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Vikings final 2024 53-man roster projection: Will rebuilt cornerback corps hold up?

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Vikings final 2024 53-man roster projection: Will rebuilt cornerback corps hold up?


The Minnesota Vikings open the 2024 NFL regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 8 at MetLife Stadium.

At some positions, their core roster looks much different than it did when training camp began. The Vikings have overhauled the cornerback position, most notably by signing veteran Stephon Gilmore. Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, meanwhile, was lost for the season after just one preseason appearance because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.

The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Vikings:

QUARTERBACKS (3): Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall

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Teams no longer need to keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster to use them as the emergency quarterback on game day. And while there might not be a high risk in losing Hall on the waiver wire, should the Vikings try get him onto the practice squad, the Vikings probably won’t take that chance after having already lost McCarthy to injury. Last season’s quarterback carousel remains fresh on their minds. With McCarthy out for the season, Mullens moves from insurance policy to likely No. 2 behind Darnold.


RUNNING BACKS (3): Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu

Jones and Chandler are expected to shoulder most of the load at the position. The Vikings could probably get both Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride on the practice squad to maintain depth. Nwangwu is expected to be the primary kickoff returner.


FULLBACK (1): C.J. Ham

Vikings coaches have once again spoken glowingly this summer about Ham and their hope to find more ways to use him on offense. He played 19.4% of offensive snaps in 2023 after getting on the field for 14.7% of them in 2022.

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WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, Trent Sherfield Sr.

The Vikings hope that Addison’s ankle injury, suffered Aug. 14 in joint practices with the Browns, has healed in time to pair him with Jefferson for Week 1. Nailor and Jackson had two of the most impressive camps among Vikings players this summer, locking them into the third and, possibly fourth receiver roles, respectively. Powell has special teams value, and Sherfield has $1 million fully guaranteed coming his way, whether he makes the team or not.


TIGHT ENDS (3): Johnny Mundt, Josh Oliver, Nick Muse

This is the group the Vikings will move forward with until T.J. Hockenson is ready to return from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Mundt got the vast majority of targets with the first team during training camp, as he did at the end of last season after Hockenson’s injury. Veteran Robert Tonyan was slowed by a back injury during camp.


OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Christian Darrisaw, Blake Brandel, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill, Dalton Risner, David Quessenberry, Walter Rouse, Dan Feeney, Michael Jurgens

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An expected three-way competition at guard between Brandel, Ingram and Risner never materialized, largely due to an undisclosed injury that limited Risner’s availability. Brandel and Ingram took essentially all of the first team-reps, but it’s hard to imagine the Vikings parting ways with Risner altogether, assuming he is healthy. Jurgens struggled during preseason games and could probably make it to the practice squad if the Vikings need his roster spot elsewhere.


DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery, Jonah Williams, Levi Drake Rodriguez

Five might ultimately be too low a number for this group. That would be especially true if defensive coordinator Brian Flores finds himself in more base situations than he did in 2023, when the Vikings used historically high rates of one- and two-man defensive lines. Rodriguez had a strong preseason, demonstrating good quickness at the snap, and has a chance to be part of the rotation.


LINEBACKERS (9): Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Pat Jones II, Ivan Pacie Jr., Kamu Grugier-Hill, Jihad Ward, Gabriel Murphy

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This group would seem to be the key to Flores’ ability to mix and match personnel based on matchups; most of these players can hold their own inside or outside or in other combinations. It might be tough for the Vikings to keep Grugier-Hill, Ward and Murphy, as well as 2022 third-round pick Brian Asamoah II. Murphy has missed extended time during camp due to injuries, making him a little more difficult to project.


CORNERBACKS (5): Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin, Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, Fabian Moreau

It’s pretty wild that two of these five players — Gilmore and Moreau — were signed during training camp as the Vikings have worked to overhaul the position in real time. It’s assumed that Gilmore and Murphy will be the top two corners. Griffin missed most of camp because of a hamstring injury but will likely work on the outside, with Murphy in the slot for nickel formations. Moreau beats out rookie Dwight McGlothern, who would be a prime candidate for the practice squad.


