August 19, 2025 • 13 mins
Tim discusses the current challenges facing the Minnesota Vikings' wide receiver position, particularly in light of injuries and suspensions affecting key players like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He emphasizes the urgency for the Vikings to address these issues before the season begins, suggesting that they should consider trading for additional depth at the position. The conversation highlights the precarious situation the team finds itself in as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome into the Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast. My name
is Tim and I'm the host of this podcast. A
big Minnesota Vikings topic to discuss today, because the Vikings
are running out of time and there is a position
within the Vikings roster that is very very unsettled and
(00:29):
has to make the decision makers within the Vikings organization
very very nervous right now. But first, let me tell
you about five Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis, because they
transformed our bathroom in forty eight hours, and that's their
promise for you as well. If you have a bathroom
(00:50):
project that needs to get done, big or small, contact
five Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis. We got a new floor,
a tub, a new shower, surround shower heads.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
All over the above.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We went from a single to a double sinck of
new mirror, vanity countertops. Everything in our bathrooms are modeled
in forty eight hours. Why wait eight weeks when five
Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis promises a bathroom ramdel in
twenty four to forty eight hours. Free consultations are available.
(01:28):
Affordable payment plans also are available. Five Star Bath Solutions
of Minneapolis there's a reason why five stars in their
name because they produce five star work, five star.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Bath solutions of Minneapolis.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The position that is as unsettled as you could have
it possibly be when you have the best wide receiver
in football on your roster is the wide receiver position.
Based on the scenario the Vikings have been dealt this
offseason with Justin Jefferson's hamstring issue, with Jordan Addison's three
(02:08):
game suspension, and Jalen Naylor's hand being an issue. When
it rains, it pours, and it has poured on the
Vikings wide.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Receiver room this offseason, and it's a.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Terrible time for it to happen because the last thing
you want is j J. McCarthy throwing balls to wide
receiver fours and wide receiver threes acting like wide receiver
twos and wide receiver threes. And with the preseason running
out of time and training camp running out of time,
(02:50):
the Vikings have to figure out the direction that they're going.
Because there's a Kevin Severert piece on ESPN because he
wrote about it and it's the most popular subject right
now outside of Max Brosmer.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Here's what he said wrong one, here's what he had
to say about.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
The Vikings wide receiver room. Okay, this is just like
terrible right now. The screen isn't sharing and it is
scaring and I'm clicking the wrong page. This is a disaster.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yes, here's what it says. Justin's Jefferson's return comes at
a time with the Vikings receiver position is unsettled, Jordan
Asden will save a three game NFL suspension to start
the season, and presumptive number three receiver Jalen Naylor hasn't
practiced since suffering a hand injury last week during joint
(03:53):
practices with the New England Patriots. O'Connell said Naylor is
figuring out what the best plan of action for return
to play will be. The coach, who classified Naylor's status
as week to week would not say whether surgery is
an option. A few concerning things in this paragraph from
(04:16):
the Vikings and Jalen Naylor. One it talks about him
being week to week, which is different than day to day.
And two it says figuring out what the best plan
of action for a return to play will be, which
tells me is not a black and white, cut and dry. Okay,
(04:37):
miss a week of practice in your back and you're
one hundred percent healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
The fact that surgery is an option.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
For Jalen Naylor should tell us everything we need to
know about Jalen Naylor's injury. And what's also known about
Naylor is that he can be at times.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Sir drops a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
And if you're gonna throw in a hand injury with
Sir drops a lot, then there's probably an issue moving
forward with wide receiver two while Jordan and Addison is out,
but you're throw in TJ. Hockinson into the mix, and
he got jo Justin Jefferson to wide receiver one, Hockinson
wide receiver two. But then who's wide receiver three? You know,
(05:20):
this issue wasn't an issue until Jalen Naylor went down
with his injury because he could fit in as wide
receiver three his normal row.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Hockinson fits in as wide receiver two while Addison is
out and things are just fine for three weeks. But
now Naylor seems ify j Justin Jefferson. I'm not concerned
about his injury because you've seen videos in practice and
he's doing these little spins and things like that, sitting
(05:54):
Jefferson out of practice wasn't because really of his injury,
but Marcel of fear that really there's no depth left
and we need you to be healthy by week one.
So he did some individual work yesterday and he's fine.
I'm not concerned at all about Jefferson, and neither should you.
