at OLB dangerously fast. They selected a now 22 y/o Dallas Turner with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, shortly after they took QB JJ McCarthy at No. 10 overall.

Then, shortly after the 2024 draft ended, Minnesota signed a now 24 y/o UCLA undrafted rookie free agent, Gabe Murphy. Last year, Turner played in 300 total snaps over 16 regular season games, totalling 4 sacks, 20 tackles and 5 QB hits, not to mention how good he was last preseason.

Dallas Turner walks Trent Williams right back into Brock Purdy's lap (also, the Vikings essentially only rushed two on this play). pic.twitter.com/yfpPONl80A

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) September 16, 2024

Related: Patriots Head Coach Taking Joint Practices vs Vikings VERY Seriously

Murphy immediately impressed Vikings coaches and staff during last year’s summer workout, and all the way through 2024 training camp. Unfortunately, he wound up on the injured list to start the regular season, and only played 35 total defensive snaps in 2 games.

Early on during summer workouts and 2025 training camp, comments made by coaches and reports from local media suggested nothing but good things behind the scenes, for the former first round pick.

Dallas Turner in the backfield stole
Howell’s lunch, snack, and dinner.

Wooooof😤 pic.twitter.com/jcBmvyiOz9

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 28, 2025

Dallas Turner showed up at TCO Performance Center looking noticeably bigger, and he seemed to be winning more reps against Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen. More recently, however, all that optimism has faded a bit, which makes this critique — from a very plugged-in Paul Allen — are worrisome, at the least.

While Brian Flores has often been lauded as an exceptional asset from the sideline, he may have his best defense yet. The front seven has earned early praise, and now we’re seeing it come to life on the field.

Training camp opened last week for the Vikings. Media has been present a bit longer than fans have. The takeaways may be the same.

Defense steals the show early for Minnesota Vikings

Plenty of excitement exists for the Vikings with J.J. McCarthy being healthy and commanding the offense. He’s going to have plenty of time to establish himself this year. How much heavy lifting he has to do will be a reflection of the defense, and they were the talk of the latest Access Vikings episode.

“I think the front seven has certainly been the big one [takeaway]. Certainly yesterday [Monday] first day in pads, I think that was the big takeaway. Just how diverse that pass rush can be. With Dallas Turner looking like he’s going to get a bigger role alongside Van Ginkel and Greenard. You add those tackles to it. I mean the pass rush was very disruptive in that first day…we’ll see that continue as we go.”

Ben Goessling – Access Vikings

“Yeah, I agree with Ben. I think when all of us media were sitting there just watching. Greenard get after it. The first pass rush rep was between Van Ginkel and O’Neill. That one was a great rep and a great matchup to watch throughout. The interior. I talked to O’Neill afterwards and he mentioned Jonathan Allen has moves that frankly none of our defensive tackles I’ve played with before have done. He’s mentioned the hump pass rushing move that Reggie White made famous back in the 90’s. He’s saying this guy does it better than anybody that I’ve seen. O’Neill went as far as saying, just as far as dudes and talent, this is the best defensive line I’ve seen us face thus far in camp.”

Andrew Krammer – Access Vikings

It’s good that there is a consensus on the Vikings defensive front. It’s also validating from the perspective that it was a clear focus in free agency. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah went out and targeted interior help. The additions of Allen and Javon Hargrave only heighten the impact of the edge rushers.

While the secondary is going to have some new faces, the front seven can help to impact the opposing passing game. The more that Flores can scheme his group to get home, the better the unit as a whole will be.

Related: MN Vikings O-Line Getting Healthy Fast

Minnesota kicks off the exhibition slate on August 9th against the Houston Texans. McCarthy will be under center and the pass rush will get a chance to show off what they have. Fans can also flock to TCO Performance Center in Eagan, and it may be best while the New England Patriots are in town for joint practices.

What we don’t know is how the Minnesota Vikings will look after a 14-win campaign and the departure of quarterback Sam Darnold. The roster is set to win now, and Brian Flores’ defensive front looks like an absolute force.

Although he’s not currently a starter amongst that group, Dallas Turner appears primed to live up to his first round pick billing. If he’s going to break out this year, it would be hard not to notice, and he’s already turning heads in Eagan.

Minnesota Vikings ready for Dallas Turner breakout

Last season the Minnesota Vikings jumped back into the first round of the NFL Draft in order to land Dallas Turner. The cost was substantial and he only played a rotational role last season as a rookie. ESPN’s Kevin Siefert is already liking what he has seen from the Alabama product during training camp in year two.

