EAGAN, MINNESOTA - MAY 27: Josh Oliver #84 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during an OTA workout at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on May 27, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings primary injury concern after Sunday’s win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers centered around the health of former Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson, who left the game late on in the first quarter with an ankle injury and did not return for the remainder of the bout.
Right at the end of the game, Minnesota subsequently lost another pass-catcher: tight end Josh Oliver.
It was believed that Oliver may have torn his right biceps early on Monday morning, and testing later on in the day ended up confirming the unfortunate diagnosis, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
As updated just now on The Aftermath: Oliver does have a torn bicep and will need surgery, which will be done soon, per source. Most likely a long shot to return this year, at least for regular season. https://t.co/MdktSethXr
“Oliver does have a torn bicep and will need surgery, which will be done soon, per source. Most likely a long shot to return this year, at least for regular season.” Fowler posted on social media on Sep. 28.
For most teams, losing their second-string tight end would be sad and certainly a detriment to the team, but it would not necessarily have serious adverse effects on the starting lineup. But for the Vikings, Oliver plays a far bigger role than any ordinary TE2.
Oliver brings a highly useful hybrid blocking-receiving skill-set to the Vikings’ offense, which A to Z Sports’ Tyler Forness goes so far as to say will “change everything” for Minnesota on the offensive side of the ball.
This honestly changes everything about how the Vikings are going operate offensively. Josh Oliver's blocking has given them so much flexibility up front, and not having him will change the math for Kevin O'Connell https://t.co/gbSUO1ahO1
Oliver Added Huge Value in Both the Run and Passing Game
“This honestly changes everything about how the Vikings are going operate offensively. Josh Oliver’s blocking has given them so much flexibility up front, and not having him will change the math for Kevin O’Connell”, Forness posted, quoting Fowler’s breaking news report.
Through three weeks, Minnesota has operated a two-tight end set for much of their offensive personnel setups. In the first two weeks of the season Oliver and TE1 T.J. Hockenson both saw the field on 60% + of offensive snaps in both games – although that number did dip to 41% this past weekend for Oliver.
The next man up at tight end is 2025 sixth round pick Gavin Bartholemew, who has played just 4 regular season snaps on offense in his professional career to date.
Considering the Vikings may also be without Justin Jefferson for the foreseeable future, losing Oliver is a crushing blow for an offense that is already struggling both running and passing the ball just a few games into the season.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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Vikings’ Tight End’s Season-Ending Injury ‘Changes Everything’ On Offense
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Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver has suffered a torn biceps that could see him miss the rest of the regular season.
Vikings’ Tight End’s Season-Ending Injury ‘Changes Everything’ On Offense