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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Kevin O'Connell on Vikings London Prep, Win at Packers, Timelines for Injured Players

EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings are well-prepared for the international travel ahead of them.

Minnesota (4-0) is slated to "host" the Jets (2-2) Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (CT).

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke to media members Monday following the team's fourth straight win and said while traveling across the pond does present certain challenges, he's confident in the organization's approach.

O'Connell said the Vikings will have their "normal workday" Wednesday and on Thursday adjust their schedule ahead of flying to the U.K., where they'll arrive Friday morning. There is a six-hour time difference between London and Minnesota.

"I put a lot of trust in [Vikings Vice President of Health and Performance] Tyler [Williams] and [Director of Player Performance] Josh [Hingst] and our folks that have done a lot of research on it, much more than me," O'Connell said. "I just trust that they tell me what they think is best, and I kind of put the schedule together hand-in-hand with that information.

"It's all about the intent of making sure the players know exactly what to expect, what the challenges may be," O'Connell continued. "You know, there's no smoke and mirrors to it. It's a difficult week, but it's a difficult week for both teams with the travel. The best thing you can do is, you know, not try to confuse anybody, not try to trick anybody. 'Here's what it is, here's how we're going to attack it, and here's why.' Our guys always respond to that."

O'Connell said he "loves" traveling to London for a game, noting it's a "really, really cool experience" for the teams and fans alike.

"We won a football game there, came back and played a game a week later at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2022; we're going to get the bye week this time," he said. "How the schedule's laid out, I kind of looked at it like, not necessarily in prediction mode but, 'Hey, lay out the challenge.' This is what it's going to be. If we play good football, I think we can find ourselves in a pretty good spot."

Here are four other takeaways from O'Connell's media session:

1. Timeline for Hockenson & Risner

Tight end T.J. Hockenson and guard Dalton Risner both have spent the first four weeks of the season on the Physically Unable to Return and Injured Reserve lists, respectively, and would be eligible to return this week to practice, should the team decide they are physically ready to move forward.

According to the NFL's guidelines, once a player is cleared to practice, a 21-day window begins and the player must be activated to the 53-man roster or be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve at the conclusion of that three-week period.

View the Vikings in Big Head Mode following their win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

O'Connell said he and the training staff are discussing options and timelines for both players. The timing of Minnesota's game in London and the ensuing bye week also are being taken into consideration.

"We'll have some dialogue and then try to do what's best for both of those guys – to be in their best positions to maximize that window," he explained. "I'm excited about both those guys working really hard behind the scenes and, you know, both T.J. and Dalton are here for the plan we set [in motion] at the start of training camp, knowing right about the time we'd get them back.

"It would be a nice boost for our team," O'Connell added. "So we want to give them the ample amount of practice time, because it's one thing to just open a window, but what does that practice look like? It may be this week, it may not, but we'll keep you guys posted."

Rookie outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy also remains on Injured Reserve and is continuing to rehab his injury.

View postgame celebration photos from the Vikings - win over the Packers in Week 4 of the 2024 season.

2. Close call in Green Bay

Things got a little too close for comfort on the road Sunday when the Vikings got off to a hot start, entering halftime up 28-7, but stalled a bit during the second half before leaving Lambeau Field with a 31-29 win over the Packers.

O'Connell was asked what he learned during the Border Battle.

"We've been on the other side of those 60 minutes, where we've been able to come back from some big deficits before," he said. "But I just think this game is, you know, it's a big-picture thing, and we all consume the game in these huge plays throughout the game. And when you're on the road and you allow a team either at the end of the half or – with some of the things we didn't do well, myself included – in the second half, you allow not only the team, but the momentum, the energy in the stadium, to start roaring back.

O'Connell noted he was happy with the team's response in a difficult situation, understanding it can be difficult to right the ship when things start sliding a bit.

"When we make some plays in the pass game, we're able to assess and put together some things there quickly to give us the best chance to move the ball, with what they were shifting to defensively," O'Connell explained. "Sam [Darnold] and [Justin Jefferson] and our guys made some big-time plays there to move the ball, flip the field and get points, and then would have loved to finish it there at the end, but they made a good play.

"They made a play, we didn't, and then they were able to move it pretty quickly and make that game come down to an onside kick, which is not what you want to have to do," he added.

3. Darnold to Jefferson TD pass

One of the more impressive plays by Minnesota's offense Sunday occurred on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Jefferson in the second quarter.

"It's a 1-on-1 here at the bottom of the screen," said CBS analyst Trent Green. "Justin Jefferson, and [Keisean] Nixon's covering him – he's right there, it's great coverage, he turns around to look for the ball."

Despite solid defending by Nixon, Jefferson was able to make the TD grab thanks to a perfectly placed ball by Darnold.

"We talked about that a little bit going into the week of, 'Hey, there might be some times where — we motioned [Jefferson] on that play, but they were still trying to get their hands on him any way they could, no matter what we were trying to do," O'Connell explained. "You know, you don't want to get too carried away with fast motions and changing motions, because that's all movement; that's all yards. … The ball hasn't been snapped yet, and he's already run 30 yards. You've got to think about that.

"I thought that was a huge play in the game – A, for Sam. Most of the time when there's a safety over the top, there's going to be a true double, where really the corner is not even defending that deeper throw," O'Connell continued. "So I thought for Sam on quick-game timing, to assess that it was more of a quarters look, that he could still throw the 1-on-1. It was going to be contested, but we've got to give Justin some ops to do that. Probably need to continue to find ways where we're willing … to give him an op, because I don't look at them as 50-50 balls when you're throwing them to Justin Jefferson."

4. Welcome back, Addison

Jefferson led the Vikings in receiving yards with 85, but the entire receivers group made an impact against Green Bay.

Minnesota appreciated the return of Jordan Addison, who had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, plus a 7-yard rushing TD.

"I thought it was awesome. You guys could see the impact he had," O'Connell said of Addison's performance after rehabbing an ankle injury. "And there were some good examples of not only Jordan and Justin on the field at the same time, but Speedy (Jalen Nailor) as well, and then B.P. (Brandon Powell) and Trent [Sherfield, Sr.] both having some really critical plays in the game that don't always show up on the stat sheet, but guys playing their roles. I feel so good about that room."

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