Three burning questions with Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness about the 49ers' Week 2 opponent

The San Francisco 49ers renew acquaintances with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday as they look to build on their dominant Week 1 win over the New York Jets.  San Francisco, set to be without Christian McCaffrey for the second successive game, are already very familiar with the Vikings having played them last season in Week […]

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Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; The line of scrimmage between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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The San Francisco 49ers renew acquaintances with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday as they look to build on their dominant Week 1 win over the New York Jets. 

San Francisco, set to be without Christian McCaffrey for the second successive game, are already very familiar with the Vikings having played them last season in Week 7, when Minnesota claimed victory in a tight Monday Night Football encounter 

Still, much has changed about the Vikings since then. Minnesota will start the 49ers' backup quarterback from last year, Sam Darnold, while the Vikings are also dealing with a major injury.

So, to get the expert view on Minnesota heading into this matchup, I put three questions to A to Z Sports' Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness.


The offense had an outstanding Week 1 against the Giants, but it looked like it has some vulnerabilities on the interior line. Where do you see potential weaknesses on that side of the ball?

The interior of the offensive line is vulnerable but it holds up well against players who aren’t elite. 

Dexter Lawrence is on a similar level to Aaron Donald where he will wreck just about anyone in front of him. Nothing against Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins but they aren’t on the same level. 

Without a true game wrecker in the middle, the Vikings will be relatively fine. The biggest thing with the interior is communication and there is room for improvement there. If the 49ers want to take advantage of them, stunts are the way to do it.


Jordan Addison had a huge game against the 49ers last year, how might the offense change if he's not out there?

Conceptually, the offense won’t change a ton. Head coach Kevin O’Connell does a really good job in staying true to to his conceptual vision. 

What will be slightly different is how the Vikings utilize Justin Jefferson. It’s not just missing Addison, it would be missing tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is one of the best tight ends in the National Football League. The lack of proven weapons on the outside will likely have Jefferson double teamed on the outside, which means players like Jalen Nailor have to step up. Jefferson spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon about his potential.

"He has big potential, you know, he's just behind me and (Jordan Addison), that's the only thing that's has really stopped him for really reaching the potential that he has. But you know, everyone knows if they've been following him, the injuries has been really stopping them from being out there on that field. Now he's a little bit more healthy. Now he's being able to there on that field, his ability to learn a playbook and be dialed into where he needs to be on that field, and learning the F, learning, X learning the whole playbook is his goodness of really being out there on that field. So that helps him a lot. But you know, his just ability to make plays is what really makes him, him, but that's what everybody's going to see out there on Sunday."

Guys like Nailor need to step up if the Vikings stand a chance on Sunday.

Note: Addison has since been ruled out with an ankle injury.


There are several new faces on this defense, which had great success in Week 1. How has that group gelled and do you think it has the pieces to slow down a 49er offense that was dominant in the opener?

I really think it does have the pieces to be successful. Now, when you look at overall talent, it is lacking in certain spots. The defensive line is relative weak and the cornerback position doesn’t have a lot of youth plus it’s more of a high floor position. 

With all of that said, what the Vikings have players that are better fits for what defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants to do, especially at edge rusher. 

One of the unique angles that the Vikings have taken is playing four edge rushers on passing downs. That variety is something they can use as their calling card and give the Vikings something they can use to attack opposing defenses.