Isaiah Rodgers‘ first season with the Minnesota Vikings started off with a bang, but will conclude with a significant punishment from the NFL for on-field misconduct.
The league’s Office of Gameday Accountability dinged Rodgers with a fine of $17,389 for unnecessary roughness stemming from what it described as a “hit on a defenseless player,” which occurred early in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions.
Rodgers won’t miss time for the play and will be available to the Vikings when they host the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, January 4, in what will be Minnesota’s final game of the 2025-26 campaign.
Vikings Predicted to Part Ways With Isaiah Rodgers After Season
GettyCornerback Isaiah Rodgers of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings’ last outing of the season could also prove Rodgers’ last game with the team.
Minnesota signed Rodgers to a two-year deal in the spring, moving the career reserve into a starting role. And while he thrived early, Rodgers’ play has dipped off significantly enough that the team demoted him into more of a part-time role down the stretch.
“It has been in the past two games where Rodgers has given way to Jay Ward, who is a cornerback but also mostly a safety in their base defenses,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on December 11. “And Rodgers is coming in on the nickel.”
Seifert added that Rodgers’ demotion potentially points to his dismissal from the team following the conclusion of the year.
“Ss the season wore on, he really struggled making tackles in the open field specifically,” Seifert added. “His coverage was OK, but the tackling really struggled, and Jay Ward is better at that. … I don’t think Jay Ward projects as a longterm cornerback for this team in future seasons, but you also wonder if Isaiah Rodgers does, either.”
Rodgers recored two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception, two touchdowns and two pass breakups in a single game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 as part of one of the best performances by a cornerback in league history. He has recorded just two pass breakups in the 13 contests since.
Vikings Will Also Consider Changes at QB, Bring in Competition for JJ McCarthy Next Season
GettyQuarterback JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Rodgers might be out of Minnesota entirely come the spring, while quarterback JJ McCarthy will unquestionably return to the roster next year. However, the role of QB1 won’t necessarily be his to lose when preseason work begins.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Saturday that the Vikings will bring in a new quarterback to compete with McCarthy next season by one pathway or another.
“Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return to the Minnesota Vikings next season, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be the starter,” Russini wrote. “The Vikings were looking for emphatic proof this season that he’s the long-term answer, and because of a series of injuries, they never got it. Over the next few months, sources say, Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room.”
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