EAGAN, Minn. — Last year, Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola made his first career Pro Bowl.
The 36-year-old special teamer is currently the leading vote-getter among long snappers so far.
On Wednesday, the NFL shared the top 10 at each position. The Vikings have eight players within the top 10 of their respective positions. DePaola is the team's lone player atop Pro Bowl voting at his position so far.
DePaola posted about the first wave of voting results.
"Truly humbling. Can't thank you all enough. The hashtag votes on here (X/ Formerly Twitter) start on Monday so, until then, please continue to use the link below to vote for your favorite Vikings. You guys are the best fans in football."
Below are the other seven Vikings players and where they rank in the fan vote.
Center Garrett Bradbury – 9th in NFL (5th in NFC)
Fullback C.J. Ham – 7th in NFL (4th in NFC)
Safety Cam Bynum – 8th in NFL (3rd in NFC)
Outside Linebacker Danielle Hunter – 4th in NFL (2nd in NFC)
Safety Harrison Smith – 9th in NFL (4th in NFC)
Safety Josh Metellus – 7th in NFL (3rd in NFC)
Tight End T.J. Hockenson – 3rd in NFL (2nd in NFC)
Fans have until Dec. 25 to cast their votes. Visit Vikings.com/probowl to cast your ballot and be sure to maximize your impact on X beginning Monday.
The Athletic breaks down the return of Justin Jefferson
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is set to return this Sunday as Minnesota heads to Las Vegas to face the Raiders.
The Athletic's Alec Lewis detailed what Jefferson's comeback could mean for the Vikings five remaining regular season games.
Only one receiver was in serious contention with [Tyreek] Hill over the first five weeks of the season, but that receiver has not played a live snap in eight weeks. At the time of Jefferson's hamstring strain, which sidelined him in the fourth quarter of a Week 5 home loss against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jefferson had amassed the same number of catches as Hill and was second in the league, behind Hill, in yards per catch. Jefferson had also accounted for more plays of 20-plus yards than Hill — and every other non-quarterback in the NFL.
Lewis noted the way opponents shifted their approaches in covering the Vikings while Jefferson has been sidelined.
Even as defenses played more traditional coverages without Jefferson on the field — Cover 1 and Cover 3 usage against the Vikings rose considerably — Minnesota's efficiency and explosiveness both dipped in Jefferson's absence.
Jefferson has never caught a live-action pass from Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs. But Sunday won't be the first time the two work together. Jefferson was a full participant at Wednesday's practice. He also caught passes from Dobbs during his 21-week activation window, which opened on Nov. 8.
Click here to read the rest of Lewis' story.