On Dallas Turner … in video form. pic.twitter.com/3Np8XXmLJr

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) July 29, 2025

“One of the pleasant surprises of the Minnesota Vikings early part of training camp has been linebacker Dallas Turner, who was the second of their two first round picks in 2024. He didn’t play a lot as a rookie. He had two Pro Bowlers in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel ahead of him on the depth chart. The question coming into camp was how are they going to get Dallas Turner on the field more with those two guys also back with the team? The answer has been pretty simple. The Vikings have been happy to have all three of them on the field together when the first-team defense is on the field.

First part of full pads practice, first-defense against first-offense, Dallas Turner had a sack and also tipped a pass that nearly led to a pick-six. Really having a lot of flash plays so far from what we’re seeing from Dallas Turner. A lot of times when coaches and players are noticing him, he keeps playing like this it’s not going to be a question of when he gets on the field, or how much he gets on the field, but how much of an impact he’s actually making.”

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

As Seifert alluded to, Turner’s impact was minimal in year one. Although he played in 16 games, he had just three sacks and 20 total tackles. Turner racked up 300 defensive snaps, but that was just 28% of the total. He spent 53% of the special teams plays on the field.

Dallas Turner ghost move. Sells power and bends the edge. pic.twitter.com/8GeUTsGpMe

— Best Blitz (@BestBlitzFilmz) July 29, 2025

If the Vikings are going to get more from Turner in year two, their defense could be among the best in the league. There are still question marks at the cornerback position, but a pass rush including Turner, Greenard, and Van Ginkel all producing seems unfair.

Turner led the SEC in sacks as a junior with 10. He has long been a menace for opposing quarterbacks, and there’s a reason the Minnesota Vikings prioritized a jump up in the draft to go get him.

What does a good year from Dallas Turner look like for the MN Vikings?

Ultimately it will be up to Brian Flores when it comes to positioning his edge rushers. The Vikings finally have a strong interior defensive line with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. They could get crazy and go grab Christian Wilkins too.

Finding a way to deploy Turner, Greenard, and Van Ginkel at a substantial clip is probably something Flores has happy thoughts about. That can’t be a good feeling to be under center looking at that trio bearing down on you.

Related: Brian Flores Interested in Newly Available Star Free Agent

Turner doesn’t need to generate the 12 sacks Greenard had last year, or the 11.5 sacks Van Ginkel posted. He doesn’t need to focus on making the Pro Bowl either. If Turner can up his sack total to something above five, and be on the field for more than 50% of the defensive snaps, that seems like positive development.

This is a big year for the young linebacker. How much of an impact he makes might be limitless with the opportunity expected to grow.

Plenty of emphasis will be placed upon how key offensive players like quarterback J.J. McCarthy and left tackle Christian Darrisaw look. Both are returning from injury and are key pieces if Kevin O’Connell’s team is going to compete.

Brian Flores is back to coach the defense though, and his unit can take another step forward. The front seven has been lauded as the best in the business, but there is opportunity for other names to earn some additional playing time.

Dallas Turner (22 years old) – Oustide Linebacker

The biggest and most prominent name on this list is 2024 first round pick Dallas Turner. Minnesota traded back up into the first round to grab the Alabama edge rusher. He played in 16 games for Brian Flores as a rookie, but he largely got lost in an otherwise impressive edge rushing rotation.

It’s unlikely that Turner is going to unseat either Jonathan Greenard (12.0 sacks) or Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5 sacks) this season. What he must do is take the next step forward and be an infinitely larger part of the defense.

Dallas Turner #Skol big year 2 otw pic.twitter.com/kqLt3NOAVc

— PassRushDiary🦅 (@PassRushDiary) July 15, 2025

Patrick Jones II had the third-most sacks for Minnesota last season with seven. He departed in free agency and Turner should be eyeing an opportunity to step up. Jones recorded 459 defensive snaps last season (46%) while Turner had just 300 (28%). There’s no reason he can’t convert more of his special teams usage into regular defensive rotations.

Related: MN Vikings Superstar Wide Receiver is Out of Action

There were plenty of points during his rookie campaign that questions arose regarding Turner being a bust. It was premature for that, but he’ll have to put together a strong camp if he wants to start separating in year two.

Dwight McGlothern (23 years old) – Cornerback

If there’s still a position to be weary of on the Minnesota Vikings roster it’s the cornerback position. Byron Murphy Jr. is back and Isaiah Rodgers is an upside play to replace Stephon Gilmore. Shaq Griffin is gone though, and there wasn’t an external replacement brought in.

