The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the December 26th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Injury Status for Hitman, Josh McCown + Vikings, Teddy in DET
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Will Harrison Smith play Sunday against the Packers?
Answer: It’s trending that way, yes.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling tweeted Thursday, three days before Packers at Vikings: “The Vikings are back to a full practice on Thursday, and Harrison Smith is back on the practice field.”
And after last Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks, head coach Kevin O’Connell described Smith’s injury as “very short-term.”
We’d bet on Smith playing in Week 17, barring last-minute setback.
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. should play, too.
Q: Will quarterback coach Josh McCown stay with the Vikings in 2025?
Answer: That one is 50/50.
The NFL just has to notice what McCown has done with Sam Darnold. Throughout his long career, McCown played at many destinations as a quarterback, so he’ll have built-in connections for a coaching promotion.
McCown may not get looks just yet as a head coach, but the possibility cannot be ruled out. He knows the sport and league quite well.
These spots might make sense:
- Chicago Bears (HC or OC)
- Cleveland Browns (HC)
- Detroit Lions (OC)
- New York Giants (HC or OC)
- New York Jets (HC or OC)
The NFL coaching carousel will heat up in a few weeks. McCown’s name might be interwoven.
Q: If something happens to Jared Goff in Detroit, would Teddy Bridgewater or Hendon Hooker play in the postseason?
Answer: Probably Hooker — with a quick hook to Bridgewater.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Thursday, about 16 days before the start of the NFL postseason: “Comeback: High school state championship-winning coach and NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement and is expected to sign with the Lions, sources tell The Insiders. Bridgwater appeared on NFL Network and revealed his plans to play again. Back to Detroit.”
The Lions employed Bridgewater last year as Jared Goff’s backup before his retirement earlier this calendar year.
Detroit had to prepare Hooker as the QB2 all season, and had something happened to Goff before this week, well, Hooker would’ve gotten the nod.
We’ll say Hooker here, though it’s basically a guess.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
#Injury #Status #Hitman #Josh #McCown #Vikings #Teddy #DET
