In a highly anticipated Thursday Night Football matchup, the Minnesota Vikings took on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. But all eyes were on Vikings tight end Josh Oliver, who was making his return after missing several weeks with an injury. It didn’t take long for Oliver to make an impact.
Oliver Scores on Opening Drive
The Vikings received the opening kickoff and marched right down the field, going 70 yards in just 8 plays without facing a single third down. The drive was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Darnold to a wide-open Josh Oliver in the end zone.
It was a dream start for Oliver, who had been sidelined since early in the season with a knee injury. His return couldn’t have come at a better time for Minnesota, who will welcome back star tight end T.J. Hockenson from injured reserve this week.
Darnold Sharp in Homecoming
Playing in his hometown of Los Angeles, Sam Darnold was nearly flawless on the Vikings’ first possession. He completed all four of his pass attempts for 49 yards, including three catches for 44 yards by superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Sam was really dialed in from the start. He made great reads, delivered the ball on time and on target. It was good to see, especially with Josh back out there. Those two have built a nice connection.
An unnamed Vikings coach told reporters after the game
Vikings Dominating First Quarters
Minnesota’s fast start was nothing new. Entering the game, they had outscored their opponents by a whopping 58-3 margin in the first quarter this season. Meanwhile, the Rams had been outscored 35-6 in opening periods.
The Vikings’ ability to start quickly and build early leads has been a huge factor in their success. It allows their defense to play aggressively while forcing opponents to become one-dimensional trying to play catch-up.
What’s Next for the Vikings’ Tight Ends?
While Josh Oliver’s successful return was a welcome sight, the Vikings are about to get even stronger at tight end. T.J. Hockenson, who has been out since last December with a torn ACL, is expected to be activated from the PUP list on Friday.
Hockenson’s return raises some interesting questions about how snaps and targets will be distributed among Minnesota’s talented group of tight ends. In addition to Hockenson and Oliver, the Vikings also have impressive second-year man Jalen Nailor, who has shined in an expanded role this season.
- Will Hockenson immediately return to an every-down role?
- Can Oliver carve out a consistent role as a receiver?
- How will Nailor’s snaps be impacted?
The Vikings have the luxury of easing Hockenson back in thanks to their depth. But once the former Pro Bowler is back to full speed, he figures to be the lead dog in this talented tight end room. How Oliver and Nailor are deployed around him will be something to monitor going forward.
A Promising Development
Regardless of how the tight end situation shakes out, Oliver’s touchdown was an encouraging sign for a player who has battled injuries throughout his young career. If he can stay healthy and provide a reliable target alongside Hockenson, the Vikings’ offense has a chance to be special down the stretch.
For now, Minnesota will savor the victory on a short week as they improved to 7-2 on the season. With Hockenson set to return and Oliver already making plays, the arrow is pointing up for the NFC North leaders.