The Vikings do get a healthy Mekhi Blackmon back after his season ending knee injury last year. It’s McGlothern though that could look to parlay his intriguing year one into more playing time.

Curious to see the jump #Vikings CB Dwight McGlothern Jr. makes here in season No. 2. pic.twitter.com/n9lRO7xm1B

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 17, 2025

McGlothern was a training camp darling after going undrafted out of Arkansas last year. Ultimately it led to action in just five games and he tallied only 19 defensive snaps. At 6’2″ 185 pounds, McGlothern has ideal size for the position. If he can harness the movements, coverages, and overall scheme there may be something special developing.

Related: 3 Underrated MN Vikings to Watch at Training Camp

Minnesota brought in veteran Jeff Okudah as a depth addition as well. He has failed to live up to his former third overall pick pedigree in three different stops now. If McGlothern wants to make a name for himself, there’s a guy to leapfrog.

Bo Richter (24 years old) – Outside Linebacker

Someone has to account for the snaps that are vacated by the Patrick Jones II departure. Ideally that would be Dallas Turner, but you can bet that Bo Richter isn’t going to hand it over easily.

Richter went undrafted out of Air Force last season but appeared in 14 games for the Minnesota Vikings. He made one start and recorded a fumble recovery. Although he didn’t grab a sack he had eight total tackles on just 29 defensive snaps.

Skor North’s Phil Mackey spoke high praise of both Richter and fellow undrafted talent Gabriel Murphy. He doesn’t see either of these two talents as just fun stories anymore.

"I think Bo Richter and Gabe Murphy are gonna ascend beyond the Mr. Mankato discussion and be meaningful, impactful players for the actual regular season defense."

– @PhilMackey has high expectations for Bo Richter and Gabe Murphy beyond #Vikings training camp. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/vDZUvQsrKX

— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) July 21, 2025

“I think either Bo Richter or Gabe Murphy will finish above Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, or Jonathan Greenard in edge rusher sacks for the Vikings this year. I legitimately think that one of these guys is going to break, it’s kind of a battle between the two of them for that fourth edge rusher spot…Based on their college pedigree, based on the things they showed their first camp a year ago, and based on the opening behind those three guys. Patrick Jones feasted. Patrick Jones had a bunch of sacks playing off of the other edge rushers. That spot is open for business and I think Bo Richter and Gabe Murphy are going to ascend beyond the Mr. Mankato watch list discussion and be meaningful, impactful players for the actual regular season defense.”

Phil Mackey – Skor North

Similar to McGlothern, Richter was a camp and preseason darling last season. He and fellow undrafted talent Murphy both oozed with tools that look like they can be developed. It will be interesting to see how the pairing comes out in year two, and how much of a step forward they have taken.

Taki Taimani (25 years old) – Nose Tackle

There has been nothing more noticeable on defense for the Vikings in recent seasons than their inability to control the interior line. That was addressed this offseason with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Harrison Phillips is also back to assume the nose tackle spot.

If there’s a guy that can try to work into that rotation though, or be there in case of injury, it’s Taki Taimani. He appeared in just seven games as a rookie and recorded only 70 defensive snaps. He spent the final ten games of the season on injured reserve. Each of the new additions come with injury concerns, and someone has to be ready.

Taimani is with the MN Vikings on a three-year deal and he is coming into camp with a clean bill of health. He has an uphill battle to climb with the talent in front of him, but he should separate from draft pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins or veteran Jalen Redmond.

Related: MN Vikings Front Seven Ranked… No. 1 in NFL?

The Vikings having a stout defensive front for the first time in what seems like forever is a great thing. They still need people to step up in rotation and reserve spots.

Drafted No. 17 overall, after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a questionable trade up from No. 24 to secure Turner, who entered the night seen as one of the top athletic talents in the entire draft.

Minnesota Vikings EDGE Dallas Turner wrapped up in bank fraud scam

Entering year two, the Vikings are relying on the 22-year-old out of Alabama to take the next step in his development as an NFL EDGE, after he got just 300 snaps on defense as a rookie. But this offseason, Dallas Turner is dealing with a strange bank fraud scam that he appears to be the victim of.

Back in April, according to an affidavit obtained by the Star Tribune, Turner took a phone call back in mid-February from a man claiming to be a banker from JP Morgan Chase. Over the phone, the man told Turner that someone was at a Chase Bank branch in Arizona impersonating Turner.

