The Minnesota Vikings head to their Week 6 bye with a 3-2 record, a major feat for a team that’s already dealt with a full NFL season’s worth of adversity — especially on offense.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s injury timeline remains a mystery, and now backup Caron Wentz is nursing an ailing shoulder. The offensive line is so banged up, reserves and rookies were literally learning new positions on the fly during Sunday's comeback win over the Cleveland Browns in London.
Aside from sheer competitive spirit, the one constant through five games has been Brian Flores’ defense, which once again ranks in the upper half of the NFL in key categories like points allowed, takeaways, and sacks.
Even with a pair of key starters of their own out in middle linebacker Blake Cashman and edge Andrew Van Ginkel, the Vikings have been able to make life difficult on the opposing quarterbacks they've faced so far.
As expected, Flores’ group has been getting it done up front, especially from the defensive interior.
Even better? It’s been some of the Vikings’ biggest roster bargains — not big-name free agent additions Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen — that are yielding the team’s greatest returns.
Minnesota Vikings getting first-team impact from a group of second-string defenders to start 2025 season
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added a pair of veteran giants to the Vikings’ defensive line during the first wave of free agency this offseason.
Per Spotrac, Minnesota gave the 30-year-old Allen a three-year deal worth up to $51 million; they then paired him with Hargrave, 32, for two years and $30 million.
Both players have had their moments through five games, with Allen helping to stabilize what’s been a leaky rush defense, and Hargrave ranking second on the team in both sacks (2) and total QB pressures (13).
Vikings fans were probably hoping to see their new duo make more game-wrecking plays, especially against offenses led by Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., Aaron Rodgers, Jake Browning, and Dylan Gabriel.
The wild reality is that they haven't really needed them — at least not yet — and that’s a good problem unique to Adofo-Mensah's ability to identify overlooked young talent.
It feels like the Vikings' second-string defensive linemen (Remond, LDR, Ingram-Dawkins) are having a much greater impact thru Week 5 than vet free agents Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) October 5, 2025
There’s no debating who Minnesota's best interior lineman has been. That would be Jalen Redmond. He’s started all five games, leads the team in sacks (3), and per Pro Football Focus, leads Minnesota’s D-linemen in run-stuffs (9) while being the only one yet to miss a tackle.
There’s more. Levi Drake Rodriguez continues to cause backfield chaos whenever he gets opportunities, notching his fourth tackle for loss of the season against Cleveland.
Rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has even seen more opportunities, posting a pair of run stuffs in 27 snaps against the Browns, per PFF.
That’s an undrafted free agent, a 2024 seventh-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-rounder playing well above their ages, experience levels, and contract numbers. Redmond, Rodriguez, and Ingram-Dawkins will barely cost the Vikings $3 million combined in salary this year.
Factoring in the age and injury history of both Hargrave and Allen, Minnesota has stumbled into luxury at a position group that struggled towards the end of 2024.
The ability to rotate in so many young guys — with minimal drop-off in production — this early in the season will only bode well for a defense that could have to continue carrying its beat-up offense after the bye week.