Entering Week 7, three teams are undefeated. If three teams exit Week 7 undefeated, it will be a rarity.
The 49ers take their 6-0 record to Atlanta. The 5-0 Chiefs face the Seahawks in Seattle. The 5-0 Vikings play the Colts in Minneapolis.
Via NBC Sports research, only twice since the merger have three or more teams been undefeated through seven weeks of a season (with the exception of the 1982 strike year).
In 2009, three teams were unbeaten through seven weeks: the Saints, Colts, and Broncos. In 2015, five teams were perfect through seven weeks: the Panthers, Packers, Broncos, Patriots, and Bengals.
On both occasions, two of the unbeaten teams through seven weeks made it to the Super Bowl. In 2009, it was the Colts and the Saints. In 2015, the Panthers and the Broncos played in the Super Bowl.
The 49ers last went 7-0 in 2019. That year, they made it to the Super Bowl, losing to the Chiefs. The Chiefs last went 6-0 in 2024, when they made it to the Super Bowl for the third straight year, losing to the Eagles. The Vikings last went 6-0 in 2009. They lost to the Saints in the NFC Championship.
Vikings Clips
The Vikings released running back Deejay Dallas on Friday, according to the NFL’s personnel notice.
The move makes room for running back Jordan Mason’s return to the active roster. Mason fractured his thumb in the season opener against the Packers, and the Vikings placed him on injured reserve Sept. 16.
He has a questionable designation for Sunday’s game, but Dallas’ release signals that Mason will play.
Dallas is not subject to waivers and could sign back to the team’s practice squad on Saturday and be activated for Sunday’s game, if the Vikings so choose.
Dallas has played 40 offensive snaps and 92 on special teams in five games this season. He has seven touches for 44 yards.
The Vikings list running back Jordan Mason as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Colts.
Mason is the team’s only player with an injury designation, with wide receiver Justin Jefferson among those players ready to go.
He fractured his thumb in the season opener against the Packers, and the Vikings placed him on injured reserve Sept. 16. Mason’s 21-day return-to-practice window opened Monday, and he was a full participant all week.
It seems likely that Mason returns Sunday, but the Vikings will have to make a move Saturday to get him back on the active roster.
Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. split the carries in Week 1 with Mason geting 15 and Jones 12. Jones became the workhorse back in Mason’s absence despite a sprained MCL in his left knee, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.
The Colts officially will not have a few key players for Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
Head coach Shane Steichen ruled out cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), tight end Tyler Warren (groin), and receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) during his Friday press conference.
Gardner suffered his injury during last week’s loss to the Titans.
Warren, who leads the Colts with 30 receptions, suffered his injury late last week in practice.
Indianapolis will be on the road to play Minnesota this weekend.
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
Jefferson’s ankle injury limited him Wednesday.
The Vikings are coming off their bye, so Jefferson had extra time to heal.
He had six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in Week 5.
Offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and cornerback James Pierre (foot) were also full participants after limited work Wednesday.
Every other player on the roster had full participation, including wide receiver Jordan Addison (hamstring).
The Colts got a few players back at practice on Thursday, but they remained without starters on both sides of the ball.
Tight end Tyler Warren (groin) and cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) did not practice for the second straight day. Head coach Shane Steichen said Warren, who did not play last week, is progressing well and Gardner said his injury is not as bad as last year’s calf injury, but their practice absence doesn’t bode well for their availability against the Vikings on Sunday.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen (rest), linebacker Bryce Boetticher (groin), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), tight end Drew Ogletree (ankle), defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (personal), cornerback Justin Whalley (knee), and cornerback Charvarius Ward (rest) all returned to practice.
Linebacker CJ Allen (ankle) and wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring) were both limited participants. Wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion), punter Rigoberto Sanchez (right foot), and defensive tackle Grover Stewart (rest) did not practice.
After suffering a groin injury late last week, Colts tight end Tyler Warren remained sidelined on Wednesday.
