The NFC’s latest news cycle is being driven by roster shuffling, injury timelines, and one major trade that has Minnesota’s quarterback room in the spotlight.
In Green Bay, Matt LaFleur said Micah Parsons will not be back on the practice field this week as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL. LaFleur said there have been “No setbacks.
It’s just part of the process. He’s got to get cleared.”
That same Packers update also included a few moving pieces along the offensive line. LaFleur said Laken Tomlinson can handle right guard because of his versatility, even though most of his experience has come at left guard.
He also said Mekhi Becton is better suited to the right side, whether that ends up being at guard or tackle.
The Packers are also waiting on more clarity with Jayden Reed, and LaFleur said he does not have an update on how long the receiver will be out with a neck injury. On the offensive line front, Packers OC Adam Stenavich was asked whether Tomlinson and Becton could start in Week 4, and he didn’t rule it out: “I think anything’s a possibility, for sure.”
Detroit got a more encouraging note from Dan Campbell, who said cornerback Ennis Rakestraw will keep getting chances after he “showed up” against the Jets in Week 3. Campbell also said center Cade Mays, who is dealing with a wrist injury, is moving in the right direction, with the aim of having him back after the Week 6 bye.
In Minnesota, the biggest storyline was the Vikings’ decision to trade J.J. McCarthy to the Giants.
GM Nolan Teasley said the move came after the organization reached a point where the return made sense. “We have a responsibility to make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the organization.
Sometimes, those decisions aren’t easy.” He added, “We got to the point where the return made sense for us now to get an asset that honestly is going to help us in the future or maybe even this season.”
Teasley also made it clear McCarthy did not ask out, and he said there were plenty of teams checking in before the deal finally came together: “and then just recently it came together.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said he spent time with McCarthy on Monday morning after the news, and he described the moment as emotional. “Our relationship means a lot to me. I believe it means a lot to him, and I was just really thankful to have that time one-on-one with him.”
In Other News...
Vikings Just Lost Another Depth Piece To A Desperate Giants Team
The Vikings practice squad took another hit this week when the Giants came calling for defensive lineman Jihad Ward, a familiar face in New York who had already spent time with the franchise in 2022 and 2023. With Brian Burns going down, the Giants moved quickly to add Ward to their active roster, leaving Minnesota to watch another depth option disappear before he ever had a real chance to factor into the rotation.
For a team that spends much of the season trying to preserve depth at the edges of the roster, these little losses can matter more than they look. Wards departure is the latest reminder that practice-squad help is always vulnerable when injuries strike elsewhere, and the Giants made room for him by parting with Josh Tupou. [Read more 🡒]
Undefeated Vikings Suddenly Have Two Big Week 4 Questions
The Vikings head into Week 4 at 3-0 with a home date against Miami, and the matchup brings a pair of questions that could shape the afternoon before the ball is even kicked. Minnesota is waiting on receiver Justin Jefferson as he works back from an ankle injury, while the Dolphins arrive still searching for their first win and carrying their own uncertainty around quarterback Kyler Murray.
Brian Flores adds another layer to a game that already has plenty of edge, since the Vikings defensive coordinator will be facing the team he once coached. Both clubs are expected to get a better read on their injury situations after their first practices of the week, which should go a long way toward clarifying what kind of game this becomes in Minneapolis. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Passed On Rodgers For One Reason Fans Need To Hear
The Vikings had a chance to chase the familiar big-name option at quarterback, but they stayed with J.J. McCarthy heading into 2025 instead of bringing in Aaron Rodgers, even with Rodgers showing interest in joining the team. It was a bet on youth and continuity, and for a while it looked like Minnesota was willing to live with the growing pains that come with handing the offense to a young passer.
McCarthys rookie season never really settled in, though, as injuries and uneven play kept the Vikings from getting a clear answer on his development. Minnesota eventually moved on, trading him to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick before signing Kyler Murray to take over as the starter, leaving the original Rodgers decision looking even more consequential as the franchise keeps searching for stability at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]