2023 Minnesota Vikings season
The 2023 season is the Minnesota Vikings' 63rd in the National Football League, their eighth playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. In Week 5, after a loss to the Chiefs, they failed to improve upon their 13–4 record from 2022. They are still looking to win the NFC North title in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009.
2023 Minnesota Vikings season | |
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Owner | Zygi Wilf |
General manager | Kwesi Adofo-Mensah |
Head coach | Kevin O'Connell |
Home field | U.S. Bank Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 3–4 |
Division place | 2nd NFC North |
Uniform | |
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For the first time since 2012, wide receiver Adam Thielen is not on the roster, as he was released on March 10.[1] Additionally, for the first time since 2016, four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook is not on the roster, as he was released on June 9.[2] This is also the first season since the death of legendary coach and team advisor Bud Grant on March 11.[3]
Offseason
Additions
Position | Player | Former team | Date |
---|---|---|---|
WR | Brandon Powell | Los Angeles Rams | Signed on March 22 |
LB | Troy Reeder | Los Angeles Chargers | Signed on March 22 |
TE | Josh Oliver | Baltimore Ravens | Signed on March 15 |
DT | Dean Lowry | Green Bay Packers | Signed on March 20 |
OLB | Marcus Davenport | New Orleans Saints | Signed on March 15 |
CB | Byron Murphy | Arizona Cardinals | Signed on March 15 |
CB | Joejuan Williams | New England Patriots | Signed on April 17 |
Subtractions
Position | Player | New team | Date |
---|---|---|---|
WR | Adam Thielen | Carolina Panthers | Released on March 10 |
LB | Eric Kendricks | Los Angeles Chargers | Released on March 6 |
TE | Irv Smith Jr. | Cincinnati Bengals | |
CB | Kris Boyd | Arizona Cardinals | |
CB | Cameron Dantzler | Washington Commanders | |
CB | Chandon Sullivan | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
CB | Patrick Peterson | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
CB | Duke Shelley | Las Vegas Raiders | |
OLB | Za'Darius Smith | Cleveland Browns | Traded on May 16 |
DT | Dalvin Tomlinson | Cleveland Browns | |
C | Greg Mancz | Buffalo Bills | Released on January 14 |
RB | Dalvin Cook | New York Jets | Released on June 9 |
Draft
Draft trades
- The Vikings traded a second-round selection (55th overall) and a 2024 third-round selection to the Detroit Lions in exchange for TE T. J. Hockenson, a fourth-round selection (119th overall) and a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection.
- The Vikings traded a third-round selection (87th overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for third-, fifth- and seventh-round selections (102nd, 164th and 222nd overall).[6]
- The Vikings traded a fourth-round selection (119th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round selection (134th overall) and a 2024 fifth-round selection.[6]
- The Vikings traded a fourth-round selection (126th overall) and a 2022 fifth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round selection.
- The Vikings traded a fifth- and sixth-round selection (158th and 211th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a fifth-round selection (141st overall).[6]
- The Vikings traded a sixth-round selection (201st overall) to the Houston Texans in exchange for DE Ross Blacklock and a seventh-round selection (219th overall).
- The Vikings traded a seventh-round selection (219th overall) and a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for WR Jalen Reagor.
- The Vikings traded DE Stephen Weatherly and a seventh-round selection (241st overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round selection.
