Oliver (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Oliver sustained a sprained foot in last Thursday night's loss to the Chargers and will miss his first game of the season. The blocking specialist has recorded five catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Ben Yurosek and Ben Sims will be candidates to see increased reps behind T.J. Hockenson.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Oliver (foot) did not participate in Thursday's practice.
Oliver sprained his foot during the Vikings' Week 8 loss to the Chargers, and Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the veteran tight end is unlikely to play against the Lions on Sunday. Ben Yurosek would be the Vikings' backup tight end behind T.J. Hockenson if Oliver is indeed ruled out Week 9 while Ben Sims -- who Minnesota claimed off waivers from Green Bay on Monday -- serves as the TE3.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Likely out with foot sprain
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Wednesday that Oliver will likely be sidelined for Sunday's matchup against the Lions due to a foot sprain, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
The 28-year-old was feared to have sustained a long-term injury in Minnesota's Week 8 loss to the Chargers, but X-rays confirmed the issue to be a foot sprain. Although Oliver is expected to miss the Week 9 contest in Detroit, he could return for the Week 10 matchup against the Ravens. While he's likely sidelined Sunday, expect Ben Yurosek to operate the Vikings' No. 2 tight end.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Out for game
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Oliver (foot) has been ruled out for the rest of Thursday night's contest against the Chargers.
Oliver will remain sidelined for the remainder of Thursday Night Football. The tight end sustained a foot injury early in the contest, and Ben Yurosek will continue to operate in a more substantial role with Oliver unavailable.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Questionable to return to TNF
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Oliver (foot) is questionable to return to Thursday night's contest against the Chargers.
Oliver suffered a foot injury in the first half, leaving his status for the rest of the game uncertain. In his absence, Ben Yurosek stands to see an increase in workload at tight end behind starter T.J. Hockenson.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Catches TD on trick play
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Oliver had two receptions for 35 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown, on three targets in Sunday's win over Cleveland in London.
Oliver's touchdown came on a trick play from Cam Akers in the wildcat formation. Oliver has just four receptions and six targets in five games this season. He's almost exclusively a blocking tight end but can get the occasional touchdown (two this season).
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Catches TD in win
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Oliver had one reception on his only target for a 12-yard touchdown in Sunday's win over the Bengals.
Oliver has just two receptions and two targets in three games this season. He's almost exclusively a blocking tight end but can get the occasional touchdown (seven total in his prior three seasons).
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Good to go for Week 3
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Oliver (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bengals, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Oliver was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday but upgraded to full Friday and is good to go for Week 3. Oliver has one catch for five yards on 41 offensive snaps through two games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Limited to open week
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Oliver (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Oliver was able to play through an ankle injury in the team's 22-6 Week 2 loss to the Falcons, so his ability to practice in any capacity Wednesday seems to suggest he'll be good to go for Week 3. The tight end will have two more chances to be a full participant at practice before Sunday's contest against the Bengals.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Cleared to play Sunday
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Oliver (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday night's game against the Falcons.
Mainly a blocking specialist for the Vikings, Oliver played 48 percent of the offensive snaps in last Monday night's win over the Bears and caught his lone target for five yards.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Oliver (ankle) didn't practice Thursday.
Oliver also sat out Wednesday's walkthrough due to an ankle injury, so he has just one more chance to prove his health Friday ahead of Sunday's contest against the Falcons. If Oliver is inhibited or sidelined this weekend, Benjamin Yurosek and Nick Vannett would be candidates for elevated workloads behind the Vikings' top TE T.J. Hockenson.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Signs three-year extension
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The Vikings signed Oliver to a three-year, $23.25 million contract on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Oliver is one of the league's better run-blocking tight ends and he filled in capably as a pass-catcher at times in 2024 for T.J. Hockenson, who didn't make his debut until Week 9. With Hockenson now fully recovered from the ACL tear he sustained in 2023, Oliver will resume his usual role in Minnesota's offense.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Career-best numbers in 2024
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Oliver finished the 2024 regular season with 22 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games.
Oliver set career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns while matching his career-best 2023 totals exactly in targets and receptions. He caught his only target for five yards in Minnesota's playoff loss to the Rams. Oliver's blocking prowess earned him a steady role, and he played at least 46 percent of offensive snaps in all 15 regular-season appearances -- even after top tight end T.J. Hockenson returned from a knee injury in Week 9. Oliver remains under contract with the Vikings in 2025, albeit at an inflated $9.42 million cap hit.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Back to full speed
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Oliver had one reception for 26 yards on two targets in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
Oliver returned after missing two games due to an ankle injury. He played on 30 of the offense's 60 snaps, so he was back to his usual workload. He had an uptick in receptions (12 in three games) before the injury, but he may not get as much opportunity over the final four regular-season games with T.J. Hockenson back to full speed after returning from a torn ACL.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Oliver (ankle/wrist) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
Oliver wasn't able to practice in any capacity the past two weeks while missing both of the Vikings' games due to a sprained ankle and a wrist injury, but the tight end's ability to handle every rep Wednesday in his return to the field indicates he's more or less back to 100 percent. Prior to the recent absence, he recorded multiple catches in four straight contests on his way to a cumulative 14-174-2 line on 16 targets during that stretch. That said, with T.J. Hockenson slowly but surely increasing his snap share since completing his recovery from a torn ACL and making his season debut Week 9, Oliver may see his role decrease in this Sunday's game against the Falcons.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Ruled out for Week 12
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Oliver (ankle/wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Oliver will sit out a game for the first time this season. T.J. Hockenson is expected to expand his role in his fourth game back from a torn ACL, while Johnny Mundt should see additional snaps in a depth role. Oliver's next chance to suit up will be Sunday, Dec. 1 against the Cardinals.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Not practicing
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Oliver didn't practice Wednesday due to ankle and wrist injuries.
Oliver never returned after exiting with a sprained left ankle during the second half of a 23-13 win over the Titans on Sunday. He's curiously improved his pass-catching production since T.J. Hockenson returned from an ACL tear in Week 9, continuing to get plenty of snaps in two-tight end sets while Johnny Mundt has all but been pushed out of the offense. An Oliver absence for Week 12 at Chicago likely would mean more snaps and routes for both Hockenson and Mundt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Battling ankle injury
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Oliver suffered a left ankle injury in Sunday's 23-13 win over the Titans and is scheduled to be evaluated in Minnesota on Monday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Oliver was deemed questionable to return after suffering the ankle injury in the second half of the contest, but he never checked back in. He played 41 of the Vikings' 73 offensive snaps in the win, finishing with three catches for 34 yards on three targets. Oliver was sporting a walking boot on his ankle in the locker room after the win over Tennessee, per Goessling. A potential Oliver absence in Week 12 would free up snaps for Johnny Mundt as Minnesota's No. 2 tight end behind starter T.J. Hockenson.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Good to go for Week 11
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Oliver (wrist/hand) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Oliver had his practice reps capped Wednesday and Thursday, but he has the green light to suit up Sunday. T.J. Hockenson is Minnesota's best pass-catching tight end, but Oliver has racked up 110 receiving yards and a touchdown over the last two games while contributing in a blocking capacity as well.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Surprisingly bigger role in win
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Oliver had four receptions for 52 yards on six targets in Sunday's win at Jacksonville.
Oliver had a large role in the passing game even with T.J. Hockenson back and playing at full speed in his return from a knee injury. Since Oliver is primarily a blocking tight end, it's hard to think his run the last two weeks (nine receptions for 110 yards) will continue, especially as Hockenson gets even more integrated into the offense.
