NFL 2025 Week 7: Vikings Set Sail to Fight the Floundering Eagles
After a much-needed bye week, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has his troops ready for battle.
The Vikings are set for a Sunday afternoon showdown against the Eagles in Week 7. Last year’s Super Bowl champs will have to come into U.S. Bank Stadium and face a Vikings team that’s had a week of rest and still has plenty to play for. Here’s what to watch for as the Vikings clash with the Eagles.
Keys to the Game for KOC’s crew:
Who Will Return from Injury?
The Vikings' sidelines have looked more like a hospital at times this season, with players getting injured early and often.
Now that they’ve had rest, they can hope to get some key players back from injury. Notably, Blake Cashman, a star linebacker and leader of the defense, will finally practice again this week after a Week 1 hamstring injury landed him on IR. Along with him, quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be getting practice reps this week following his ankle sprain recovery, which has sidelined him for three games already.
The banged-up offensive line that was held together by duct tape in Week 5 should also get some relief, as starters Donovan Jackson and Brian O’Neill will both return to practice, as well as backup center Michael Jurgens. While starting center Ryan Kelly remains on IR with a concussion, getting the others healthy will be key to helping this underwhelming offensive line look less like swiss cheese and more like an intimidating force.
Who Will Be the QB?
McCarthy’s return to practice is encouraging, but there’s no commitment yet from KOC on his status for Sunday. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz is also dealing with left shoulder soreness after Week 5, but he’s been no slouch as the starter for the last three games. McCarthy, on the other hand, had an awful showing in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. Even his Week 1 performance would’ve been underwhelming if not for his otherworldly fourth-quarter comeback.
McCarthy is still young and adored by the coaching staff, but Wentz has veteran wisdom that can’t be discounted. Whoever gets the start against the Eagles will show not only who’s healthier, but also could reveal who the Vikings trust more at QB moving forward.
Will the Eagles Continue to Crash?
How Sunday’s game shakes out won’t be entirely determined by how the Vikings perform. After grinding out four wins against real contenders and looking like last season’s juggernauts, the Eagles have had two losses in a row that leave their elite status in question. Both losses (to the Broncos and Giants, respectively) have seen last year’s MVP candidate, Saquon Barkley, lose involvement. He had under 100 yards from scrimmage in both losses and just 30 rushing yards against the Broncos. Analysts and even some of their own players think that their offense is “predictable.” These sporadic offensive showings, combined with the Vikings’ scary defensive power, could prove disastrous for the Eagles and send them further into their downward spiral.
Vikings Have Real Reason to Play
The Vikings sit currently at 3-2, third in an NFC North division race that’s still competitive. Winning against the defending Super Bowl champs would be a massive boost of confidence, both for the entire team and for whichever QB is under center come Sunday. Keep an eye on who suits up for the Vikings–those returning from injury will be key in either conquering the Eagles or letting them fly high above Skol nation. Let’s hope the purple and gold swarm can overtake the Eagles in Week 7.