Name | Position | College | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Junior Aho | OLB | SMU* | [8] |
Alan Ali | C | TCU | [9] |
Calvin Avery | DT | Illinois | |
Abraham Beauplan | MLB | Marshall | |
Andre Carter II | OLB | Army | |
Jacky Chen | OT | Pace | |
C. J. Coldon | CB | Oklahoma | |
Wilson Huber | MLB | Cincinnati | |
Cephus Johnson | WR | Southeastern Louisiana | |
Malik Knowles | Kansas State | ||
Garett Maag | North Dakota | [10] | |
Zach Ojile | FB | Minnesota–Duluth | [11] |
Ivan Pace Jr. | MLB | Cincinnati | [9] |
Jack Podlesny | K | Georgia | |
Ben Sims | TE | Baylor | |
Thayer Thomas | WR | NC State | |
NaJee Thompson | CB | Georgia Southern | |
Jaylin Williams | Indiana |
* Signed from France as part of the International Player Pathway Program
Staff
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Current roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics Roster updated October 25, 2023 52 active, 9 inactive, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt) → AFC rosters → NFC rosters |
Preseason
The Vikings' preseason schedule was announced on May 11, 2023, along with the regular season schedule. They will first travel to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seattle Seahawks, before returning to Minnesota for their remaining two games, first against the Tennessee Titans and then the Arizona Cardinals.[12]
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 10 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 13–24 | 0–1 | Lumen Field | Recap |
2 | August 19 | Tennessee Titans | L 16–24 | 0–2 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap |
3 | August 26 | Arizona Cardinals | L 17–18 | 0–3 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap |
Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Seahawks | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- Date: August 10
- Game time: 7:05 p.m. PDT
9:05 p.m. CDT - Game weather: Mostly sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,179
- Referee: Ronald Torbert (62)
- TV: Fox 9
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 19
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,689
- Referee: Clay Martin (19)
- TV: Fox 9
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs Arizona Cardinals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 18 |
Vikings | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Time (CT) | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | TV | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 17–20 | 0–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | CBS | Recap |
2 | September 14 | 7:15 p.m. | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 28–34 | 0–2 | Lincoln Financial Field | KMSP/Prime Video | Recap |
3 | September 24 | 12:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Chargers | L 24–28 | 0–3 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox | Recap |
4 | October 1 | 12:00 p.m. | at Carolina Panthers | W 21–13 | 1–3 | Bank of America Stadium | Fox | Recap |
5 | October 8 | 3:25 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs | L 20–27 | 1–4 | U.S. Bank Stadium | CBS | Recap |
6 | October 15 | 12:00 p.m. | at Chicago Bears | W 19–13 | 2–4 | Soldier Field | Fox | Recap |
7 | October 23 | 7:15 p.m. | San Francisco 49ers | W 22–17 | 3–4 | U.S. Bank Stadium | ESPN/ABC | Recap |
8 | October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Fox | |||
9 | November 5 | 12:00 p.m. | at Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Fox | |||
10 | November 12 | 12:00 p.m. | New Orleans Saints | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox | |||
11 | November 19 | 7:20 p.m. | at Denver Broncos | Empower Field at Mile High | NBC | |||
12 | November 27 | 7:15 p.m. | Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium | ESPN/ABC | |||
13 | Bye | |||||||
14 | December 10 | 3:05 p.m. | at Las Vegas Raiders | Allegiant Stadium | Fox | |||
15 | TBD (December 16/17/18) | TBD | at Cincinnati Bengals | Paycor Stadium | TBD | |||
16 | December 24 | 12:00 p.m. | Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox | |||
17 | December 31 | 7:20 p.m. | Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium | NBC | |||
18 | TBD (January 6/7) | TBD | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field | TBD |
Notes
- Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
- Networks and times from Weeks 9–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.
- The date, time and network for Week 15 will be finalized at a later date.
- The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.
Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 10
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,741
- Referee: Scott Novak (1)
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and AJ Ross
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
Eagles | 3 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 8:15 p.m. EDT/7:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,879
- Referee: Clay Martin (19)
- TV announcers (Prime Video): Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,878
- Referee: Shawn Smith (14)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Panthers | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,842
- Referee: Tra Blake (3)
- TV announcers (Fox): Alex Faust, Brady Quinn and Megan Olivi
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
Vikings | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 67,003
- Referee: Land Clark (130)
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
Bears | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,167
- Referee: Brad Allen (122)
- TV announcers (Fox): Brandon Gaudin, Robert Smith and Jen Hale
