A year after going 13-4 and finishing first in the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings had to deal with multiple key injuries during the 2023 season, a season that saw them finish just 7-10 and miss the playoffs.
They had a somewhat different roster than they had in 2022, as four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Adam Thielen had departed.
Running back Alexander Mattison replaced Cook and ran for 700 yards while adding 30 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns, but the Vikings released him on Thursday, per Adam Schefter.
Vikings informed RB Alexander Mattison today that they are releasing him, per source. Mattison took over last season for Dalvin Cook and ran for 700 yards and caught 30 passes. Now he becomes a free agent again, like last year when he signed a two-year deal with Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/ez5fvvqGxn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2024
The Vikings had one of the NFL’s most impotent rushing attacks in 2023, and one has to wonder if they may look to make a big splash next month by going after a very capable running back.
On the other hand, their passing attack has many weapons, starting with Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson missed several games with a hamstring injury, but when he was healthy, he was dynamic — he caught 68 passes for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns in just 10 contests.
Rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison had 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, while tight end T.J. Hockenson led Minnesota with 95 catches, which turned into 960 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The big question is what they will do with soon-to-be free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is 35 years of age and recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered at midseason.
If the Vikings have a quality QB in 2024, whether it’s Cousins or someone else, one has to figure that if they stay relatively healthy, they will win more than seven games.
NEXT: Vikings GM Makes His Thoughts Clear About Justin Jefferson Trade Speculation