(06:14):
But the problem is there's no insurance plan on this thing.
If the house goes down, who's left right now? There's
a fire within the Vikings wide receiver room, and there's
no insurance policy because if one more guy goes down,
(06:36):
If Hoginson gets hurt, who he kind of liffed up
his groin during training camp practiced a few weeks ago,
If Justin jefferson hamstring gets reaggravated and he's had issues
with that this offseason or this training camp and a
few years ago, if something else happens to the Vikings room,
(07:00):
then they're screwed and it's going to be a disaster.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
But what the Vikings are battling right now is.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
It's not a week one through week seventeen issue or
whatever week eighteen issue.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Right now. The issue is week one through week three.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's not like, Okay, well we're gonna bring on this
guy for the entire season because Addison's out for the
ten He's only out three games. So it's like, how
can we get ourselves to week three just fine, so
that we can get all of our guys back and
then hit our stride in week four. So that's the
(07:47):
internal battle the Vikings are struggling with right now. Jefferson,
we're fine with you, but Naylor week to week hand injury,
you drop it quite a bit. You've had your injury
issues in the past. Addison y'all three weeks. It's like,
what is the perfect formula to bridge the gap for
(08:10):
the first.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Three weeks of the season.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I think the Vikings have to go out and
sign someone or trade for a guy. And I was
looking at their draft capital for next season, and the
Vikings have enough draft capital to take a fourth round pick,
which they have and trade it for a wide receiver
(08:35):
that a team doesn't want anymore. And what's so surprising
is you can get a lot with a fourth round pick.
A fourth round pick might seem like nothing, but teams
will take on a fourth round pick to get rid
of a guy for a pick.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
That they don't want to keep anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So the Vikings need to be scouring the market for
a wide receiver that a team doesn't want anymore and
fourth round pick for him, trade a future fifth round
pick for him, because there is no insurance policy in
the Vikings wide receiver room. And it appears by all
(09:12):
means that Naylor isn't going to be fully ready for
Week one, And let's just make this clear justin Jefferson
not practicing and trying to prepare for Week one versus
Chicago on Monday Night football is much different than Jalen
Naylor not practicing and him trying to be ready for
(09:34):
Week one in Chicago. Jefferson has greatness and he has
an amazing skill set and attributes that Jalen Naylor doesn't possess.
The hands, the route running, everything else in between, and
just the fact that he draws two to three defenders
(09:55):
to him on every single play makes a big difference
whether he's ninety percent under one hundred percent. Jalen Naylor
not practicing for weeks and then trying to get ready
for week one doesn't make me comfortable about his readiness
and is and his prepare preparedness to play in Week
(10:18):
one against Chicago. So that's something else to consider as well,
Jefferson fine, sit out of practice. I'm comfortable with him
showing up week one and being ready. Naylor not so much,
and the Vikings need to consider that. And with only
one preseason game left, the starters ain't playing. Not a
(10:39):
big deal, but it would be nice to bring in
a guy now to get acclimated and comfortable weeks before
the regular season kicks off, because I don't think you
want to wait until the last second to provide an
insurance policy on your wide receiver room. I think you
want to make it happen. Why are you gonna wait
(11:01):
a week before the regular season kicks off, either to
sign a guy that got released or to trade for
a guy when you have a few weeks right now
to trade a fourth round pick for somebody and bring
him in. I think that's the way the Viking should go.
You've got to think long and hard. That's what she
(11:22):
said about the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver room right now, because.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
There's a lot of issues going on.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
In that area and you don't want McCarthy throwing to
players that aren't designed or skilled enough to be a
wide receiver two or wide receiver three.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
For the first three weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Of the season, so it's a big thing that the
Vikings need to think about. Let me tell you about
Hunkland Arms Beef ninety five two four nine one one
five four one for the best rotationally grazed grass fed
beef one hundred percent grass fed beef. It is financially
responsible to contact Hoakland Farms because you can get them
(12:13):
for about four dollars a pound. And I'm not just
talking about hamburger meat. I'm talking about steaks, chuck, roast, ribs,
and more. Hoakland Farms nine five two four nine one
one five four one nine five two four nine one
one five four one. Tell Jared Tim sent you and
he'll give you ten percent off your first order Hoakland
(12:37):
Farms Beef.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Lots of things to discuss in the coming days.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Make sure you hit that subscribe button and like button
wherever you are watching. While you're watching on YouTube, but
wherever you're listening, appreciate you making this podcast.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
A part of your day.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
This was the ground.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Hey Minnesota sports podcas Yes,
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome into the Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast. My name
is Tim and I'm the host of this podcast. A
big Minnesota Vikings topic to discuss today, because the Vikings
are running out of time and there is a position
within the Vikings roster that is very very unsettled and
(00:29):
has to make the decision makers within the Vikings organization
very very nervous right now. But first, let me tell
you about five Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis, because they
transformed our bathroom in forty eight hours, and that's their
promise for you as well. If you have a bathroom
(00:50):
project that needs to get done, big or small, contact
five Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis. We got a new floor,
a tub, a new shower, surround shower heads.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
All over the above.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We went from a single to a double sinck of
new mirror, vanity countertops. Everything in our bathrooms are modeled
in forty eight hours. Why wait eight weeks when five
Star Bath Solutions of Minneapolis promises a bathroom ramdel in
twenty four to forty eight hours. Free consultations are available.
