Oliver won't return to Sunday's game against the Packers due to an ankle injury.
Prior to his exit in the third quarter, Oliver had two catches (on two targets) for 29 yards, which is a bit of a disappointment considering he was filling in for inactive No. 1 TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder). Oliver will finish the 2025 campaign with a 15-160-4 on 19 targets in 15 regular-season games. He's under contract with the Vikings in 2026.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: To start Week 18 with Hockenson out
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Oliver is set to operate as the Vikings' starting tight end during Sunday's season finale against the Packers with T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) ruled out for Week 18, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Oliver played 93 percent of offensive snaps during Minnesota's win over the Lions in Week 17 with Hockenson sidelined, though he was unable to rack up much production in that contest with fill-in quarterback Max Brosmer being limited to 51 passing yards. With J.J. McCarthy (hand) having been cleared to return to the starting lineup this weekend and the Packers expected to rest multiple key starters, Oliver will have a solid chance to close out the 2025 campaign on a positive note. While predominantly a blocker, Oliver has logged a career-high four touchdowns across 14 regular-season appearances in 2025, and he figures to be one of McCarthy's top targets in the red zone Week 18.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Makes most of looks with two TDs
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Oliver caught both of his targets for 24 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 31-0 victory over Washington.
Oliver came into Sunday with one or zero targets in nine of his 10 games this season, so the fact that he got two balls thrown his way was out of the ordinary in itself. Not only did Oliver catch both of those targets, he scored on each one, reeling in an 18-yard TD in the first quarter and a six-yard score in the third. On the season, four of Oliver's nine catches have gone for a TD, making him about as extreme a TD-dependent fantasy option as it gets.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Returning from two-game absence
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Oliver (foot) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bears, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Oliver logged a full practice Friday, and his lack of an injury tag means he will return Sunday from a two-game absence due to a foot injury. He'll slot back into the TE2 spot behind T.J. Hockenson, which means less snaps on offense will be available for Ben Yurosek and Ben Sims. Oliver has caught five passes (on seven targets) for 61 yards and two touchdowns across seven regular-season games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Limited again Thursday
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Oliver (foot) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Oliver was unable to practice over the past two weeks due to a foot injury, and a second consecutive limited practice Thursday indicates that he is progressing well in his recovery. A third limited practice or an upgrade to full participation Friday would bode well for Oliver's availability in Sunday's divisional clash with the Bears.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Returns to practice
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Oliver (foot) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
A foot injury prevented Oliver from practicing over the past two weeks and caused him to be sidelined for Weeks 9 and 10. His ability to practice in at least a limited capacity indicates that he is progressing in his recovery, and head coach Kevin O'Connell relayed to reporters Monday that he expects Oliver to be available for Sunday's NFC North clash against the Bears, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Oliver's return would mean less rotational snaps at tight end would be available for Ben Yurosek and Ben Sims.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Expected to play Week 11
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that he expects Oliver (foot) to return to practice this week and play Sunday against the Bears on Sunday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Oliver missed the previous two games with a sprained foot but is closing in on a return to action. The veteran tight end is mainly used as a blocker by the Vikings, as he's only secured five catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns this season.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Ruled out
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Oliver (foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Ravens.
Oliver will miss a second consecutive week due to the foot sprain he suffered in Week 8 against the Chargers. The loss of the backup tight end will likely mean more snaps for Ben Yurosek again, who has logged 32 offensive snaps in the past two games since Oliver suffered his injury.
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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: 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: 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: 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.
