9 October 2023
It’s a phrase head coach Kevin O’Connell has leaned on over the past month as the Vikings have struggled with ball security: Whenever a player has the ball in their hands, they have the whole organization in their hands.
That explains why tight end Josh Oliver was so distraught after the Vikings suffered a 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.
After catching a pass on the first play from scrimmage, Oliver made a defender miss, then raced up field where the ball got dislodged by safety Justin Reid.
“I was trying to make a play and was doing too much,” Oliver said. “I let the Vikings down.”
Asked what he could’ve done differently, Oliver emphasized the importance of tucking the ball away while in traffic.
Not surprisingly, fellow tight end T.J. Hockenson tried his best to keep Oliver’s spirits up postgame.
“That guy creates an explosive play with a great move to start and then the guy gets his face mask right on the ball,” Hockenson said. “I just don’t want him to ever get his confidence down from that.”
It was a similar tone from O’Connell postgame. He noted that if there was a player on the Vikings he would’ve bet against fumbling, it would be Oliver because of his size and strength.
“He’s had a huge start to his Vikings tenure here with blocking, physicality, and really bringing a mindset to it,” O’Connell said. “Nobody is more crushed than Josh over that play.”
That was clear talking to Oliver in the locker room.
“I’m going to continue to work and continue to try to prevent things like that,” Oliver said. “We work on it every day in practice. That’s on me. I can’t do that.”
Hockenson gets dinged
There was a particular play late in the game during which Hockenson landed awkwardly and remained face down on the turf for a few seconds. Though he had to be helped off the field, Hockenson returned later with the Vikings trying to even the score against the Chiefs. He finished the game with five catches for 51 yards.
“Just landed straight on my chin,” Hockenson said. “Just felt everything go up into my head and I needed a second.”
Bradbury makes return
No matter how good backup center Austin Schlottmann was in relief, the Vikings were thrilled to get starting center Garrett Bradbury back for the game against the Chiefs. He hadn’t played since suffering a back injury in the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“There’s so much time on task with Garrett,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “I thought he did a great job. It’s tough to be out and come right back in like that and jump back into it. He did a great job.”