(01:28):
Affordable payment plans also are available. Five Star Bath Solutions
of Minneapolis there's a reason why five stars in their
name because they produce five star work, five star.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Bath solutions of Minneapolis.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The position that is as unsettled as you could have
it possibly be when you have the best wide receiver
in football on your roster is the wide receiver position.
Based on the scenario the Vikings have been dealt this
offseason with Justin Jefferson's hamstring issue, with Jordan Addison's three
(02:08):
game suspension, and Jalen Naylor's hand being an issue. When
it rains, it pours, and it has poured on the
Vikings wide.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Receiver room this offseason, and it's a.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Terrible time for it to happen because the last thing
you want is j J. McCarthy throwing balls to wide
receiver fours and wide receiver threes acting like wide receiver
twos and wide receiver threes. And with the preseason running
out of time and training camp running out of time,
(02:50):
the Vikings have to figure out the direction that they're going.
Because there's a Kevin Severert piece on ESPN because he
wrote about it and it's the most popular subject right
now outside of Max Brosmer.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Here's what he said wrong one, here's what he had
to say about.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
The Vikings wide receiver room. Okay, this is just like
terrible right now. The screen isn't sharing and it is
scaring and I'm clicking the wrong page. This is a disaster.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yes, here's what it says. Justin's Jefferson's return comes at
a time with the Vikings receiver position is unsettled, Jordan
Asden will save a three game NFL suspension to start
the season, and presumptive number three receiver Jalen Naylor hasn't
practiced since suffering a hand injury last week during joint
(03:53):
practices with the New England Patriots. O'Connell said Naylor is
figuring out what the best plan of action for return
to play will be. The coach, who classified Naylor's status
as week to week would not say whether surgery is
an option. A few concerning things in this paragraph from
(04:16):
the Vikings and Jalen Naylor. One it talks about him
being week to week, which is different than day to day.
And two it says figuring out what the best plan
of action for a return to play will be, which
tells me is not a black and white, cut and dry. Okay,
(04:37):
miss a week of practice in your back and you're
one hundred percent healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
The fact that surgery is an option.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
For Jalen Naylor should tell us everything we need to
know about Jalen Naylor's injury. And what's also known about
Naylor is that he can be at times.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Sir drops a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
And if you're gonna throw in a hand injury with
Sir drops a lot, then there's probably an issue moving
forward with wide receiver two while Jordan and Addison is out,
but you're throw in TJ. Hockinson into the mix, and
he got jo Justin Jefferson to wide receiver one, Hockinson
wide receiver two. But then who's wide receiver three? You know,
(05:20):
this issue wasn't an issue until Jalen Naylor went down
with his injury because he could fit in as wide
receiver three his normal row.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Hockinson fits in as wide receiver two while Addison is
out and things are just fine for three weeks. But
now Naylor seems ify j Justin Jefferson. I'm not concerned
about his injury because you've seen videos in practice and
he's doing these little spins and things like that, sitting
(05:54):
Jefferson out of practice wasn't because really of his injury,
but Marcel of fear that really there's no depth left
and we need you to be healthy by week one.
So he did some individual work yesterday and he's fine.
I'm not concerned at all about Jefferson, and neither should you.
(06:14):
But the problem is there's no insurance plan on this thing.