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Vikings | 7 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 22 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 7:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,975
- Referee: Carl Cheffers (51)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 8: at Green Bay Packers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Referee: Shawn Hochuli (83)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
- Preview
Division
NFC North | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Detroit Lions | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 174 | 151 | L1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 151 | 152 | W2 |
Green Bay Packers | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 130 | 132 | L3 |
Chicago Bears | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 158 | 188 | W1 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 6 | 1 | 0 | .857 | 1–0 | 4–0 | .458 | .452 | W1 |
2[lower-alpha 1] | Detroit Lions | North | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | 1–0 | 4–1 | .522 | .455 | L1 |
3[lower-alpha 1] | San Francisco 49ers | West | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | 2–0 | 4–1 | .457 | .424 | L2 |
4 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 4 | 3 | 0 | .571 | 2–0 | 3–2 | .457 | .320 | W1 |
Wild cards | |||||||||||
5[lower-alpha 2] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 1–1 | 4–1 | .350 | .296 | W1 |
6[lower-alpha 2] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 1–0 | 1–2 | .375 | .346 | W1 |
7[lower-alpha 3] | Minnesota Vikings | North | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 1–0 | 3–2 | .511 | .350 | W2 |
In the hunt | |||||||||||
8[lower-alpha 3] | Los Angeles Rams | West | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 2–1 | 2–2 | .565 | .400 | L1 |
9[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 1–1 | 3–3 | .560 | .381 | L3 |
10[lower-alpha 3] | Washington Commanders | East | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 0–2 | 2–3 | .440 | .333 | L1 |
11[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | New Orleans Saints | South | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 1–1 | 1–2 | .378 | .211 | L2 |
12 | Green Bay Packers | North | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 1–1 | 2–2 | .452 | .357 | L3 |
13[lower-alpha 5] | New York Giants | East | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 1–1 | 2–3 | .563 | .286 | W1 |
14[lower-alpha 5] | Chicago Bears | North | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 0–2 | 1–3 | .458 | .429 | W1 |
15 | Arizona Cardinals | West | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | 0–3 | 1–5 | .522 | .667 | L4 |
16 | Carolina Panthers | South | 0 | 6 | 0 | .000 | 0–2 | 0–5 | .585 | .000 | L6 |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 6] | |||||||||||
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Legend | |||||||||||
w — Clinched wild card | |||||||||||
x — Clinched playoff berth | |||||||||||
y — Clinched division | |||||||||||
z — Clinched first-round bye and home-field advantage |
Statistics
Team leaders
Category | Player(s) | Total |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Kirk Cousins | 1,075 |
Passing touchdowns | Kirk Cousins | 9 |
Rushing yards | Alexander Mattison | 155 |
Receptions | Justin Jefferson | 27 |
Receiving yards | Justin Jefferson | 458 |
Receiving touchdowns | T. J. Hockenson Jordan Addison K. J. Osborn | 2 |
Points | Greg Joseph | 15 |
Kickoff return yards | Ty Chandler | 15 |
Punt return yards | Brandon Powell | 37 |
Tackles | Camryn Bynum | 31 |
Sacks | Danielle Hunter | 5.0 |
Interceptions | Theo Jackson | 1 |
Forced fumbles | Akayleb Evans Danielle Hunter Jordan Hicks Harrison Smith Troy Dye | 1 |
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com[13]
League rankings
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 1,019 | 339.7 | 2nd |
Rushing offense | 199 | 66.3 | 31st |
Total offense | 1,218 | 406.0 | 3rd |
Passing defense | 785 | 261.7 | 25th |
Rushing defense | 362 | 120.7 | 19th |
Total defense | 1,147 | 382.3 | 27th |
Source: ProFootballReference.com[14]
References
- Patra, Kevin (March 10, 2023). "Vikings release WR Adam Thielen after a decade in Minnesota".
- Peters, Craig (June 9, 2023). "Vikings Release Dalvin Cook". vikings.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- Gordon, Grant (March 11, 2023). "Bud Grant, legendary Vikings head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at age 95".
- Goessling, Ben (May 17, 2023). "Vikings sign first-round draft pick Jordan Addison". StarTribune. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- "Vikings 2023 draft class: Projecting each rookie's contract". Vikings Wire. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- "2023 NFL Draft trade tracker: Full details on every draft-related move since start of the new league year". NFL.com. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- Alper, Josh (May 12, 2023). "Viking sign third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon, three others". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- Young, Lindsey (May 4, 2023). "Vikings Welcome OLB Junior Aho Through NFL International Player Pathway Program". Vikings.com.
- "Vikings Agree to Terms with 15 Undrafted Free Agents". Vikings.com. April 29, 2023.
- "Vikings Sign Wide Receiver Garett Maag". Vikings.com. June 2, 2023.
- "Vikings Sign 2 Tryout Players & Minnesota Natives to Roster". Vikings.com. May 16, 2023.
- Peters, Craig (May 11, 2023). "Minnesota Vikings 2023 Full Schedule". Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "2023 Minnesota Vikings Statistics & Players". pro-football-reference.com. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- "2023 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.