01-06-2026, 05:01 PM
Brian O'Neill excited to get healthy Christian Darrisaw back
If Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham retire, as both seem likely to do, Brian O'Neill will be the Vikings' longest-tenured player, heading into his ninth season with the team in 2026. He's played in just four playoff games during his first eight seasons in Minnesota, and after a season that left the Vikings a half-game short of the postseason, "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some disappointment," O'Neill said.
The Vikings have known since Dec. 14 they wouldn't be in the playoffs, which the team captain said makes the end of the season a little easier to handle.
"Last year [when the Vikings lost in the first round of the playoffs], I was planning to play for a while. So when it abruptly ends and you weren't expecting it to, that makes it harder," O'Neill said. "I guess that's kind of the difference."
Change is inevitable in the NFL, and there will be plenty coming for the Vikings in 2026 as the team tries to clear cap space before March. O'Neill is heading into the final year of his contract and has a $23.2 million cap number in 2026, though the Vikings could lower that number with an extension that keeps the 30-year-old in Minnesota for several more years. After fighting through knee and heel injuries this season, O'Neill said his body will be fine with some offseason recovery.
"The one in Europe with the knee was unfortunate; it happened on a special teams play when somebody fell on me," he said. "But I was able to work back from that. I had a little nick in the Dallas game that I had to manage, but that's life."
Recovery was a bigger part of his offseason in 2023, after he returned from an avulsion fracture he'd sustained at Lambeau Field at the end of 2022. It gave him an appreciation for how long a full recovery from a major injury can take, as the Vikings wait for Christian Darrisaw to completely move beyond his October 2024 knee surgery.
"I can't speak for anybody else, but I know after an Achilles [injury], the first year back, I didn't feel was my best ball, not close to my best ball. And the next year was a really good one," O'Neill said. "When you're just not able to train, and you're not able to practice, and you're not able to recover from [minor injuries beyond the surgery], it piles up. So having a full healthy offseason is good for everybody."
Coach Kevin O’Connell has said he expects Darrisaw will be completely beyond the knee injury in 2026. O'Neill said he expects the Vikings will feel the difference with Darrisaw back.
"Having one of the best left tackles in the league, I think a lot of teams would sign up for that. I certainly would," O'Neill said. "I'm excited for him to get back to the availability and the elite-level play we all know and love."
J.J. McCarthy planning to train in California this offseason
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy appeared briefly in the locker room while reporters were present; he had his right hand in the same kind of fingerless compression glove he wore after a hairline fracture forced him out of the Giants game on Dec. 21. McCarthy finished the year having played 523 offensive snaps, or 52.25% of the Vikings' season total. He will work out in Southern California this offseason, before returning to Minnesota for the start of offseason workouts in April.
He said Sunday he might have pushed back his offseason recovery time slightly by playing against the Packers but said his hand won't require surgery.
"We got time for that, unfortunately," he said, referencing the fact the Vikings missed the playoffs. "We'll see where it goes. But going to continue to rest and recover for sure. Everything's stable [in my hand]. There's the fractures and all that. But everything's stable."
Will Fries proud to have started every game
Right guard Will Fries, who just finished the first season in a five-year, $88 million contract signed last March, said he’s already starting 2026 on a better note than last year because he’s not in the middle of rehabbing a broken leg.
“Definitely looking forward to a healthy offseason and being able to train hard again,” Fries said while cleaning out his locker. “Just hungry for a lot more.”
Despite the 2024 injury that slowed his start to his first Vikings camp in August, Fries joined receiver Justin Jefferson as the only players to start every game for the injury-riddled Vikings offense. Fries was the lone constant on the O-line, playing a team-high 99% of the offensive snaps.
“The guy who came here with a broken leg last year was the only one who played every snap,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said. “That’s tough. That’s a real dude to be able to do that. … I’m really proud of him for that. I enjoy playing next to him.”
Fries thanked the Vikings training staff for helping him through a rehab that required two surgeries on his leg. He said he was proud he started every game.
“I view that as a really good accomplishment,” Fries said. “Who knows where you end up in free agency, and to end up here, I was really lucky to help navigate that situation with them. I was excited about a lot of things I did this year.”
Fries also acknowledged the need to improve after surrendering a team-worst 37 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said recently that Fries is "still on the rise as far as his potential and growth in this league."
“I think there’s a lot more out there for me individually and our whole group,” Fries said. “I’m excited to get after it this offseason so I can continue to improve.”
Jalen Nailor: "Just wait and see"
Jalen Nailor reacted in surprise when he turned around from his locker to a crowd of media.
The fourth-year receiver will be a free agent this spring and is likely to be a commodity after finishing the season with a career-high 444 receiving yards and team-leading four receiving touchdowns.
“Just wait and see,” said Nailor of his headspace entering the offseason. “See where this offseason is heading. Hopefully I get to be back.”
Pressed if he would like to be back, Nailor said, “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind.”
Nailor was one of just two draft picks remaining on the roster this season from the current Vikings regime’s inaugural class. He was drafted No. 191 overall in Round 6 in 2022.
Nailor said he hasn’t thought yet about parting from teammates like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, his fellow starting receivers.
Jefferson is under contract through the 2028 season; Addison is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.
