One striking aspect of the Vikings’ free-agent acquisitions is the number of players they signed who dealt with major injuries last season. Their top four additions—Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries—all missed between 7 and 14 games in 2024 due to various ailments.
While these players are at different stages of recovery, they are all expected to be ready for training camp. However, the one uncertainty is wide receiver Rondale Moore, as head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned at the NFL’s annual league meeting on Tuesday.
“The only player we’re monitoring to see if he’ll have a normal training camp is Rondale Moore,” O’Connell said.
Moore, a former second-round pick with high potential, tore his ACL last August during training camp with the Falcons. With Vikings camp starting in late July, he’ll be close to a full year post-injury, but the team is likely to be cautious given his reliance on speed and agility.
After a standout freshman season at Purdue in 2018, Moore struggled with injuries in college. The Cardinals still saw enough promise to draft him 49th overall in 2021, and he showed flashes of his explosiveness over three seasons in Arizona, amassing 1,450 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
Despite missing the entire 2024 season after being traded to Atlanta, the Vikings took a low-risk chance on Moore, signing him to a one-year, $2 million deal with only $250,000 guaranteed. Turning 25 this summer, Moore has the speed and athleticism to be a dynamic addition if he can stay healthy.
O’Connell and the Vikings trust their medical staff, led by VP of player health and performance Tyler Williams. Last offseason, they signed Aaron Jones and Andrew Van Ginkel, both of whom had injury concerns. In 2024, Jones posted a career-high in rushing yards, and Van Ginkel earned second-team All-Pro honors—neither missed a game.
“Every year, it’s like, ‘Ah, Tyler and those guys got ’em. We’ll be just fine,'” O’Connell said, praising his staff’s track record.
Allen (pectoral) and Kelly (knee) returned from injuries last season, while Fries (tibia) and Hargrave (triceps) are still rehabbing. The Vikings have individualized recovery plans in place for each player.
“Injuries are often generalized as ‘they signed a bunch of injured guys,’ but it’s more complex than that,” O’Connell explained. “Each case is unique.”
By trusting their medical staff, the Vikings are taking calculated risks on talented players with injury histories. If those bets pay off, the team could see significant rewards.
“We’ll see how it plays out,” O’Connell said. “We need depth and options, but when you put this group on paper—what we’re building up front on both sides of the ball—we feel really good about it.”
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