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The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for the preseason as we approach a promising 2026 season in the National Football League. The Vikings have real aspirations to win the NFC North this season, and the hype seems real.
The Vikings brought in plenty of talented players to be excited about, but it comes with a tradeoff. Players who once carved vital roles for the team may find other players taking their jobs.
As former undrafted free agent turned NFL starter once put it, "The NFL is a meritocracy." In this league, playing time is earned not given. That does not make the loss of playing time any less painful. A handful of Vikings will have to sweat out the next few of weeks of roster cuts.
Austen Bundy of Fansided opined that the Vikings could let go of veteran safety Theo Jackson after a tough 2025 campaign. Here's what Bundy shared on the potential move to part ways with Jackson.
"The 27-year-old was demoted out of the starting safety role he earned in 2025 after a poor performance which featured just 22 solo tackles, a single pass defended and zero picks. He's currently back at the top of the depth chart, but there's no guarantee he'll stay there considering he's entering the start of a fully guaranteed $12.615 million extension signed last year. Minnesota is going to be looking for a return on its investment.
Third-round pick Jakobe Thomas was probably selected to push Jackson into finding another level to his game or force him to step aside for a younger, faster player. Experience is going to serve Jackson well in this scenario, but he's going to have to show a spark that seems to have faded in Minnesota's secondary."
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) and Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) celebrate after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Vikings fans are excited about what Jakobe Thomas can bring out of college. We are, too. The high-flying safety out of Miami, by way of Tennessee, showed out in his final few college games making a name for himself in the 2026 College Football Playoff. In that run, Thomas showcased his athleticism and instincts helping the Hurricanes defeat the Texas A&M Aggies, Ohio State Buckeyes and Ole Miss Rebels before falling to the Indiana Hoosiers in the National Championship game.
Thomas' addition adds pressure to Jackson after an underwhelming sample size last year. Then again, Jackson did show enough promise to enter the starting lineup in the first place.
It will be an interesting couple of weeks for the safety position as the preseason gets underway. We'll see what it means for the Vikings before the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Continue reading...
The Vikings brought in plenty of talented players to be excited about, but it comes with a tradeoff. Players who once carved vital roles for the team may find other players taking their jobs.
As former undrafted free agent turned NFL starter once put it, "The NFL is a meritocracy." In this league, playing time is earned not given. That does not make the loss of playing time any less painful. A handful of Vikings will have to sweat out the next few of weeks of roster cuts.
Austen Bundy of Fansided opined that the Vikings could let go of veteran safety Theo Jackson after a tough 2025 campaign. Here's what Bundy shared on the potential move to part ways with Jackson.
"The 27-year-old was demoted out of the starting safety role he earned in 2025 after a poor performance which featured just 22 solo tackles, a single pass defended and zero picks. He's currently back at the top of the depth chart, but there's no guarantee he'll stay there considering he's entering the start of a fully guaranteed $12.615 million extension signed last year. Minnesota is going to be looking for a return on its investment.
Third-round pick Jakobe Thomas was probably selected to push Jackson into finding another level to his game or force him to step aside for a younger, faster player. Experience is going to serve Jackson well in this scenario, but he's going to have to show a spark that seems to have faded in Minnesota's secondary."
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) and Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) celebrate after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Vikings fans are excited about what Jakobe Thomas can bring out of college. We are, too. The high-flying safety out of Miami, by way of Tennessee, showed out in his final few college games making a name for himself in the 2026 College Football Playoff. In that run, Thomas showcased his athleticism and instincts helping the Hurricanes defeat the Texas A&M Aggies, Ohio State Buckeyes and Ole Miss Rebels before falling to the Indiana Hoosiers in the National Championship game.
Thomas' addition adds pressure to Jackson after an underwhelming sample size last year. Then again, Jackson did show enough promise to enter the starting lineup in the first place.
It will be an interesting couple of weeks for the safety position as the preseason gets underway. We'll see what it means for the Vikings before the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Continue reading...