Turner and his attorney contacted police in April to report that Turner received a call on Feb. 19 “from an individual impersonating a JP Morgan Chase banker. The caller claimed someone was attempting to impersonate [Turner] at a Chase Bank branch in Arizona and presented two copies of ID to execute a wire transfer.”

Star Tribune

Related: Minnesota Vikings Latest Valuation is Astonishing

Obviously, every bank fraud scam is different. Most Americans receive emails and/or text messages on a regular basis trying to scam them out of money. 99% of those attempts are avoided but millions of people every year fall victim to these fraudulent schemes.

Strange details of Turner’s case emerge

But the details we know so far on how Turner fell victim to this scam seem extra strange. In order to avoid his Arizona impersonator, the supposed JP Morgan Chase banker instructed the Minnesota Vikings rookie EDGE linebacker to transfer his money into two different business accounts.

So, according to the affidavit, Dallas Turner physically went into a Chase Bank branch in Eagan, MN where he proceeded to transfer $120,000 into an account belonging to “Island Food Truck LLC”. Then, he went to a West St. Paul location and transferred the exact same amount to “CNL FL LLC”.

Only then, according to the affidavit filed, did Turner consult with a family member who helped him realize that he may have been scammed.

The caller directed Turner to immediately transfer his money to two separate business accounts in an effort to thwart the theft attempt.

That afternoon, Turner went to a Chase branch in Eagan and transferred $120,000 to “Island Food Truck LLC.” Before day was over, he visited a Chase Bank branch in West St. Paul and transferred another $120,000 to “CNL FL LLC.”

Star Tribune

Dallas is a young kid, and the police involved in this case seem pretty convinced that he’s the victim of this case. In fact, it appears they have suspects identified and plan to bring charges. Knowing that, I feel like we should give Turner the benefit of the doubt.

How does this happen to a Minnesota Vikings player… or anyone for that matter?

Nonetheless, it is difficult to read the details in this affidavit without wondering how in the world such a scam wasn’t uncovered sooner, either by Turner, his people or someone at JP Morgan Chase.

Apparently, police are asking the same questions and the extremely large banking conglomerate is in the middle of an internal investigation on the matter.

Police have asked JPMorgan Chase whether its internal investigation has determined how “the fraudster was able to obtain sensitive account details including Dallas’ full name, linked phone numbers and [his] LLC account info” and whether any bank employees played a role in the scheme, the affidavit noted.

Star Tribune

Related: Minnesota Vikings Offensive Weapons Slighted by Insider’s Rankings

In what world would you think that transferring money out of your own bank account and into someone else’s business accounts protect you from fraud? Then, how do bankers working for Chase not flag the transactions, especially when he visited two separate locations to complete them?

Neither the Minnesota Vikings nor Turner’s representatives have responded to the Star Tribune’s inquiries regarding the case.

The Vikings are now shifting their attention to the Green Bay Packers, their opponent this Sunday. A win would move Minnesota to 14-2 and set up a Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions with the NFC’s #1 seed on the line.

Minnesota Vikings Week 16 PFF Grades

We can’t overlook this game against the Seahawks. The Vikings went from leading by 10 to trailing by 4 late in the game, but they fought hard to keep their NFC North hopes alive. Here’s a look at the top performers for the Minnesota Vikings this week, as graded by PFF.

Top 5 Offense

• Justin Jefferson – 81.5 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
• Sam Darnold – 78.4 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
• Blake Brandel – 76.2 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
• Dalton Risner – 68.7 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
• Jordan Addison – 61.5 PFF Grade (59 snaps)

Justin Jefferson was the top offensive player in this game, and if you tuned in, it’s easy to see why. He racked up 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns, completely dominating the Seahawks’ defense.

#Vikings continue to find answers against split-safety coverage vs. Justin Jefferson. On this one, the pre-snap motion creates inside leverage for Jefferson; Addison's deep route occupies the safeties and Darnold throws a strike on the move. 27-yard gain. pic.twitter.com/0kfgzhTF2J

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 23, 2024

It’s also worth pointing out that two offensive linemen made the list as well. With such strong play up front, the offensive line has been a huge reason why Sam Darnold has found success all season.

