A cool or cold & dark midwest night

The crunch and smell of leaves and autumn. 

The thrill of the new costume, counting and consuming candy...

Best of all for me? The scary movies and stuff that goes bump in the night. 

That's my jam!

https://www.dailynorseman.com/minnesota-...ury-report

Additionally, Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen and Harrison Smith were limited in Friday’s practice with veteran rest days and will play on Sunday. Jay Ward did not practice on Friday due to a personal issue but also has no injury designation for Sunday’s game.

Kevin O’Connell said he expects Andrew Van Ginkel to play, which is a key addition to the Vikings defense. I believe O’Connell said that O’Neill would be questionable for the Lions game, but on the actual report he has no injury designation. In any case, I expect both O’Neill and Darrisaw to start on Sunday. Josh Metellus was a late addition to the injury report as he was limited on Friday with some foot soreness. I’d expect him to play Sunday as well, however.

Ham, Okudah, and Oliver have been ruled out for Sunday’s game as expected after not practicing all week. But overall, this will be as close to full strength as the Vikings have been in any game this season.

Its quite a hoot. Basically saying that Max Brosmer might pull a Brock Purdy on JJ like Purdy did Trey Lance. When you are out of sight and out of mind like JJM has been, its no holds barred. Enjoy and let the narratives begin! I love Max as well, but I guess not playing any real NFL games can make you Brock Purdy, but playing 2 real NFL games already makes you Trey Lance.
Also mentions Uncle Sammy and JJ not 'having a close relationship'. If true, I don't blame Sam or JJ. Darnold was trying to revive his career, not mentor McCarthy. And JJ was trying to learn and establish his own presence on the team as a rookie....he knew this was going to be his team. Not surprising.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6763797...ium=social&utm_campaign=nfltw&source=nfltw



"Internally, there have even been some comparisons with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, a 2022 seventh-rounder who made Lance expendable after stepping in and performing well late in his rookie season."

- Michael Silver on Vikings rookie QB Max Brosmer

The Miami Dolphins' decision to part ways with general manager Chris Grier reportedly won't yet lead to a head coaching change.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday that Mike McDaniel "will remain Miami's head coach for the remainder of the season at least."

Dolphins managing general partner Stephen M. Ross said in a statement Friday he and Grier decided to "mutually part ways" after the team fell to 2-7 with a blowout home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.

McDaniel is in his fourth season as the Dolphins' head coach. The team holds a 30-30 record and is on track for second straight losing campaign under his watch.

Ross said in his statement that the decision to move on from Grier was made after he decided "change could not wait."

"We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now," Ross said.

Ross concluded that helping the Dolphins return to success would involve "evaluating all areas of our football operation, and moving forward with a clear vision for the future."

According to a report from ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques ahead of Week 9, "a team source said Ross' disappointment with the results doesn't mean he's in any rush to fire McDaniel."

"The source said Ross is patient and a believer in the process; there's a limit, but Ross will remain tolerant as long as there are clear steps toward improvement," Louis-Jacques wrote.

Bleacher Report

https://twitter.com/i/status/1983944484694995038

Is it me or is it kind of nuts that the starting center the last few weeks for a NFL team is a guy that never took one snap there previously? I don't know whether to think its unlucky injuries/coaching ineptitude or a bit of brilliance on Brandel's part. 

"The #Jaguars are placing WR/CB Travis Hunter on IR due to a knee suffered in practice Thursday. He will miss at least the next 4 games."

This was the #2 overall pick. 1 TD and 28 catches. 11 solo tackles on defense. Yuck.

Just brutal to hear them say on TNF that the Ravens are saying Kyle Hamilton is on his way to the hall of fame and how incredibly in awe everyone is of him. Easiest pick for a first year GM right?!  Thanks Kwesi!  And he just keeps surprising us with more awful picks.  So we could have Hamilton, Verse or Quinyon Mitchell and a 3rd, 4th and 5th, instead of Cine and Turner.  Hello Wilfs!

https://www.si.com/college/minnesota/gop...he-gophers

Probably have a better career as a Viking if KAM gets him as an UDFA anyway....

As a fan? Call it what you want...

==================================

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy went through his first full practice since Sept. 12 on Wednesday ahead of his return to the starting lineup against the Lions in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.

“I feel like myself again,” said McCarthy, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the Vikings’ loss to Atlanta on Sept. 14. He added in a later answer that “It’s a little bit of a reset,” returning to game action after so much missed time.

McCarthy is on track for his first full week of practice since before the season opener.

As Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell emphasized in recent weeks as McCarthy returned to practice in limited fashion, the 22-year-old did not go through a full traditional week of practice prior to the Week 2 game against the Falcons because of the birth of his son.

Just eight days ago, the Vikings put McCarthy through a workout ahead of the team’s trip to Los Angeles and determined he wasn’t quite ready to play against the Chargers on Thursday night.

McCarthy also worked out on Friday after the team arrived back at TCO Performance Center, and he participated during Monday’s bonus practice session.

McCarthy’s return at quarterback comes at a pivotal point in the season, as the Vikings have dropped below .500 and play their first NFC North game since the Week 1 game against the Bears that McCarthy helped the team win in a comeback.

McCarthy and O’Connell recently rewatched both of McCarthy’s starts this season. McCarthy completed 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in those appearances — a 27-24 win against the Bears and a 22-6 loss to the Falcons. He took six sacks against Atlanta.

McCarthy said his biggest takeaways in the rewatches came down to how important simple things like his progression through reads and footwork can be to creating success.

O’Connell echoed that in a way, talking about the pair’s discussion of getting into a rhythm and playing with great base, balance and body position as a start to fixing larger issues.

“Those things that you can control from a ‘Do your job’ standpoint yourself at an NFL level is what J.J.’s continuously working to make sure that he does,” O’Connell said. “When he does that, there’s been some really good visual evidence of him playing quarterback.”


STRIB