Moore's season-ending knee injury blindsides Minnesota, wiping out a return specialist and part-time contributor who had fought back from a previous major knee setback with Atlanta. The injury occurred on a punt return in the Vikings’ preseason tilt vs. Houston, described as a “pretty significant” injury by Kevin O’Connell, ending Moore’s 2025 season before it starts. Moore, a 2021 second-round pick by Arizona, had 135 catches for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns in 39 games across three seasons, but he hadn’t played since last being with Atlanta after a 2023 trade. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Minnesota in March, hoping to parlay health into a meaningful late-career impact.

Jefferson delivered a message to Vikings fans that hinted at a return “real soon,” underscoring Minnesota’s need to navigate the WR room without Moore. The injury compounds Moore’s prior back-to-back season-ending issues and reinforces durability questions that have followed him since entering the league. With Moore sidelined, Jefferson remains the keystone of the pass game, while Minnesota will lean on the depth of its WR corps and personnel moves to fill the gap. The Cardinals originally drafted Moore in 2021, later sending him to Atlanta before he landed with Minnesota, a journey that colors how fantasy managers weigh his replacement options. The Vikings’ move to add depth underlines the volatility and opportunity awaiting fantasy rosters as the season looms.