Top 5 Defense

• Dallas Turner – 91.3 PFF Grade (16 snaps)
• Theo Jackson – 85.3 PFF Grade (20 snaps)
• Pat Jones – 80.4 PFF Grade (27 snaps)
• Josh Metellus – 77.9 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
• Shaquill Griffin – 75.3 PFF Grade (25 snaps)

Rookie Dallas Turner earned the highest grade on the team, but his performance came with some challenges. He only played 16 snaps, recording one interception. The Seahawks made it a point to challenge Turner, and he held up formidably.

When the rookie dropped into coverage, Geno Smith targeted his receiver four time, which resulted in three catches. Nonetheless, his INT still pushed his coverage grade all the way to 93.5 and three catches.

.@UnoErra snags it!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/wzbuV3yS8a

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2024

Josh Metellus stood out the most on the top 5 list, having the most impressive grade thanks to his workload. He played a whopping 64 snaps, racked up nine tackles, and even managed to apply some pressure on the quarterback with 4 total pressures.

Bottom 5 Offense

• Garrett Bradbury – 41.4 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
• Jalen Nailor – 50.8 PFF Grade (35 snaps)
• T.J. Hockenson – 52.2 PFF Grade (46 snaps)
• Cam Robinson – 55.2 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
• Aaron Jones – 55.7 PFF Grade (54 snaps)

It’s frustrating to see center Garrett Bradbury receive such a low grade this week. He really struggled with pass blocking, earning a 26.6 pass-blocking grade. His run-blocking grade wasn’t much better at 46.0, which contributed to his overall score of 41.1, the lowest on the team.

TJ Hockenson had a rough week, catching only 2 passes for 27 yards. He spent a lot of time on the line, earning a pass blocking grade of 18.1. However, he performed better in run blocking with a grade of 51.3. Hockenson will need to improve his play, as he’ll be a key piece for the team heading into the playoffs.

Bottom 5 Defense

• Bobby McCain – 52.3 PFF Grade (37 snaps)
• Blake Cashman – 55.1 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
• Jerry Tillery – 56.7 PFF Grade (23 snaps)
• Harrison Phillips – 57.3 PFF Grade (39 snaps)
• Stephon Gilmore – 58.8 PFF Grade (60 snaps)

Blake Cashman is definitely one of the most disappointing names on this list. The Vikings are 12-0 when he plays this season, which shows just how important he is to their defense. However, according to PFF, he struggled in his last game with tackling, earning a low grade of 31.9, which is why he’s ranked among the bottom five.

Related: Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Flexed for Week 17

Bobby McCain had some big shoes to fill stepping in for Harrison Smith, and while he ended up with the lowest grade on defense, it’s worth cutting him some slack. This was the most playing time he’s had all season, and he had only appeared in two other games before Week 16.

The Minnesota Vikings continue to prove there worth

Riding an impressive 8-game winning streak into Week 17, the Vikings continue to prove why they’re 13-2 and one of the top teams in the league. Week in and week out, they show what it takes to stay at the top.

Even when key players like Blake Cashman and Garrett Bradbury have off games, there’s always someone ready to step up. Whether it’s rookie Dallas Turner or Blake Brandel, they’ve got the depth and resilience to keep pushing forward.

Thursday Week 16 Minnesota Vikings injury report

Brian O’Neill (knee), who briefly left Sunday’s win against the Bears before coming back in, was limited Thursday, for the second practice in a row. Same can be said for DT Harrison Phillips (knee) and EDGE Patrick Jones II (knee). The most noteworthy development from this afternoon’s Vikings practice report was not of the positive variety.

After being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, future Ring of Honor safety Harrison Smith was not healthy enough to practice on Thursday, which is concerning, to say the least. It also leaves Harry’s availability up in the air for Sunday. KOC meets with media on Friday afternoon.

We’ll see if he has any updates on Smith, or if any insiders can dig something up before then. On the brighter side of Thursday’s injury report, Stephon Gilmore, Josh Oliver, and David Quessenberry (oblique) were listed as full participants. That’s the second-straight full practice for Gilmore, who hasn’t played the last two weeks.

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/yGp4uUKx59

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 19, 2024

Dallas Turner a full go after surprising late add yesterday

Yesterday, Dallas Turner surprisingly popped up on the injury report well after the initial list was released. But there’s no need to stress. Turner was back as a full participant in practice today, which sets him up to likely suit up on Sunday.

Related: Kirk Cousins is Ditching Atlanta… but When?

Turner earned a solid 71.2 PFF grade and picked up his second sack of the season. Thankfully, that development can continue in week 16, now that he’s back to full health. Unlocking another level of Dallas Turner’s talent could be a huge boost for Minnesota Vikings defense, as they start to close in on playoff games.