Chris Kuper’s move to Philadelphia is already turning heads, and not in Minnesota’s favor.
The former Vikings offensive line coach has wasted little time making an impression with the Eagles after stepping into the job vacated by the legendary Jeff Stoutland. A connection to new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent time with the Vikings in 2023 while Kuper was on staff, helped open the door. Once he got there, Kuper landed in a situation where trust from veteran linemen matters fast - and by the sound of it, he’s earning it.
That part stings a little for Minnesota, because Kuper’s run there had clearly gone stale. After four seasons, the fit had worn thin, and recent criticism from a former player who found success elsewhere made it obvious the relationship had run its course. Sometimes a coach and a team just stop working, and this felt like one of those cases.
The Vikings also weren’t exactly setting him up with easy assignments. For years, the team has often left its offensive line coaches trying to squeeze starting-level play out of Day 2 and Day 3 picks, or from veterans who looked more like depth pieces than long-term answers, especially on the interior. That’s the kind of job that can wear down any coach, even before the fit starts to fray.
Still, Kuper has quickly put himself in a spot where Minnesota may be watching with some discomfort.
According to Anthony Miller of Inside the Iggles, Eagles backup linemen Jake Majors, Micah Morris, Willie Lampkin, Markel Bell, and Drew Kendall have combined to allow one sack and one quarterback hurry over 139 combined pass protection snaps through the first two preseason games. Both of those pressures were charged to Morris.
It’s worth keeping the preseason caveat in mind. The level of competition is uneven, and some of the defenders those backups have faced may not even end up on a practice squad.
But even with that context, there’s a clear difference between holding up and getting run over. So far, Kuper’s group has done the former.
That matters in Philadelphia, where the starters barely play in August because the line is already one of the league’s best. It also means the backups become the early measuring stick for the new coach. For now, Kuper has cleared that bar.
Whether that turns into something more in Philadelphia remains to be seen. But right now, he’s off to a strong start in his new role - and the Vikings may end up regretting how this split played out.
In Other News...
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Even so, the Vikings are still sorting through their quarterback depth chart, and McCarthys brief appearance only adds another layer to a competition that remains unsettled. With Kyler Murray entrenched as the starter, the backup spot is still very much open, and Minnesota now has to balance McCarthys recovery with whatever evaluation time remains in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Offense Is Giving Fans A Debate They Did Not Want
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There has even been unease in 7-on-7 work with Kyler Murray, adding another layer to an offense that has not yet settled into a rhythm. Minnesotas ground attack is averaging less than four yards per carry with no touchdowns through two games, and for a team trying to sort out its identity before the games count, the questions are piling up faster than the answers. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Are Reaching A Breaking Point With J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthys first full run at the Vikings quarterback job has not gone the way anyone in Minnesota hoped. The 2024 first-round pick was tasked with stabilizing a franchise that has spent years searching for long-term answers under center, but his 2025 season brought uneven production and too many turnovers, leaving the team with more questions than confidence as the new season approaches.
The pressure has only intensified with Kyler Murray now in the building to compete for the starting job, and the expectation around the league is that Murray would get the nod if healthy. McCarthy still has time on his side, and he remains under contract for two more seasons, but a rough preseason has only widened the gap between patience and panic for a fan base that has grown increasingly restless. [Read more 🡒]