“It’s going to be a pretty interesting offseason, but I’m just excited for what’s to come,” Nailor said.
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If Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham retire, as both seem likely to do, Brian O'Neill will be the Vikings' longest-tenured player, heading into his ninth season with the team in 2026. He's played in just four playoff games during his first eight seasons in Minnesota, and after a season that left the Vikings a half-game short of the postseason, "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some disappointment," O'Neill said.
The Vikings have known since Dec. 14 they wouldn't be in the playoffs, which the team captain said makes the end of the season a little easier to handle.
"Last year [when the Vikings lost in the first round of the playoffs], I was planning to play for a while. So when it abruptly ends and you weren't expecting it to, that makes it harder," O'Neill said. "I guess that's kind of the difference."
Change is inevitable in the NFL, and there will be plenty coming for the Vikings in 2026 as the team tries to clear cap space before March. O'Neill is heading into the final year of his contract and has a $23.2 million cap number in 2026, though the Vikings could lower that number with an extension that keeps the 30-year-old in Minnesota for several more years. After fighting through knee and heel injuries this season, O'Neill said his body will be fine with some offseason recovery.
"The one in Europe with the knee was unfortunate; it happened on a special teams play when somebody fell on me," he said. "But I was able to work back from that. I had a little nick in the Dallas game that I had to manage, but that's life."
Recovery was a bigger part of his offseason in 2023, after he returned from an avulsion fracture he'd sustained at Lambeau Field at the end of 2022. It gave him an appreciation for how long a full recovery from a major injury can take, as the Vikings wait for Christian Darrisaw to completely move beyond his October 2024 knee surgery.
"I can't speak for anybody else, but I know after an Achilles [injury], the first year back, I didn't feel was my best ball, not close to my best ball. And the next year was a really good one," O'Neill said. "When you're just not able to train, and you're not able to practice, and you're not able to recover from [minor injuries beyond the surgery], it piles up. So having a full healthy offseason is good for everybody."
Coach Kevin O’Connell has said he expects Darrisaw will be completely beyond the knee injury in 2026. O'Neill said he expects the Vikings will feel the difference with Darrisaw back.
"Having one of the best left tackles in the league, I think a lot of teams would sign up for that. I certainly would," O'Neill said. "I'm excited for him to get back to the availability and the elite-level play we all know and love."
J.J. McCarthy planning to train in California this offseason
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy appeared briefly in the locker room while reporters were present; he had his right hand in the same kind of fingerless compression glove he wore after a hairline fracture forced him out of the Giants game on Dec. 21. McCarthy finished the year having played 523 offensive snaps, or 52.25% of the Vikings' season total. He will work out in Southern California this offseason, before returning to Minnesota for the start of offseason workouts in April.
He said Sunday he might have pushed back his offseason recovery time slightly by playing against the Packers but said his hand won't require surgery.
"We got time for that, unfortunately," he said, referencing the fact the Vikings missed the playoffs. "We'll see where it goes. But going to continue to rest and recover for sure. Everything's stable [in my hand]. There's the fractures and all that. But everything's stable."
Will Fries proud to have started every game
Right guard Will Fries, who just finished the first season in a five-year, $88 million contract signed last March, said he’s already starting 2026 on a better note than last year because he’s not in the middle of rehabbing a broken leg.
“Definitely looking forward to a healthy offseason and being able to train hard again,” Fries said while cleaning out his locker. “Just hungry for a lot more.”
Despite the 2024 injury that slowed his start to his first Vikings camp in August, Fries joined receiver Justin Jefferson as the only players to start every game for the injury-riddled Vikings offense. Fries was the lone constant on the O-line, playing a team-high 99% of the offensive snaps.
“The guy who came here with a broken leg last year was the only one who played every snap,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said. “That’s tough. That’s a real dude to be able to do that. … I’m really proud of him for that. I enjoy playing next to him.”
Fries thanked the Vikings training staff for helping him through a rehab that required two surgeries on his leg. He said he was proud he started every game.
“I view that as a really good accomplishment,” Fries said. “Who knows where you end up in free agency, and to end up here, I was really lucky to help navigate that situation with them. I was excited about a lot of things I did this year.”
Fries also acknowledged the need to improve after surrendering a team-worst 37 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said recently that Fries is "still on the rise as far as his potential and growth in this league."
“I think there’s a lot more out there for me individually and our whole group,” Fries said. “I’m excited to get after it this offseason so I can continue to improve.”
Jalen Nailor: "Just wait and see"
Jalen Nailor reacted in surprise when he turned around from his locker to a crowd of media.
The fourth-year receiver will be a free agent this spring and is likely to be a commodity after finishing the season with a career-high 444 receiving yards and team-leading four receiving touchdowns.
“Just wait and see,” said Nailor of his headspace entering the offseason. “See where this offseason is heading. Hopefully I get to be back.”
Pressed if he would like to be back, Nailor said, “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind.”
Nailor was one of just two draft picks remaining on the roster this season from the current Vikings regime’s inaugural class. He was drafted No. 191 overall in Round 6 in 2022.
Nailor said he hasn’t thought yet about parting from teammates like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, his fellow starting receivers.
Jefferson is under contract through the 2028 season; Addison is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.
“It’s going to be a pretty interesting offseason, but I’m just excited for what’s to come,” Nailor said.
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