MAJOR Vikings Injury News On T.J. Hockenson, Andrew Van Ginkel & Najee Thompson

[Music] what's going on everybody Welcome in the Vikings Now by Chad Sports my name is Patrick stepman and coming up on today's show we have some major Vikings injury news around TJ hackinson and Andrew van Ginko so stay tuned for that and then also Kevin oconnell at his press conference before Vikings training camp and he gave some insight on his plan with the quarterback one position heading into week one vers the New York Giants but before we dive into that guys hey if you guys want the Vikings to be healthy all season long like today's video do not Jin it jinx it like it for good health as you know one of the biggest reasons why the Vikings were not as successful as I thought this past season was obviously the injuries and you could also throw turnovers in there as well but hey if you guys want the Vikings to be healthy all season long just drop a like on today's show all right so the Vikings have an injury problem heading in the training camp well Kevin okell great uh gave great Insight on the latest injury news around the V uh Minnesota Vikings and more specifically star tight end TJ hackinson and this is what he had to say he said TJ will begin training camp on the pup list he's well ahead of schedule from a standpoint of some of the benchmarks throughout his rehab TJ looking back at the offseason program did not miss really a day outside of going to see a surgeon in in Los Angeles he was there every single day and then that continued through the summer so I think Tyler Williams and his staff feel really good about where he's at but you know the significant injury that it was and listen TJ Hockinson before he got hurt last season he was great now he did have some drop issues during the first half of the season if you guys have tuned in to our watch parties here at Chad sports like I was very critical of TJ hackinson and his drops but he really shed that up after the Kansas City chief game and he was just on the verge of being a 100 reception a th000 yard player this past season ended up finding the end zone five times I do wish the Vikings used him more as a Red Zone threat as he is a big body just have him kind of play basketball and go post up you know a smaller linebacker DB and just give him a 50/50 chance but hey 10.1 yards uh per catch this past season then also 64 yards per game but you know when TJ or when he inevitably will miss time at the beginning of the Season who will step up in his place now I think as Vikings fans we were sleeping on the fact that Josh Oliver could be a complete Dark Horse to get it done in the receiving category as we are obviously know he is one of the best run blocking tight ends in the National Football League actually PFF graded graded him out as the best Zone Gap blocking tight in the league so that was great news there but then you got guys like tunan Nick Muse Johnny Mt and maybe even a guy like nille Harry I wouldn't be shocked if he plays a lot of tight end for the Vikings at the beginning of the season with hackinson out um we obviously know he's making that transition from Riot receiver to tight end and you know with his big frame and just how his body typ naturally is I actually think the tight end position would suit him more but don't sleep on Robert tanion now this tweet was coming in from Alec Lewis during the Vikings mini camp session and he said this Robert tanion has looked great in mini camp no hyperbole catching everything snagged the multiple passes in the Red Zone period today outstretch arms toet tapping in the corner of the end zone just impressive now ton fun fact he has actually played for every single NFC North team in his short career so far in the NFL I think that's pretty interesting there but if hey Alec Lewis who was there during all Vikings mini camp practices the fact he was given this much praise to tanion you know makes me sleep a little bit better at night knowing that even if Hawk would have to miss time we could have Josh aliver tunyan and nio Harry man that tight endend group before the or for the first half of the season but with haot going on the pup list it means he could return before weeks or by week seven the pup list means he will not be able to practice with the Vikings up until week six um so then he could resume you know uh play here uh during week seven so that'll be great for the Minnesota Vikings obviously having an early bye I think helps that case as well he did tease at the idea that he could maybe return for the London game but obviously with him going on the pup list that you know takes that away but we also got more injury news coming from the Vikings Twitter account actually um the Vikings have made the following roster moves Place tight end DJ Hockinson and Naji Thomas Thompson on the pup list we'll talk about Thompson here in a second as why that's disappointing but also Dwayne McBride on the non-f football injury list so don't really think he would had an out or had a chance to make this roster but now this Vikings running back room with no McBride no cam acres and maybe they try to bring somebody in before c or during training camp we'll have to see but specifically on Naji Thompson here I am overly excited to watch him play this season and it is definitely dis pointing that he will not be able to you know play for the first six games but you know I think just his overall special teams value him as the Gunner like it was fun every special team's rep last year for the Vikes like whether it's punt return you know punt like I I thought he was great he was fun the watch was constantly making plays and he was one of the best special teams player in college football coming out and a big reason why he was made the Vikings 53 man roster was because of his special team's ability so you know that's just random thought I had that I'm pumped up to watch him play but also more news