The Vikings are 2-0, but the early weeks haven’t exactly been clean. They beat the Bears in a game that was equal parts ugly and beautiful, and now the usual Week 2 overreaction machine is spinning up again as they head toward Tampa Bay.
One of the biggest questions floating around is whether Eric Wilson’s starting job is already in danger. That feels premature.
Wilson came into the season after a new contract and a career year, but he has opened with a quiet two weeks by his standards. As of Wednesday morning, he has three missed tackles and three pressures, and Pro Football Focus has him graded as the third-worst linebacker in football at 34.7.
That’s a long way from the version of Wilson who piled up 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last year. It’s fair to say the production has dipped. It’s not fair to say the Vikings are ready to pull the plug.
Ivan Pace has made some noise in a limited role, including a pressure and a run-stop on just 14 snaps against the Bears in Week 2. But Pace has also slipped out of favor over the past few seasons, and Brian Flores still appears to trust Wilson more.
The splash plays haven’t been there for Wilson so far, but his spot in the lineup looks safe for now. Another rough outing against Tampa Bay could make that conversation a lot more interesting.
Then there’s Dallas Turner, whose early-season stat line has been impossible to ignore: 20 pressures and three sacks through two games. Still, some analytics voices have tried to pump the brakes on the hype. On Monday, offensive/defensive line analyst Brandon Thorn pointed out that only three of those 20 pressures were true 1-on-1 wins against a tackle, with the rest coming against a tight end or on snaps where Turner was unblocked.
“Dallas Turner has had some fun moments and good raw production through the first two games. Has abused some TEs.
But of his 20 charted pressures (3 sacks included) via PFF, 3 total have been 1v1 wins vs a tackle (J Morgan). Encouraging, but let's see the Wirfs reps in Wk3. pic.twitter.com/ND2HHJ9bqE”
The numbers are the numbers, but the tape tells its own story too. Turner has been wrecking plays all over the field in both games, and if offenses keep leaving him matched up with a backup tight end, that’s their problem. Calling him just a pressure merchant off free runs to the quarterback sells him short.
His next test will be the toughest one yet: Tristan Wirfs in Week 3. That should give everyone a much clearer read on where Turner really stands.
And while the schedule has started with some favorable numbers, the next stretch is hardly a walk in the park. The Vikings’ next three opponents are a combined 1-5, which is exactly the kind of setup that tends to tempt Vikings fans into expecting disaster. But there’s also a real path here for Minnesota to reach the bye week undefeated.
Tampa Bay is 0-2, though the Buccaneers are not a pushover. They also just lost to the Browns - yes, those Browns - so the question is whether they come in angry or simply bad in 2026.
Miami is also 0-2, and the Dolphins are widely viewed as one of the league’s weakest teams. That makes them a classic trap-game opponent, but it’s still hard to see Flores’ defense not having its way with a team averaging just 13 points per game, which ranks 30th, and 271.5 total yards, which ranks 27th.
The Saints may be the most dangerous team in that three-game run. They’re 1-1, but they were two-point conversion away from being 2-0, and they also just knocked off Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. People can laugh at the NFC South if they want; this team still makes opponents nervous.
So do Justin Jefferson and Flores.
In Other News...
Vikings Suddenly Face A JJ McCarthy Decision They Didn't Expect
With Kyler Murray back from a concussion, the Vikings are heading into their matchup with the Buccaneers in a much more familiar spot at quarterback, but the ripple effects around the position have created an unexpected subplot. Carson Wentz is still in place as the backup and JJ McCarthy remains third on the depth chart, yet McCarthys name has started surfacing in wider league chatter because teams are always scanning for quarterback help when injuries hit.
One recent suggestion from NFL reporter Gary Myers had the Giants weighing a possible trade for McCarthy after concern around Jaxson Darts status, a reminder that even a teams developmental quarterbacks can become part of bigger conversations quickly. Nothing has been confirmed on that front, and Minnesota is still sorting its own depth chart for the immediate future, but the buzz adds another layer to a week that already had the Vikings focused on getting ready for Tampa Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Face A Frustrating Week 3 TV Problem
The Vikings Week 3 trip to Tampa Bay is set up to be a little more annoying than usual for fans trying to follow along on Sunday. The game will land in FOXs late afternoon window, but the over-the-air broadcast footprint is limited, with coverage centered mainly in parts of the Midwest, Florida, Houston, New England, Pittsburgh and the Indianapolis/Cincinnati market.
For Minnesota viewers outside those pockets, the lack of an early FOX game in the local window makes this one harder to find on a traditional channel, since CBS has the doubleheader this week. So unless the game happens to fall into your local market, the live option will likely be a streaming service such as YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket, which is a familiar inconvenience for fans who just want a straightforward way to watch their team on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Suddenly Face A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Expected
The Vikings backfield took another hit this week, and it comes at a time when the offense was already looking for stability. Jordan Mason landing on injured reserve with a fractured thumb thinned the group before the preparation for Tampa Bay really got going, and Aaron Jones was absent from practice with a knee issue, leaving Minnesota with fewer reliable answers than it expected entering the matchup.
Kevin OConnell said Jones is not certain to play and is still getting treatment, which adds a layer of uncertainty to a position group the Vikings have had to reinforce quickly. DeeJay Dallas was promoted to the active roster, and Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson were added to the practice squad as insurance, a sign the team is bracing for the possibility that it may need to piece together its rushing plan on short notice. [Read more 🡒]