Vikings QB caught Lions' attention amid career season

Allen Park – It may have taken longer than expected, but Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is finally living up to the expectations many had coming out of USC.

Arnold, selected third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, is off to a less-than-ideal start with the Jets. He was 13-25 in New York from 2018-20, and his final season with the team featured him throwing more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (9).

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

“Sam Darnold really caught my attention,” Lions safety Brian Branch said Thursday. “I don’t know if he was like that, but he’s playing good football. Just how he reads things and how he positions the ball.”

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn mentioned Darnold’s effectiveness in using the play action, which the Vikings run 30% of the time. Darnold is 29-of-44 for 450 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

His 128 passer rating outside of action is No. 3 in the NFL behind San Francisco’s Brock Purdy and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield.

“He’s playing good football, man. I can’t underestimate that quarterback. He’s the reason they’re 5-0,” cornerback Amik Robertson said. “He’s using his weapons well. He’s good in that scheme, man. … All we can do is play our part, eliminate explosive plays and turn this into a battle.”

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who runs the offense, is part of the 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 to then-head coach Mike Shanahan and then-OC Kyle Shanahan in Washington from 2010-13.

All this crossing seems to have created a comfortable attack for Darnold to work with.

“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 knows how to run it and things like that,” the cornerback said. Kindle Vildor. he said. “You can see it in his game now. He looks really good and confident.”

Peko undergoes season-ending surgery

It didn’t attract much attention because Aidan Hutchinsoninjury, but the Lions also lost another member of their defense on Sunday in forward Kyle Peko. The veteran suffered a torn chest in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the latest long-term injury Detroit has faced on offense.

Peko underwent surgery Thursday morning, Glenn said.

“I actually talked to him this morning because he went into surgery and I just told him how much we were going to miss him and (how) I don’t take him for granted for what he did,” Glenn added. “So that was a tough one too.”

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

“I hate it for Peko”, head coach Daniel Campbell said Wednesday “… (His injury) falls under the radar because of what happened with Hutch, but we lost Peko this season, and Peko has been one of those silent producers for us. He does all the dirty work, and he’s the one who liberate (linebackers) Alex (Anzalone) and Jack (Campbell) and (Malcolm Rodríguez) and those guys to make the plays they make.

“He held the fort until (defensive lineman DJ) Reader came back, and so he’s a rotational guy. So we hate it for him. We will miss him too, but no different from the others (injuries), we will adapt.”

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