NFL executive has strong opinion of Vikings without QB Sam Darnold

Fortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, they got good news on Monday morning after an MRI on quarterback Sam Darnold’s knee revealed only some bruising and no structural damage.

The 27-year-old QB isn’t expected to miss any time, which is the best-case scenario for the Vikings, who were looking at the prospect of starting journeyman Nick Mullens had Darnold missed any games.

After many wrote him off, Darnold has been arguably the top QB in the NFL through the first three games of the season. He’s a large reason why the Vikings are 3-0, and as one NFL executive recently told The Athletic’s Mike Sando, the team would be worse off without him.

“If something happens there, I think they are f—-d,” the anonymous exec said. “You can’t win with Nick Mullens. Kevin O’Connell proved last year he can do better than expected with some of those guys, but when you are down to quarterback three, you are in trouble.”

Darnold got hit in the knee in the third quarter of Sunday’s dominating 34-7 win over the Houston Texans. Darnold left the game but came back moments later, throwing the last of his four touchdown passes on the day to tight end Johnny Mundt that stretched Minnesota’s lead to 31-7.

Heading into Week 4, Darnold leads the NFL with eight touchdown passes and ranks third in passer rating (117.3) and 11th in passing yards (657). 

He’s thrown multiple touchdowns in every game he’s played, and he’s led the Vikings to convincing wins over two Super Bowl favorites the last two weeks in the Texans and San Francisco 49ers.