SAFETIES (5): Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward

Smith, Bynum and Metellus will likely be part of the Vikings’ top 11 defenders, with Metellus resuming his multi-positional role. Jackson got off to a tremendous start in training camp and could force his way onto the field in some packages, while Ward moved between safety and cornerback and has value in that flexibility.

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SPECIALISTS (3): Will Reichard, Ryan Wright, Andrew DePaola

Reichard and Wright each won training camp competitions, although Reichard — a sixth-round draft pick — was always a heavy favorite to be the kicker. Coverage specialist NaJee Thompson has dealt with a knee injury all summer and might not be ready for the regular season.



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Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech live updates: How to watch, odds, predictions for Mayo Bowl

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Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech live updates: How to watch, odds, predictions for Mayo Bowl


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The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Virginia Tech Hokies will face off in Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday with a mayonnaise bath for the winning coach on the line. 

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Will Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck or Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry receive a head full of Duke’s mayonnaise?

The Hokies (6-6) will be without over a dozen starters who either entered the transfer portal, opted out of the bowl game or suffered injuries following the team’s 37-17 win over Virigina, including starting quarterback Kyron Drones and RB Bhayshul Tuten, the Hokies’ season rushing leader. Pry said the Hokies will showcase many young players that will offer fans “a good look at what our team can be in the fall” next season. 

The Gophers (7-5) are coming off a 24-7 win over Wisconsin in late November. 

This marks the first matchup between Minnesota and Virginia Tech. Here’s everything you need to know: 

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When is the Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech?

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How to watch Minnesota and Virginia Tech in the Mayo Bowl

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Minnesota take on Virginia Tech with a Fubo subscription

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Weapon seized by police at elementary school in Fosston, Minnesota; 11-year-old detained

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Weapon seized by police at elementary school in Fosston, Minnesota; 11-year-old detained


FOSSTON, Minn. — Police detained an 11-year-old after a gun was located at the elementary school in Fosston, Minnesota.

According to a report from the Fosston Police Department, the incident occurred on Thursday, Jan. 2. Fosston is a town in northwest Minnesota, approximately 45 miles west of Bemidji and 70 miles east of Grand Forks.

When police arrived at the school, a weapon was located and seized and the male suspect detained.

The release said the incident is under investigation.

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Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.





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Norovirus outbreaks doubled in Minnesota in December over 2023

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Norovirus outbreaks doubled in Minnesota in December over 2023


The holidays are behind us, but one thing you still want to be vigilant about is the rise in illnesses after spending time with loved ones.

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Sickness outbreaks

What we know: Health experts are keeping an eye on COVID-19, the Flu and RSV.

Meanwhile, they’ve noticed an outbreak of norovirus, also known as the stomach flu.

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“We’re at about 60 outbreaks reported, and that means more than 1,200 people were sick,” said Amy Saupe, Senior Epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health.

While that’s a small portion of all the illnesses in the state at the time, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says it’s seen twice as many outbreaks reported as it typically would see for the month of December.

“We’re seeing the test positive rates and the total positive tests in these large laboratory systems increasing,” said Dr. Frank Rhame, Infectious Disease Physician with Allina Health.

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What you can do

Sickness prevention: Experts say the best way to protect yourself from getting unwanted vomiting and diarrhea, is by doing the basics.

“Always wash your hands 20 seconds, soap and water before eating anything, just in case you’ve touched something that might have norovirus on it,” said Saupe.

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Experts also say if you’re sick – don’t prepare food for others.

As for respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the Flu?

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“We are lower now than we were at this time last year,” said Melissa McMahon, Epidemiology Supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health.

But lower doesn’t necessarily mean your chances are lower.

MDH says COVID-19 has been fairly high, but steady in the last month. The flu and RSV are both on the rise just in the last two to three weeks.

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“It is kind of common to see that increase right after the holidays, people tend to travel a lot. They get together in big groups,” said McMahon.

Health experts add they don’t expect the rise in illnesses to end until at least March. But they do expect an uptick in the next couple of months.

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The Source: Minnesota Department of Health officials

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