Purple rumor mill: Kellen Mond back from the dead, WR Dalvin Cook, Wyatt Davis in shape

VikingsTerritoryit is purple rumor mill is a chronicle of two days each week. All of the week’s rumors are lassoed and filed in two places – the Saturday and Sunday articles – for review. Today is the edition of May 21.

Remember – rumors are rumors. What you read over the weekend in these articles is what the world is talking about regarding the Vikings, not necessarily things that will come to fruition.

Rumor: Kellen Mond could actually move up to QB2 this season.

This chatter stems from Mond’s role this week at minicamp. He took QB2 snaps with Sean Mannion, so maybe he’s not destined to repeat QB3 duty again.

The only reason people are down on Mond is because of Zimmer’s season-ending treatment. In the end, either Zimmer will be vindicated, and Mond won’t be worthy of QB2 status — or Zimmer will be wrong, and Mond will win the job.

If he can’t win a QB2 job sooner or later, he’s not the real deal.

Rumor: Dalvin Cook will be used more often as WR in 2022.

This one also came from minicamp this week. Cook has been fielded a handful of times as a wide receiver. This innovation for a generally happy Vikings offense is what people should expect from Kevin O’Connell.

Cook seems to like the idea, sharing this on Twitter after taking WR snaps:

It’s probably no coincidence that he shared this hours after minicamp. You should expect different hats for Cook in 2022.

Rumor: Wyatt Davis is in a better position to see more playing time in 2022.

Davis looked fine at minicamp at Eagan, but he suddenly has a tall order to earn a starting job — or any job at all — on the 2022 Vikings roster.

He was recruited at a time when the Vikings were recovering from the Dakota Dozier and Dru Samia experience. Because both of these players played abysmal in 2020, it was easy to fall in love with Davis’ upside.

Ultimately, Davis couldn’t dethrone Oli Udoh for a job, and Davis didn’t play on offense at all in 2021.

Now, to get back on track, he has to oust Ed Ingram, Jesse Davis and Chris Reed for playing time. Good luck.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. He host a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, airing every Wednesday with Raun Saw and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Guilty pleasures listed: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, “The Sopranos” and The Doors (the band).