The Viking Age
FanSided

5 forgotten former members of the Minnesota Vikings – Part 2

By Nik Edlund

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 07: John Carlson #89 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the football during the game against the Washington Redskins on November 7, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 07: John Carlson #89 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the football during the game against the Washington Redskins on November 7, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Free safety Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings tackles wide receiver Josh Doctson #18 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings tackles Josh Doctson (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

WR Josh Doctson

It was only a year ago when the Vikings signed Josh Doctson, but his time with the team was so brief and nondescript, it’s easy to forget he ever wore the horned helmet.

Doctson was one of the bigger named receivers entering the 2016 Draft. He was a guy who many figured with his elite ball skills, would be an extremely valuable and productive weapon in the red zone. The Vikings showed plenty of interest in him during the pre-draft process, but the Redskins snapped him up before the team was on the clock, and they had to settle for Laquon Treadwell.

Turns out the Vikings would’ve been wrong with either one, as they were both busts. Doctson had an injury-plagued tenure in Washington and played in 33 games in three seasons. He did have a nice 2017 season with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback, catching 35 balls for 502 yards and 6 touchdowns. The following season Doctson had very similar production but missed some games late with concussions. That offseason the team declined his fifth-year option and he subsequently failed to make the roster in 2019.

After realizing their receiving corps lacked depth and talent, the Vikings took a chance on Doctson prior to the start of the 2019 season. He was never healthy and the team placed him on injured reserve. He did appear in one game but never saw a pass come his way. The following week the team released the former first-rounder.

While Doctson wasn’t as big an overall bust as Laquon Treadwell, his tenure with the Vikings was far worse.

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