Warren was listed as a non-participant on Indianapolis’ first injury report of the week as the club gets ready to face Minnesota on Sunday.
“He’s progressing really well, but I’ll defer to the injury report this week on a lot of those guys,” head coach Shane Steichen said in his Wednesday press conference of Warren.
Warren leads the Colts with 30 receptions. He’s tallied 213 yards with two touchdowns. He also has rushed for 6 yards with a TD.
Indianapolis has a lengthy injury report, particularly in the secondary. Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), cornerback Justin Walley (knee), and cornerback Charvairus Ward (rest) all did not practice.
Linebacker Bryce Boettcher (groin), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), receiver Anthony Gould (concussion), tight end Drew Ogletree (ankle), punter Rigoberto Sanchez (right foot), receiver Keenan Allen (rest), and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (personal) also did not practice.
Linebacker Austin Ajiake (concussion evaluation), linebacker Jaylon Carlies (ribs), receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring), offensive tackle Jalen Travis (foot), and running back Jonathan Taylor (rest) were all limited.
Last Tuesday, a key document in the ongoing Brian Flores litigation was made public. The item, a summary of Flores’s strengths and weaknesses as listed by the Korn Ferry search firm, contains several statements that will strengthen multiple aspects of his case alleging racial discrimination and retaliation for filing suit.
Here’s a full explanation of the significance of the document.
During Flores’s first media availability since the document was released, he was asked about it.
“I prefer . . . to use this forum, to talk about our players, our coaches, this team, you know, and so, you know, I think I’ll probably take this time just to say that,” Flores said. “This forum is about our players, not any personal situation for me. So I’ll just kind of leave it there. I understand the question, respect it, but, you know, I think this, I use this time to talk about our players, our coaches, our team.”
It’s the smart move, as it relates to the lawsuit. Anything he says about the case can be used against him, and the NFL surely will be looking for anything it can to make him look bad in the eyes of a jury.
Indeed, as Flores’s lawyers aggressively attempt to find documents and other evidence that will bolster their position, the NFL and the teams Flores have sued will be digging for anything it can use. Which will mean exploring the factual rabbit hole as to any remotely relevant incident at any of his NFL employers — the Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers, and Vikings.
The higher the stakes of a civil action, the more intense the defense will become. In this case, Flores has the tiger by the tail. At some point, the tiger will uses its claws.
With the Eagles slipping to 2-4 and the Commanders sliding to 1-4-1, the two teams have a Week 8 prime-time date looming. And if the league is considering a flex (as it reportedly was out of last week), the clock is ticking.
By rule, Tuesday, October 20, is the deadline for moving the Sunday night game.
The problem is the absence of clear options. Ravens-Bills makes the most sense, but the Ravens play the following Thursday night. Vikings-Lions is a possibility, if the NFL is willing to commit now to flexing Lions-Vikings in Week 15 out of Sunday night.
Colts-Jaguars wouldn’t have as much sizzle as Eagles-Commanders, given the wide-open nature of the NFC East. The Jaguars are off this week, so they’re guaranteed to enter the game at 4-2. The Colts, who face the Vikings on Sunday and who have fired their G.M., could be 2-5 by Week 8.
Browns-Steelers and Chiefs-Broncos are presumably off the table because the first game between the rivals was televised in prime time. (By rule, at least one game of a home-and-home division rivalry must be televised on Sunday afternoon.)
It’s ultimately the league’s decision. By tomorrow night, everyone should know what it is.
The Vikings are getting healthier on offense.
Minnesota has designated running back Jordan Mason to return to practice.
The club will have 21 days to activate him off of injured reserve. But he could also be back as soon as this week.
Mason has been sidelined by a fractured thumb.
In his second season with the Vikings, Mason took 15 carries for 59 yards with a touchdown in the Week 1 victory over the Packers.
Last year, he rushed for 758 yards with six touchdowns in 16 games with five starts.