it's sounding like Andrew van Ginko some of the most beautiful hair in the National Football League it sounds like he'll be ready for week one okano hinted that he is ramping up for Vikings training camp so hopefully he can get out there get reps with Brian flores's you know exotic defense as you know why I love this signing so much is this was a perfect scheme fit with what Flo likes to do you know he's one of the most versatile football players in the NFL like he can drop back in the coverage cover linebackers pretty well he's great off the edge as a Blitzer and also he is fantastic in the Run game as well so that's great news there uh for van gko but hey Vikings fans training camp is here it is underway right now um you know we'll have more content around training camp coming out in the next couple of days as uh media reports Wednesday so we'll see the clips we'll see you know hopefully you know the JJ McCarthy viral Clips there so make sure you guys are subscribed don't miss out on a thing I promise you I would do my best to keep you guys up to date with the latest round of the Minnesota Vikings and also coming up in just a second Kevin okano leaks who he thinks will be quarterback one versus the New York Giants but hey first off I do want to give you guys a huge shout out about our today's sponsor and that is game time game time is the best ticket purchasing app out there and if you guys use promo code chat sports on your first purchase you guys will receive $20 off that is terms apply promo code chat sports and you guys will get $20 off your first purchase and hey if you guys want to go see a Minnesota to Twins game this summer game time is the authorized ticket Marketplace of Major League Baseball which makes getting tickets faster and easier prices on the game time map actually go down the closer it gets the first pitch with killer last minute deals Allin prices views from your seat and their lowest price guaranteed game time takes the guesswork out of buying tickets now pick any specific game or matchup that you would love to attend and you guys will be able to 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I have no com uh no preconceived preset depth chart in my mind Beyond Sam is the number one quarterback he's taken the most refs with the starters Sam had a great spring JJ came in herea being drafted and had a really productive spring as well really my message to those guys is that I really want a competitive situation now this is the take that I was just completely wrong about I thought there was no chance JJ McCarthy starts week one against the New York Giants I actually think there's a greater chance than I originally thought right now I'd probably go 8802 20 in favor of Sam darnold but let's just say JJ goes out there he looks apart during training camp and he is by far the better quarterback and the Vikings Trot out Sam darnold week one the other players on the team would be like hey I understand JJ is just 21 years old but he gives us a better chance to win right now why would we not roll with the young guy in comparison going with Sam darnold because those guys would be saying we already know who Sam darnold is let's take a chance on JJ get that JJ the JJ connection maybe going here a lot sooner than we thought but he also talked about how the Reps will shake out um which I thought was very interesting as well he said Sam well you know obviously be you know taking majority of his reps with the first group but I think you will see JJ maybe gets some as well and you know personally I cannot wait to see the first viral clip of JJ McCarthy maybe it's a little play action I don't know what it could be but when JJ finds Justin Jefferson for his first pass it is going to go crazy unfortunately we did not get that clip during mini camp or the otaa period so hopefully we'll finally get it during Vikings training camp Hey Alec Lewis will reget any of the guys that going to be at Vikings training camp please tweet those videos out because I cannot wait to watch them and just to see that first you know clip of JJ finding JJ it is going to move mountains you know for Vikings fans but Kevin okan also talked about JJ McCarthy he said I would not allow any factors outside of what's best for JJ and what's best to help help the Minnesota Vikings now I love this personally because you know I think you know as fans we are not going to be patient like it's just going to be natural like the first game where Sam darnold has three picks and the Vikings lose and he throws over 150 yards like I'm sure I'm going to be pounding the table saying we need JJ McCarthy out there but I like the process that Kevin okano is using we're going to take our time with JJ McCarthy also hinted that he is on his own developmental you know plan instead of it being like hey we're just going to figure out who's the better quarterback right now it's going to be more in terms of when JJ is ready he will play instead of like oh JJ is better than darnold now we're just going to throw him in and plus Kevin oconnell we talked about him being a former quarterback um just him you know knowing the ins and outs of the NFL and what will you know specifically help a QB you know he hinted at that as another big reason why he thinks you know JJ is on his own timeline so I love the way he's been talking about this quarterback battle and I just can't wait for this to heat up during training camp but hey what you guys pick a quarterback one for me if you're Kevin oconnell what's your decision week one versus the New York Giants give me an SD for Sam darnold or give me a JJ for JJ McCarthy also if you guys want more Vikings training camp news rumors whatever it may be on your Twitter timeline give me a follow over here at Pats is the Twitter handle and hey if you guys do so I'll give you guys a follow back but thank you guys so much for watching Today's Show see you guys next time Co viik [Music]