Adam Thielen – Noteworthy
WR Adam Thielen had 11 catches on Sunday and now leads the league with 58 receptions, an NFL record for the most receptions through the first six games of a season. Thielen had 123 yards receiving, his sixth straight game with at least 100 yards. The six-game stretch is just the second in NFL history for a player to start the season with six such games. Charley Hennigan also posted the feat in 1961 for Houston. It’s the most consecutive games to start a season with at least 100 yards receiving in the Super Bowl era.
Brian O’Neill – Noteworthy
RT Brian O’Neill made his first NFL start on Sunday with LT Riley Reiff inactive because of a foot injury. O’Neill, a second-round pick this year, started at right tackle with Rashod Hill sliding from the right to left to replace Rieff. “He’s progressed an awful lot,” coach Mike Zimmer said of O’Neill. “I thought he played pretty well yesterday. He battled, very smart, picked up a lot of the things that they were trying to do. He’s getting better all the time.”
Dalvin Cook – Noteworthy – Injury
RB Dalvin Cook was inactive for the third time in four games on Sunday because of a hamstring injury. Coach Mike Zimmer said, “It’s close,” regarding Cook’s return. “I mean, we just have to feel comfortable with it,” Zimmer said. Cook has just 36 carries this season in three games.
Danielle Hunter – Noteworthy
DE Danielle Hunter had two sacks on Sunday to extend his personal-best streak. Hunter has a sack in every game this season. He’s the third Vikings player with a sack in six games to start a season and the first since Everson Griffen in 2017. Hunter has seven sacks this season. Griffen had seven in his first six games last year and Jim Marshall had 10 through six games in 1969.
Latavius Murray – Noteworthy
RB Latavius Murray started for Dalvin Cook in Sunday’s win against Arizona and had the best rushing performance of the season for Minnesota. Murray had 24 carries for a career-high 155 yards rushing. He had four runs of at least 20 yards.
Mike Hughes – Noteworthy – Injury
CB Mike Hughes was lost for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in Sunday’s win. Hughes, the No. 30 overall draft pick this year, had made 21 total tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and three pass deflections as he started two games on defense and had also spent time as a kickoff and punt returner. It’s the second year in a row Minnesota has lost its top draft pick to an ACL injury after Dalvin Cook only played four games last season.