‘I Don’t Think They Look Like A Playoff Team’

Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph says the team doesn’t look like a playoff team right now, but things could change in the second half of the year. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

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At 4-5, the Minnesota Vikings know they have to turn things around in a major way to clinch a playoff berth for a second consecutive season in a tough conference.

The Vikings are less than a year removed from tying for the best mark in the NFC with a 14-3 record. While most of their core remains from last season, injuries have prevented them from reaching their true potential. It also doesn’t help that they have a first-year quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who has been limited to just four games due to an ankle sprain injury.

Kyle Rudolph, a former two-time Pro Bowl tight end with the Vikings, doesn’t believe they’re a playoff team at the moment. However, he knows things can turn around with a win this week over the Chicago Bears and a strong second half to the season.

“I don’t think they look like a playoff team right now, no,” says Rudolph in a one-on-one interview. “Does that mean that they can continue to win games and ultimately set themselves up to be a playoff team? Of course, ultimately going out and winning one week and losing the next week’s not going to get you in the playoffs. I think when you look at where things stand right now in the middle of November, there’s there’s some work to be done there.

“You can blame it on the injuries, the suspension (Jordan Addison), the inconsistencies on offense,” Rudolph continues. “But ultimately, this team has got a huge couple weeks coming up here before Thanksgiving, and then ultimately that six-week stretch after Thanksgiving is where teams find out what they’re made of. You got to go out and play big time football after Thanksgiving to earn that spot in the playoffs.”

Rudolph also mentions how the offensive line’s lack of health has played a major role in the lack of consistency for the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed the fourth-most sacks in the NFL entering Week 11.

“They’ve never had their five starting offensive linemen out there together,” says Rudolph. “You invest in the offensive line, you sign two free agents. You’ve got the left tackle coming back off of injury, and you draft the first-round pick for guard and five guys have never played together. Obviously, if you have a young quarterback, the offensive line is a huge part of it.”

It doesn’t help that the Vikings play in arguably the toughest division in football, with three teams from the NFC North making it to the playoffs last season. Fast forward a year later and the Bears are tremendously improved under second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears are currently 6-3 and in position for the sixth seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers hold the last spot with a 5-3-1 record.

As Rudolph mentions, the Vikings have yet to register back-to-back wins this season. A win after a huge upset victory over the Detroit Lions in McCarthy’s return, the Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 27-19. It was a lackluster effort with McCarthy throwing two interceptions and posting a 54.5 passer rating.

When asked his assessment of McCarthy, Rudolph says the “consistency” has to be there. He gives credit to the former first-round draft pick for his ability to make plays – especially with his legs – but says it’s too early to come up with a player comparison for him.

“It’s just way too early to tell,” says Rudolph when asked to make a player comparison for McCarthy. “As a Vikings fan, as someone that’s watched a lot of football, is J.J. a guy who’s going to go out and throw it 40 times? No, probably not. I think JJ has a skill set in which you see him be able to run around and use his legs and get the ball to all the many playmakers on offense. I think it’s just one of these things where the consistency has got to get there. You can’t go out and throw the interceptions that he threw last week, can’t turn the ball over. That’s the number one priority in terms of a quarterback that you got to protect the football.”

McCarthy has made just four starts and while he has two big wins to show for it, he looked underwhelming in the other two starts, posting a 54.5 and 37.5 passer rating with one touchdown to go with four interceptions and a fumble lost.

If McCarthy can stay healthy and post consistent performances, the sky is the limit for a Vikings team that features a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball, including the best receiver in the game in Justin Jefferson and targets such as Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson.

Rudolph says one of the benefits McCarthy has going for him is he’s playing for one of the best offensive minds in Kevin O’Connell.

“I think with J.J., there’s not a better offensive coach in football than Kevin O’Connell,” says Rudolph. “You look what he’s done with every quarterback that he’s ever coached. For me as a Vikings fan, I’m excited to see, ‘Okay, we’re 10 weeks into the season. We’ve only seen JJ McCarthy four times. What do we get to see in November, December and January?’ Assuming he stays healthy and he’s able to continue working with Kevin O’Connell.”

Kyle Rudolph Helps Launch Cymbiotika at Minneapolis Target

While he certainly keeps busy these days as a college football analyst for Peacock, Rudolph is partnering with Cymbiotika, which is a wellness brand that releases easy-to-use products for energy and brain health. Cymbiotika was launched in 2018.

Cymbiotika recently celebrated the construction of a 50-foot art installation to celebrate their national retail debut at Target. Rudolph and Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Julius Randle were in attendance at the Minneapolis Target last week, which kicked off the “Wellness Pillars Tour.”

The tour will continue with activations in Miami, California, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas for the remainder of the year and heading into 2026.

“I was excited to get back to Minneapolis last week for Cymbiotika’s National Wellness Tour and their launch at Target,” says Rudolph. “Super cool to be back. It was awesome for me to get to hang out with Minnesota sports fans. Julius Randle was there before me, so we had a bunch of T-Wolves fans coming out, and then the Vikings fans showed up after that. It was really, really cool.

“Obviously, health and wellness has been a huge part of my life as a 12-year NFL player,” Rudolph continues to say. “But then post football, I probably dedicate just as much time now, because it might not be my livelihood anymore. Obviously my health doesn’t determine my ability to go out and play on Sundays. But I’ve got four young kids, and it’s about my health and wellness for the rest of my life. Obviously, Cymbiotika is incredible, and makes it super convenient chasing four kids under 10 around.”

The products are also convenient in that you can easily carry the pouches when traveling. Most of the pouches are small and you can drink them while on the go.

“I go back to the convenience side,” says Rudolph of what makes Cymbiotika stand out. “You think about supplements and vitamins and you can have powders and pills – and we’ve all had powders and pills — they’re not necessarily the easiest, the most convenient for me. Just being able to throw my pouches in my bag and stuff, if I’m going to the gym, or if I got to go run the kids to and from school, I can just throw one in the car, have it in my bag. The the biggest thing is convenience.”