The Vikings got a real lift from Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus against the Indianapolis Colts, but that one strong showing doesn’t erase the bigger picture at safety.
Smith came through with the game-clinching interception in Week 7, added four tackles and finished with half a sack, good for the team’s third-best Pro Football Focus defensive grade at 84.8. Metellus also did his part, tying for the team’s second-most tackles with seven. Minnesota needed both of them to show up, and they helped keep the Purple and Gold unbeaten.
Still, the season-long numbers tell a different story. Smith carries an overall PFF grade of 43.0 and a pass-coverage grade of 41.9.
Metellus isn’t far behind at 42.3 overall and 35.1 in pass coverage. For a defense about to head into a brutal four-game run against the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, that’s not a spot the Vikings can afford to ignore.
That’s why rookie Jakobe Thomas needs to be part of the plan in Week 8.
Minnesota has made Thomas inactive for all six games so far, and he still hasn’t played a regular-season snap since being taken in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. For a team that spent a premium pick on him, it’s hard to explain why he hasn’t even been worked into special teams yet.
Thomas gives the Vikings a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back with the kind of production that usually earns a closer look. In his senior season at Miami (FL), he posted 76 combined tackles, five interceptions, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown across 16 games.
At some point, the Vikings need to find out what they have. Kevin O'Connell should want to get Thomas some experience, whether that comes in Brian Flores' defense or in Matt Daniels' special teams group. He needs snaps, and he needs them now.
The longer Thomas sits without playing, the harder it gets to justify keeping him on the sideline. A 23-year-old drafted at No. 98 overall should not be a complete no-show this deep into the season, especially with Smith and Metellus having such uneven years.
Minnesota doesn’t just need to develop Thomas for the future. It also needs to see whether he can help steady a safety group that has not been consistent enough so far.
In Other News...
Vikings Defense Faces Its Toughest Test Yet Against Jared Goff
Brian Flores has given the Vikings a defense that travels with attitude and disguises, one that has helped fuel Minnesotas 6-0 start by making opposing quarterbacks think twice before every snap. The scheme leans on shifting looks before and after the play begins, a constant attempt to cloud reads, bait mistakes and turn uncertainty into takeaways.
The next challenge is a different kind of test, because Detroit brings a quarterback who has been exceptionally careful with the ball and efficient through the air. Jared Goff has been sharp enough to force Minnesota to win this matchup without leaning on the usual turnover script, which puts even more pressure on the Vikings to keep the confusion coming and find another way to tilt the game in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Week 8 Inactives Could Open A Surprising Opportunity
The Vikings will have to trim their roster down to at least five inactive players for Sundays matchup with the Lions, and the list already looks fairly predictable in a few spots. Rookie Caleb Tiernan and Elijah Williams are both expected to land on the inactive list based on the current depth chart and injury situation, leaving the final decisions to be shaped by who is healthy enough to suit up.
One name worth watching is Jay Ward, whose knee injury leaves his status in question heading into the game. If he cannot go, the Vikings could turn to rookie Jakobe Thomas, which would put him in line for his first NFL action and create a small but notable wrinkle in Minnesotas defensive backfield plans. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Find Deadline Help From A Few Desperate Teams
With the 2026 NFL trade deadline approaching, the Vikings are in the kind of position every contender wants to be in. Their strong record makes them a likely buyer if they decide the roster needs a late-season boost, and the market could be shaped by a handful of teams heading in the opposite direction, looking more at draft capital than short-term fixes.
The most obvious places to watch are Indianapolis, Tennessee and Arizona, three clubs that have already shown a willingness to reshape their futures and could be open to moving more veteran pieces if the right offer comes along. For Minnesota, that kind of desperation can create opportunity, especially if the front office decides there is a deal out there that can sharpen the roster for a playoff push. [Read more 🡒]