Josh Metellus has been a limited participant in OTA practices thus far, and there’s a logical reason why that might be the case. Vikings do-it-all safety Josh Metellus, one of the key pieces in Brian Flores’ defense over the past two seasons, has been a limited participant in recent OTA practices despite there being no indications he’s dealing with any sort of injury.
The logical assumption is that his lack of involvement has something to do with his current contract situation. Metellus is heading into the final year of the deal he signed prior to the 2023 season, which turned out to be an extremely team-friendly contract when he emerged as a borderline star in a full-time defensive role under Flores.
There have been extension talks between the two sides this offseason, but no deal has yet been reached. So while it’s not a certainty, it sure appears as if Metellus is “holding in” to some degree by limiting his reps.
Players were known to “hold out” and skip practices when they were unhappy with their contract. The existing CBA has largely removed that possibility, particularly during training camp, because of the substantial fines that teams can impose on players who fail to report. This stage of the offseason is officially voluntary, meaning Metellus isn’t obligated to attend. However, participating in a hold-in allows him to secure workout bonuses and stay close to his teammates while reducing the risk of injury.
“I think there’s interest from both sides in continuing that relationship and that he continues to be an important piece of the defense in Minnesota, but as of now, that contract is not done and I don’t think there’s really much in terms of guaranteed money for him at this point,” Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune said on the Access Vikings radio show.
“You do see guys, whether we’ve seen it with Danielle Hunter or T.J. Hockenson, when they’re talking through those contract things, it’s maybe not that they’re holding out, but the hold-in has kind of become the modern approach to this.”
After spending his first three seasons mostly as a primary special teams player, Metellus inked a two-year, $8 million extension two years ago.
That deal turned out to be a great deal for Minnesota when he had an amazing 2023 season in which he filled the stat sheet and shown extraordinary versatility. As an every-down guy who lines up all over the field for Flores, Metellus had another great season even if his stats weren’t quite as impressive as they were the previous year.
The 27-year-old Metellus, a 2020 sixth-round pick out of Michigan, has no reason to believe that a deal won’t be reached between the Vikings and him. They have a track record of looking out for their best players and rewarding them with extensions; Andrew Van Ginkel was the most recent example earlier this summer. The two parties will most likely find common ground on a new agreement in due time.
The departure of Camryn Bynum and the potential retirement of Harrison Smith after this season further enhance Metellus’ long-term importance, as he was already one of the Vikings’ most crucial defenders.
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