The Vikings are 2-0, but this is not the kind of start that makes anyone relax. Minnesota has been grinding through games, leaning on defense and just enough offense to stay on top of the NFC North. Kevin O’Connell also gets his starting quarterback back in Week 3, with Kyler Murray returning after missing last week because of a concussion.
Carson Wentz filled in and helped the Vikings beat the Chicago Bears in a rainy, defensive slog in Week 2. Even with Murray back, though, there are other lineup calls worth watching as Minnesota gets ready for Tampa Bay.
One of them is in the secondary, where Harrison Smith deserves a much bigger role. Smith has played 26 snaps and then 27 snaps in the Vikings’ first two games, and that number should be climbing by now.
After spending the summer away from the team while deciding whether to retire, the cautious ramp-up made sense. But after two weeks, Minnesota’s safety play still looks like a spot that needs more juice.
Joshua Metellus and Theo Jackson have been serviceable, but the impact plays haven’t matched the damage allowed. The Vikings got lit up by Jordan Love for 387 yards in Week 1, then tightened things up against Chicago.
Even so, the safety group still hasn’t produced a turnover, and the only takeaways so far have come from other positions: three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Smith is still the best bet to change that.
He may not be moving quite like he used to, but opposing coordinators still know exactly where The Hitman is.
The backfield is another place where O’Connell has to think carefully. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones carried the load in Week 2 and handled the most carries he has had since 2022.
He also posted his first 100-yard game since 2024. That was a welcome answer in the short term, but it does not feel wise to keep piling on the mileage this early in the season.
Jones was also listed as a DNP on Wednesday’s injury report with an ankle injury. That only adds to the concern, especially with Tampa Bay bringing the NFL’s fourth-ranked rush defense into Week 3.
Minnesota will need a spark somewhere, because the offense has not exactly been ripping off chunk gains. The Vikings are 23rd in explosive play rate this year, and that makes the case for rookie Demond Claiborne.
Claiborne averaged 2.6 yards per carry in the preseason and has issues in pass protection and ball security, which explains why the staff clearly does not trust him yet. But he is also the one back on the roster who can break a game open with one touch.
He is not close to as steady down to down as DeeJay Dallas, but in a game where Jones needs to be protected and the Vikings need a jolt against a tough Buccaneers front, Claiborne should get a few chances.
There’s also a decision to make on defense with Jake Golday, the rookie linebacker taken 51st overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. He has not played a defensive snap yet, even while sitting behind Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman, with Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel in the mix as well. That is a little surprising, even if Golday’s path was always going to be crowded.
The long view still points to Golday as a future starter, especially as Wilson, Cashman and Van Ginkel age out over the next few years. But Minnesota should still find ways to get its second-round pick on the field now, even if it is only in a package here and there. He was listed as a DNP with an ankle injury after Wednesday’s practice, so his status will need monitoring over the next 48 hours.
Ivan Pace Jr. has handled the sub-linebacker role so far and has played well after being written off by many. Still, if Golday is healthy, there is room to work him in occasionally. And if the games keep getting out of hand, maybe those blowouts will finally create the kind of opening he needs.
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 🡒]