The Minnesota Vikings are trying to salvage what they can from a season that will see them miss the playoffs after winning 14 games last year. The priority is seeing development from the team's young players, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Three games remain on the Vikings' schedule this season. On Sunday, Minnesota will face the New York Giants in New Jersey. But the really interesting games will come on Christmas against the Detroit Lions and the following week vs the Green Bay Packers.
The Minnesota Vikings' defense has been lights out at times this year. One important piece of Brian Flores' unit is defensive back Josh Metellus, who has been a jack of all trades for the team the last few years.
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Josh Metellus will miss the remainder of the 2025 NFL season after being placed on injured reserve.
Sadly, the Vikings will be without Josh Metellus for the remainder of the season. He has been dealing with a shoulder injury and will have surgery to repair the issue. The team announced on X that he will be placed on injured reserve, which will effectively end his season.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has announced that S Josh Metellus will be placed on IR and the team is opening the 21-day evaluation window for TE Gavin Bartholomew. pic.twitter.com/UmbP3ZJuWb
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 17, 2025
Metellus played in 14 games for the Vikings this season. He had 86 combined tackles, six defended passes, two quarterback hits, and half a sack in that time while playing 97 percent of the team's defensive snaps and three percent of the special teams snaps.
The 27-year-old safety is under contract with the purple and gold through the 2028 NFL season, with a potential out following the 2026 season. He should be a big part of Minnesota's defensive plans in the future.
This will leave the Vikings short-handed in the defensive secondary. Minnesota is already operating with a small number of cornerbacks, but will now need to find a way to replace the snaps and protections that Josh Metellus was responsible for.
Both the Packers and the Lions boast explosive offenses that will test the depleted defense of Minnesota, and the Giants are also a team that can't be taken lightly, although they only have two wins this season. Many of Big Blue's losses this year are by one score, meaning they can hang in there, but have struggled to finish games.
The Vikings also announced that the 21-day evaluation window for tight end Gavin Bartholomew will be opened, meaning he could return to the team as soon as Sunday's road game against the New York Giants.
Hopefully, Josh Metellus can heal well this offseason and return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, ready for action.