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Chicago bears minnesota vikings score9/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Osborn returns as a productive third receiver (60-650-5 on 90 targets last season) but may struggle to see targets that don't go to the top trio. His volume increased after his midseason trade to the Vikings, with whom he averaged six catches and 8.6 targets per game, up from 3.7 receptions and 6.1 targets with the Lions. 2 target in the passing game after he finished second among NFL tight ends in targets (129), receptions (86) and receiving yards (914) in 2022. He's not a burner (just a 4.49 40) nor a big target (5-11, 173), but he's seen as an NFL-ready steady producer who can thrive with all the attention focused on Jefferson. Addison put up 3,134 yards in three seasons between Pitt and USC, including a 100-1,593-17 receiving line in 2021 at the first school. The Vikings released Thielen after 10 years with the team and used a first-round draft pick to select Addison as his replacement. He's one of just three players to reach 4,000 receiving yards through his first three NFL seasons, and the 2020 first-rounder led the NFL with 1,809 such yards last year. Justin Jefferson, the focus of the Vikings' passing attack, is on a record pace. Departures: WR Adam Thielen (to Panthers) TEs Irv Smith (to Bengals), Ben Ellefson (retired).Veteran Additions: WR Brandon Powell (from Rams) TE Josh Oliver (from Ravens).To date, the Vikings mostly have used Nwangwu's speed on kick returns, and the rookie's lack of receiving skills probably excludes him from third-down duty. To that end, Ty Chandler, an enticing prospect with a 4.38 40, will compete with Kene Nwangwu, a 2021 fourth-round pick, and 2023 seventh-rounder McBride for complementary work in the Vikings backfield. How the touches that don't go to Mattison will be distributed remains to be seen, however. While Mattison lacks breakaway speed (4.67 40, career 4.1 YPC), he's familiar with the offense, has the frame to handle large workloads (5-11, 215) and boasts a strong track record as a receiver (career catch rate of 83.3 percent at 6.3 YPT). The team instead elected to sign his former understudy, Alexander Mattison, to a two-year, $7 million contract and elevate him to the starting role. Though he had at least 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons, his $9 million salary was jettisoned in a salary-cap crunch. Minnesota's backfield will look dramatically different after the team cut Cook in June. Meanwhile, Hall, a rookie, provides the team with a developmental signal-caller to groom behind the top duo. 2 will be Nick Mullens, who appeared in four games in mop-up duty last year and completed 21 of 25 passes for 224 yards, one TD and one interception. Still around to provide a steady hand as the No. Minnesota's defense was 31st in passing yards allowed and 31st in net yards per attempt last season, and this time around Cousins may be forced to pass the ball even more with the team's secondary breaking in three new starters and the pass rush losing Za'Darius Smith (10 sacks). He should be set for another productive campaign with most of his weapons returning, including arguably the league's best wide receiver in Justin Jefferson. The veteran QB pushed his streak of at least 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns via the air to eight straight seasons in 2022, the longest active streak in the NFL. In the final year of his contract, Kirk Cousins returns to lead an offense that figures to remain among the NFL's top passing units. The departure of top back Dalvin Cook brings some uncertainty, but with superstar wideout Justin Jefferson and a steady, if unspectacular, quarterback in Kirk Cousins still on hand, Minnesota should score enough to stay in the division title mix. A high-powered aerial attack returns, and the team may face even more high-scoring affairs given key losses on an already struggling pass defense. The Vikings overachieved last season, winning the NFC North despite being outscored by their opponents (minus-3 point differential). ![]()
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