If the house goes down, who's left right now? There's
a fire within the Vikings wide receiver room, and there's
no insurance policy because if one more guy goes down,
(06:36):
If Hoginson gets hurt, who he kind of liffed up
his groin during training camp practiced a few weeks ago,
If Justin jefferson hamstring gets reaggravated and he's had issues
with that this offseason or this training camp and a
few years ago, if something else happens to the Vikings room,
(07:00):
then they're screwed and it's going to be a disaster.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
But what the Vikings are battling right now is.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
It's not a week one through week seventeen issue or
whatever week eighteen issue.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Right now. The issue is week one through week three.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's not like, Okay, well we're gonna bring on this
guy for the entire season because Addison's out for the
ten He's only out three games. So it's like, how
can we get ourselves to week three just fine, so
that we can get all of our guys back and
then hit our stride in week four. So that's the
(07:47):
internal battle the Vikings are struggling with right now. Jefferson,
we're fine with you, but Naylor week to week hand injury,
you drop it quite a bit. You've had your injury
issues in the past. Addison y'all three weeks. It's like,
what is the perfect formula to bridge the gap for
(08:10):
the first.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Three weeks of the season.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I think the Vikings have to go out and
sign someone or trade for a guy. And I was
looking at their draft capital for next season, and the
Vikings have enough draft capital to take a fourth round pick,
which they have and trade it for a wide receiver
(08:35):
that a team doesn't want anymore. And what's so surprising
is you can get a lot with a fourth round pick.
A fourth round pick might seem like nothing, but teams
will take on a fourth round pick to get rid
of a guy for a pick.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
That they don't want to keep anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So the Vikings need to be scouring the market for
a wide receiver that a team doesn't want anymore and
fourth round pick for him, trade a future fifth round
pick for him, because there is no insurance policy in
the Vikings wide receiver room. And it appears by all
(09:12):
means that Naylor isn't going to be fully ready for
Week one, And let's just make this clear justin Jefferson
not practicing and trying to prepare for Week one versus
Chicago on Monday Night football is much different than Jalen
Naylor not practicing and him trying to be ready for
(09:34):
Week one in Chicago. Jefferson has greatness and he has
an amazing skill set and attributes that Jalen Naylor doesn't possess.
The hands, the route running, everything else in between, and
just the fact that he draws two to three defenders
(09:55):
to him on every single play makes a big difference
whether he's ninety percent under one hundred percent. Jalen Naylor
not practicing for weeks and then trying to get ready
for week one doesn't make me comfortable about his readiness
and is and his prepare preparedness to play in Week
(10:18):
one against Chicago. So that's something else to consider as well,
Jefferson fine, sit out of practice. I'm comfortable with him
showing up week one and being ready. Naylor not so much,
and the Vikings need to consider that. And with only
one preseason game left, the starters ain't playing. Not a
(10:39):
big deal, but it would be nice to bring in
a guy now to get acclimated and comfortable weeks before
the regular season kicks off, because I don't think you
want to wait until the last second to provide an
insurance policy on your wide receiver room. I think you
want to make it happen. Why are you gonna wait
(11:01):
a week before the regular season kicks off, either to
sign a guy that got released or to trade for
a guy when you have a few weeks right now
to trade a fourth round pick for somebody and bring
him in. I think that's the way the Viking should go.
You've got to think long and hard. That's what she
(11:22):
said about the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver room right now, because.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
There's a lot of issues going on.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
In that area and you don't want McCarthy throwing to
players that aren't designed or skilled enough to be a
wide receiver two or wide receiver three.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
For the first three weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Of the season, so it's a big thing that the
Vikings need to think about. Let me tell you about
Hunkland Arms Beef ninety five two four nine one one
five four one for the best rotationally grazed grass fed
beef one hundred percent grass fed beef. It is financially
responsible to contact Hoakland Farms because you can get them
(12:13):
for about four dollars a pound. And I'm not just
talking about hamburger meat. I'm talking about steaks, chuck, roast, ribs,
and more. Hoakland Farms nine five two four nine one
one five four one nine five two four nine one
one five four one. Tell Jared Tim sent you and
he'll give you ten percent off your first order Hoakland
(12:37):
Farms Beef.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Lots of things to discuss in the coming days.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Make sure you hit that subscribe button and like button
wherever you are watching. While you're watching on YouTube, but
wherever you're listening, appreciate you making this podcast.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
A part of your day.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
This was the ground.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Hey Minnesota sports podcas Yes,
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