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    • Vikings QB has caught the attention of the Lions in the midst of a career season
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    Vikings QB has caught the attention of the Lions in the midst of a career season

    Kathleen William Posted on

    Allen Park – It may have taken longer than expected, but Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is finally living up to the expectations many had for him following his departure from USC.

    Darnold, who was selected No. 3 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, had a less than ideal start with the Jets. He played 13-25 in New York from 2018 to 2020, and in his final season with the team, he threw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (9).

    But after a couple of stints with the Carolina Panthers (2021-22) and the San Francisco 49ers (2023), Arnold may have found a home with the Vikings. The 27-year-old QB is posting career highs in completion percentage (63.5%) and passer rating (103.4), and his 11 passing TDs are the fourth-most in the NFL as he leads an undefeated Minnesota team this week 7 leads matchup with the Detroit Lions.

    “Sam Darnold actually caught my eye,” Lions safeties coach Brian Branch said Thursday. “I don’t know if he was like that, but he plays good football. Just how he reads things and how he places the ball.”

    Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn noted Darnold's effectiveness in utilizing play-actions, which the Vikings run 30% of the time. Darnold has 450 yards, five touchdowns and one interception on 29 of 44 from the field.

    His off-game passer rating of 128 is No. 3 in the NFL behind San Francisco's Brock Purdy and Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield.

    “He plays good football, man. You can't underestimate this quarterback. He’s the reason they’re 5-0,” nickel cornerback Amik Robertson said. “He uses his weapons well. He's good at this plan, man.

    Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, who leads the offense, is part of the ever-growing Shanahan tree. O'Connell worked as Sean McVay's offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-21, and McVay worked as an assistant under then-head coach Mike Shanahan and then-OC Kyle Shanahan in Washington from 2010-2013.

    All of this overlap seems to have created a comfortable offense for Darnold to work in.

    “I know he was in San Fran last year (with Kyle Shanahan) and a lot of them have the same scheme, so I know he's probably familiar with the offense and how to run it and stuff like that.” cornerback Kindle Vildor said. “You can see that in his game right now. He looks really good and confident.”

    Peko undergoes surgery at the end of the season

    It didn't attract much attention because of that Aidan Hutchinson's injury, but the Lions also lost another member of their defense, lineman, on Sunday Kyle Peko. The veteran suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, making it the latest long-term injury Detroit has dealt with on offense.

    Peko underwent surgery Thursday morning, Glenn said.

    “I actually talked to him this morning because he actually went into his office and just told him how much we were going to miss him and that I don't take him for granted at all for what he did,” Glenn said added. “So that was a difficult question too.”

    Peko, who began his career with the Denver Broncos after going undrafted in 2016 and later had stops with the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, signed with the Lions this past offseason.

    “I hate it for Peko,” head coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday: “…(His injury) falls under (the radar) because of what happened with Hutch, but we lost Peko for the season, and Peko was one of those silent producers for us. Does all the dirty work and He's the one who releases (Linebacker) Alex (Anzalone) And Jack (Campbell) And (Malcolm Rodriguez) and these guys to make the plays that they make.

    “He held the fort all the way to the defensive lineman DJ) reader came back, and then he's a rotation guy. So we hate it for him. We will miss him too, but no different than the others (injuries), we will adapt.”

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    Kathleen William
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