Amid fan backlash to the hiring of cheerleaders Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, the Minnesota Vikings are defending their squad.

The Minnesota Vikings are showing support for the team’s two male cheerleaders, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, who have faced homophobic and hateful backlash since being announced as members of the 2025 squad.

Minnesota vikings cheerleader Blaize Shiek wrote, “Wait…did someone say our name?” in response to his many critics.

Justin Jefferson has been on the sideline with a hamstring strain for the last three weeks, but Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday his star wide receiver is set to return to practice this week and will begin ramping up for the season.

Here are the best and worst from the PFF grades for the Vikings' loss to the Patriots. Nick Vannett 89.6 Henry Byrd 75.1 Blake Brandel 72.7 Ta Felton 70.6 Michael Gonzalez 70.2 Lucky Jackson 38.5

And that there was no place I’d rather be yesterday than inside on a beautiful Saturday afternoon watching a meaningless football game between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings goes a long way toward how excited I am for this coming NFL season.

Vikings second-year quarterback Jaren Hall only played 13 snaps in Saturday's preseason victory over the Browns, but he took full advantage of his reps. Hall went 4 of 5 for 87 yards and two touchdowns,