The Detroit Lions gave their all on Monday, December 30, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers that had no bearing on the road to the Super Bowl. Now, imagine the intensity as they prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings in a matchup with major implications.
The Lions and Vikings will clash on Sunday, January 5, at Ford Field in Detroit, in a game that could define their seasons. The stakes are high: the winner secures the NFC’s top seed, the NFC North title, a first-round playoff bye, and home-field advantage leading to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the loser drops to the fifth seed and faces an away game in the wild-card round. This makes it one of the most pivotal matchups of the season for both teams.
While the Vikings have leaned on quarterback Sam Darnold this season due to J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury, they now have another intriguing option that could debut against the Lions.
Minnesota Vikings’ Quarterback Situation
Earlier this season, the Vikings signed former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones after he became a free agent. Jones has been on the team’s practice squad, but that status might be changing soon.
“There isn’t much question as to whether or not the Vikings will sign quarterback Daniel Jones from their practice squad to their active roster this week,” noted NFL expert and analyst Will Ragatz in a December 31 feature for Sports Illustrated. “It’s essentially a no-brainer, as Jones being on the 53-man roster would allow him to factor into the compensatory pick formula if he departs in free agency this offseason.”
Ragatz further explained that it would make sense for Jones to take Brett Rypien’s roster spot as Minnesota’s third quarterback, even if his role is limited to a backup plan in case both Darnold and Nick Mullens are unavailable.
The Vikings’ decision to sign Jones also hints at his potential future with the team. Ragatz speculated that Jones could serve as a backup to McCarthy next season or as a temporary starter, depending on Darnold’s status.
Vikings Coach Praises Jones’ Development
When asked about promoting Jones to the active roster ahead of the game against the Lions, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had high praise for the quarterback’s work ethic and progress. While he stopped short of confirming the move, his comments made it clear that Jones has impressed the coaching staff.
“We’re gonna have some dialogue about that as far as the timing of it,” O’Connell said on Monday, December 30. “Daniel’s been quietly, behind the scenes, putting in some phenomenal work.”
O’Connell expressed excitement about Jones’ growth since joining the team. “I’m probably more excited now, as I told him the other day, than I was on day one when we brought him in, just based on what he’s shown us already. So, that’s definitely something we’re gonna talk about.”
