In the heart of Minnesota, where the skol chant echoes through the streets, the Vikings find themselves in a perfect storm. It’s not the kind that wins Super Bowls, but one that tests the very fabric of their purple brotherhood. Safety Josh Metellus is stepping up to the plate to lead his team through choppy waters.

The Vikings’ ship was rocked when wide receiver Jordan Addison was found asleep at the wheel of a Rolls Royce on a Los Angeles freeway. Addison’s DUI arrest on July 14 came just days after a tragedy struck the team. Rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson, a fourth-round pick with dreams as big as US Bank Stadium, was killed in a car accident on July 6.

“I reached out to him, you know, just trying to check on his mental, his mind, his head space. I know we’re tough on him. He’s even tougher on himself. You know, he knows he’s messed up. And he knows the situation he put himself in.” Metellus didn’t hold back his words on an interview snippet posted by Darren Wolfson in X.

Metellus, showing the leadership of a true Minnesota Viking, isn’t throwing anyone under the longship. Instead, he’s taking responsibility for Addison’s misstep. “As a leader of the team, I put that on me,” Metellus told Minnesota sports insider Darren Wolfson. “I woke up like, yeah, this is my fault. I got to lead the young guys in a better direction.”

Metellus offered assistance to Addison following his arrest, stating, “I told him, whatever you need, just let me know. I’m here for you.” The safety took a personal stake in the incident.

This isn’t just coach-speak or locker-room platitudes. Metellus recently spent time with Addison in London, forging a bond that goes beyond the gridiron. “He really grew on me, you know, as a teammate, as a brother, just outside of football,” Metellus shared. It’s this kind of connection that turns a team into a family, something Vikings fans know all too well.

But the Vikings aren’t just dealing with Addison’s fumble off the field. The loss of Jackson has left a void in the locker room that can’t be filled with X’s and O’s. Metellus, showing the heart of a true Norseman, has dedicated his upcoming season to his fallen teammate. “We gotta play for him and gotta do everything moving forward in his name,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of loss and determination.

Lifting the team spirit and honoring Khyree Jackson goes hand-in-hand

As the Vikings prepare to sail into the 2024 season, Metellus is working overtime to keep the team’s spirits high. He’s not just sending out smoke signals; he’s actively reaching out to his teammates. “A lot of group texting, a lot of reaching out to guys. Social media, phone calls, just checking on mental space,” Metellus explained.

The safety’s efforts to rally the troops go beyond mere words. He shared a poignant memory of Jackson, recalling, “I literally just talked to him a couple days before, telling him how when we go to Chicago I’m going to take him shopping.” It’s these small, human moments that remind us that behind the helmets and shoulder pads are young men with dreams and relationships.

Metellus isn’t just playing for Jackson; he’s playing with Jackson’s family in mind. “I wish the best for his family and everyone who was hurt by this,” he said.

With training camp on the horizon, the Vikings are facing challenges that can’t be solved with a perfectly executed Hail Mary. But if Metellus’s leadership is any indication, this team is ready to lock shields and face whatever storms may come. As the safety put it, “We just gotta lean on each other and that’s what the brotherhood is for.” In the land of 10,000 lakes, it seems the Vikings have found their anchor.