Men like Dallas Turner and Jalen Redmond have exploded out of the gate for the 2026 Minnesota Vikings, helping the franchise win its first two games, with eyes on a third dub this Sunday at Tampa Bay.
A handful of players also haven’t fully launched yet. The following combatants will hope to get on track in Week 3.
Five Vikings Who Need a Spark in Tampa Bay
1. Jordan Addison (WR)
Addison has two catches for 21 yards through two games, which is miles below what anyone – – or he personally – – expects from a receiver with his resume.
He went catchless against Green Bay, then caught two of five targets in the rain game at Chicago. The circumstances haven’t helped. Kyler Murray lasted only 11 snaps in Week 1, and Carson Wentz managed a weather-driven offense the following Sunday. Still, seven targets with only two receptions leaves Addison searching for his first real splash of 2026. The stat is not very Addisonesque.
Tampa Bay offers a good spot to change that. Murray’s back, giving Addison his first full game with the quarterback the offense was built around. Justin Jefferson draws the first wave of defensive attention, which should leave opportunities elsewhere. A few early completions would go a long way toward getting Addison involved again.
He’s too talented to stay parked at 21 yards forever. Sunday feels like a wonderful time to remind everyone why he’s one of the best No. 2 receivers in the world.
2. Demond Claiborne (RB)
Claiborne has barely touched the football since the regular season began. The rookie hasn’t recorded a carry in either of the first two games, and his lone reception went for two yards at Chicago. He played only two offensive snaps there.
For a 6th-round pick with 4.37 speed and 2,599 rushing yards at Wake Forest, the opening weeks have mostly been about watching and learning. This weekend could finally bring a larger assignment.
Jordan Mason is on injured reserve, while Aaron Jones is working through a knee issue. DeeJay Dallas is also dealing with a toe injury. Suddenly, Claiborne sits much closer to real offensive work than he did when September began.
Kevin O’Connell has talked about continuing to prepare the rookie for more. Tampa Bay boasts a tough run defense, but opportunity comes first. Claiborne needs touches before anyone can learn much about his NFL future. Week 3 could provide them if Jones and Dallas get limited workloads. Stay tuned.
3. Jauan Jennings (WR)
Jennings’s first season with the Vikings hasn’t really started yet. He played in Week 1, but like Addison, finished without a catch, then missed the Chicago game for a personal reason. That’s a strange opening for a veteran who joined the franchise after scoring a career-high nine touchdowns for San Francisco in 2025.
Jennings returned to practice this week, putting him back in position to become the physical third receiver the offense anticipated when he signed in May.
The timing couldn’t be much better. Murray is returning, and the passing game has produced only 294 yards through two weeks. His best work in San Francisco often came in traffic and around the 1st down marker, where his size gives quarterbacks another answer.
He’s due to make a thumbprint on the Vikings’ offense, alas.
4. Kyler Murray (QB)
Murray has the easiest case on the list. His Vikings debut died right away, ending after a first-pass interception and later a concussion suffered on a scramble. He finished 3-of-5 for 18 yards with no touchdowns and one pick. Then he watched Wentz guide the team through the rest of Week 1 and all of Week 2. The Vikings are 2-0, but their intended starting quarterback has hardly partaken in either victory.
Sunday is Murray’s reset button.
He cleared concussion protocol earlier this week and will start against Tampa Bay, giving him a full game to show why the franchise brought him aboard. Murray said his debut felt like it started and ended almost immediately. That description fits.
Now, the real evaluation begins. Jennings has returned after missing Week 2, while Addison is searching for his first breakout afternoon of the season. If Murray settles in early, this could be the first genuine look at the offense O’Connell spent the offseason building.
It’s time for Murray to cook.
5. Jay Ward (S)
This dude might have the strangest September of anyone here.
He started five games last season and played 248 defensive snaps, then entered training camp listed as a starter at safety. Two regular-season games later, he hasn’t played a defensive snap. Instead, he’s worked on special teams, a sharp turn from where his role seemed headed during the summer.
The obstacle? The safety rotation. Josh Metellus has played every defensive snap through two games. Theo Jackson has become a major part of the group, while Harrison Smith is back in his familiar role. That has left Ward on the outside despite his experience in Brian Flores’s system.
Tampa Bay could open a spot if Flores wants another defensive back against Baker Mayfield, but there are no guarantees. Ward just needs snaps. After spending part of 2025 in the starting lineup, getting back on the field would be a welcome first step.
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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings have reached 2-0 without getting much from several players expected to play meaningful roles. Addison and Jennings can change that Sunday, Murray finally gets a full game, and Claiborne or Ward could use Tampa Bay as their first real foothold of 2026.
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