Former Vikings WR off to explosive start in the 2024 CFL season

As we wait for the Minnesota Vikings players and coaches to return to the practice fields at the TCO Performance Center for the team's training camp at the end of July, some former members of the franchise are continuing their careers in football north of the border in the CFL.

Former Vikings making a living in the CFL is not something that is new to the team. A number of former Minnesota players and coaches have spent part of their football careers in the CFL, including Warren Moon, Joe Kapp, Bud Grant, Brandon Zylstra, Emmanuel Arceneaux, and Brett Jones.

A few weeks ago, the 2024 CFL season kicked off, and one former Vikings pass-catcher has already stormed out of the gate to lead the league in receiving.

Former Minnesota Vikings WR Alexander Hollins leading the CFL in receiving yards after first four games of 2024 season

Following the 2019 NFL Draft, Minnesota added a number of players who weren't lucky enough to hear their names called during the event. Among the group of undrafted rookies brought in by the Vikings was a talented wide receiver out of Eastern Illinois named Alexander Hollins.

Hollins spent the majority of the 2019 season on the Vikings' practice squad, but he did manage to appear in a total of six games as a rookie, including the team's upset win over the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2019 playoffs.

Hollins didn't end up making it past Minnesota's final cuts in 2020, and after a short stint with the Cleveland Browns, he wound up signing with the CFL's BC Lions in 2022.

After only appearing in four games in his first year with the Lions, Hollins took a big step in 2023, as he hauled in 78 catches for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns in 18 games.

This season with BC, he's already on pace to smash his totals from 2023. Through four games, he's accumulated 27 receptions for 457 yards and three touchdowns. With his totals, Hollins is currently leading the CFL in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.

Interestingly enough, Dillon Mitchell, who was selected by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, currently ranks second in the CFL in receiving yards.

Hollins has clearly found a fit with the Lions though, and if he continues to perform at a high level during the next few months, it wouldn't be surprising to see him attempt to make a return to the NFL before the start of the 2024 season.

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