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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 Capitol security enhancements underway

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Minnesota Capitol security enhancements underway


Security changes at the Minnesota State Capitol are underway, but it will still be a couple of months before an advisory committee’s comprehensive recommendations are forwarded to the legislature.

The most notable change in the short term will be more uniform security personnel on the job, following the recent hiring of 20 new security officers.

RELATED: State Capitol security changes now in effect with more to come

“Mid to late November is when they will start their training and then be put into their own classification and be out there in the field, so to speak, and functioning as Capitol security officers and our eyes and ears that are out there,” says Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol.

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Geiger says more state troopers will also be assigned to the Capitol complex, along with a new captain to help oversee security, as well as an existing captain.

RELATED: State Patrol finalizing third-party Capitol security review after ‘naked man’ incident 

Additionally, a trooper will be assigned to work with the BCA investigating threats involving the Capitol complex. There have been 50 threats investigated so far in 2025 — compared to 19 in all of 2024. 13 cases this year have been referred for prosecution.

The Advisory Committee on Capitol Security also learned more about the consulting firm hired to study Capitol complex security and to make recommendations for improvements. The Axtell Group is headed by former St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell. He addressed the committee to outline the work that will be done, but says it’s too soon to report any findings.

One lawmaker was concerned that the contract with the consulting firm only calls for studying four of 14 buildings that make up the Capitol complex, including the Capitol itself, the Senate Office Building, the Centennial Office Building (where House members are temporarily officing) and the Judicial Building.

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“There are other buildings on the campus that obviously the public interacts with,” said Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia. “People who actually perhaps serve in these buildings will walk over to for a number of different reasons, and I’m wondering why have those buildings been excluded from the comprehensive, I believe it was called a comprehensive security assessment,  because without those buildings in my estimation it is not comprehensive.”

Axtell said his firm’s contract only calls for a review of those four buildings, and Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson explained why. He says they are the most heavily visited buildings, and all that could be budgeted for at this point.

“This assessment, once it’s completed, does not preclude us from coming back to the legislature and asking for more funds to complete the rest of the Capitol area completely,” he said. “I think that actually would be a wise idea.”

The committee, chaired by DFL Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, includes House and Senate members, law enforcement, and sergeant-at-arms staff from the House and Senate. They will continue meeting until they come up with recommendations for the legislature when it reconvenes in February.

RELATED: State committee discusses Capitol security in wake of attack on lawmakers

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Pacers vs Timberwolves Game Loses Minnesota All-Star with Concerning Injury

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Pacers vs Timberwolves Game Loses Minnesota All-Star with Concerning Injury


The Indiana Pacers, who are missing a whopping seven guards in their ongoing Sunday tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves, got a bit of injury luck when Minnesota’s best player was ruled out for good in the first quarter of the action.

More news: Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Provides New Injury Update on Himself

Per Chris Haynes of Amazon Prime and NBA TV, All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards has been ruled out for the rest of the contest with right hamstring tightness.

At the end of the first frame, the game is knotted up at 28-28.

More news: Pacers Cut Ties with Key Guard Despite Major Injury Issues at the Position

This story will be updated…

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For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.





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How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Indiana Pacers NBA game: Live stream, TV channel, and start time | Goal.com

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How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Indiana Pacers NBA game: Live stream, TV channel, and start time | Goal.com


The Indiana Pacers head to Target Center on Sunday to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Indiana will be on tired legs, wrapping up the second game of a back-to-back after squaring off with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. The Pacers are still searching for their first win after a wild season opener that saw them fall 141–135 in double overtime to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Minnesota, meanwhile, has had a mixed start to the campaign, splitting its first two outings with a victory over Portland followed by a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Indiana Pacers NBA game, plus plenty more.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Indiana Pacers: Date and tip-off time

The Timberwolves will face off against the Pacers in an exciting NBA game on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota .

Date Sunday, October 26, 2025
Tip-off Time 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT
Venue Target Center
Location Minneapolis, Minnesota

How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Indiana Pacers on TV & stream live online

Fans in the USA can catch all the action between the Timberwolves and the Pacers live on Fubo (in-market).

Streaming the game with a VPN

Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.

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When it comes to streaming live sports, NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN service in 2025. You can even try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you aren’t sure how to use a VPN, check out our guide on how to set up and stream sports from any country with a VPN.

Minnesota Timberwolves team news

For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards has been on fire to start the year, averaging 36 points per game while knocking down over 53% of his shots and an impressive 50% from beyond the arc. Julius Randle has been a steady complement inside, putting up 22.5 points and eight rebounds per game, forming a potent inside-out pairing with Edwards. Jaden McDaniels has chipped in 14 points a night while maintaining his reputation as a defensive stopper.

Anchoring the interior, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid have been a force, combining to help Minnesota average a whopping 10 blocks per game. The Wolves’ main focus will be to dictate tempo and keep the Pacers from turning the game into a track meet, limiting transition chances and open-floor scoring will be key to containing Indiana’s fast-paced attack.

Indiana Pacers team news

Indiana’s season opener offered a glimpse of just how explosive this offense can be. Bennedict Mathurin erupted for 36 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including three triples, while Pascal Siakam made a statement in his Pacers debut with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists. Obi Toppin added 20 points and five boards, and rookie Jarace Walker chipped in 13 off the bench. Despite the offensive fireworks, the Pacers struggled with consistency from deep, connecting on just 13 of 43 attempts (30%) while shooting 44% overall from the floor.

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Defensively, however, Indiana had a tough night, surrendering 141 points and 55 rebounds. The team allowed too many clean looks and failed to finish defensive possessions, giving up several costly second-chance opportunities. With Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell sidelined, the Pacers’ backcourt depth remains thin, a challenge that forces others to step up. To hang with Minnesota, Indiana must tighten up its interior defense and stay locked in on assignments.

Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers head-to-head record

Date Competition Home Team Away Team Score
08.10.25 NBA Minnesota Timberwolves Indiana Pacers 134 – 135
25.03.25 NBA Indiana Pacers Minnesota Timberwolves 119 – 103
18.03.25 NBA Minnesota Timberwolves Indiana Pacers 130 – 132
15.07.24 LVSL Indiana Pacers Minnesota Timberwolves 94 – 105
08.03.24 NBA Indiana Pacers Minnesota Timberwolves 111 – 113

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