Oliver had two receptions for 30 yards on two targets in Thursday's loss to the Rams.
Oliver is mostly a blocking tight end as he has just six receptions in seven games. T.J. Hockenson's return as early as Week 9 from a knee injury will limit Oliver's limited upside in the passing offense.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: All set for Week 5
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that Oliver (wrist) will not carry an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Jets in London, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Oliver has been limited in practice due to a wrist injury, but he'll continue to play through the issue as he's done since Week 3. The 2019 third-round pick is coming off a Week 4 performance against Green Bay in which he played a season-high 70 percent of offensive snaps while securing both of his targets for 10 yards and one touchdown, but it's worth noting that Minnesota designated starter T.J. Hockenson (knee), who isn't a candidate to suit up versus New York, for return from the reserve/PUP list Friday.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Limited in practice again
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Oliver (wrist) is listed as a limited participant on Thursday's injury report.
Oliver continues to manage a wrist injury sustained in Week 3, one which he managed to play through during Minnesota's win over the Packers in Week 4. He was also limited in practice Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, Oliver still looks on track to suit up for Sunday's game against the Jets in London and continue splitting reps at the tight-end position alongside Johnny Mundt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Limited to start week
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Oliver (wrist) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice session.
Oliver picked up a wrist injury in Week 3, though he was able to play through it in Week 4 against the Packers, during which he caught two passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. His limited participation Wednesday is likely chalked up to injury maintenance, and barring a setback, Oliver should suit up for Sunday's game against the Jets in London. He's caught four passes (on five targets) for 37 yards and one touchdown through the first four games of the regular season.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: TD catch in win
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Oliver had two receptions for 10 yards, including a two-yard touchdown, on two targets in Sunday's win at Green Bay.
Oliver started at tight end and played on 46 of the offense's 68 snaps. He went out for a pass on 14 snaps. Despite the touchdown, he's mostly a blocking end with just five targets in four games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Cleared to play Sunday
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Oliver (wrist) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Packers and is expected to play, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Oliver missed some practice reps earlier in the week with the wrist issue but is good to go in a key divisional matchup with Green Bay. The veteran tight end has played more of a blocking role alongside Johnny Mundt at tight end for the Vikings. Oliver has two catches for 27 yards on three targets through three games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Nursing wrist injury
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Oliver (wrist) was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday's walkthrough.
Oliver played 37 snaps (30 on offense, seven on special teams) in the Vikings' Week 3 win over the Texans, though it appears the 2019 third-round pick may have sustained a wrist injury during the game. Wednesday's injury report was just an estimation, and Oliver will have two more practices to increase his participation ahead of Week 4 against the Packers.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Two receptions in season opener
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Oliver started at tight end and had two receptions for 27 yards on three targets in Sunday's win over the Giants.
Oliver had 27 snaps on offense compared to 29 for Johnny Mundt, who had three targets and two receptions for 15 yards. While neither tight end was a major factor in the passing attack, that could change if Jordan Addison misses time with an ankle injury. Still, Oliver is still mostly a blocking tight end who can catch an occasional touchdown.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Secures two touchdowns in 2023
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Oliver appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season, catching 22 of 28 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
A third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019, Oliver's targets, catches, yards and touchdowns all set or matched career highs. He saw action on 42 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps after signing a three-year, $21 million deal with Minnesota last offseason. Oliver should once again play more of a blocking role behind T.J. Hockenson (knee) next season.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Catches one pass in defeat
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Oliver recorded a 33-yard reception in the Vikings' 30-24 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
The backup tight end saw two targets and played on 19 offensive snaps. Starter T.J. Hockenson left the game early in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return, but depth tight end Johnny Mundt also saw 22 offensive snaps and three targets. Hockenson is undergoing an MRI on Monday, and if he has to miss time, it could mean a greater share of snaps for both Oliver and Mundt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Loses key fumble in loss
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Oliver had one reception for 15 yards on two targets but lost a fumble on Minnesota's opening possession in Sunday's loss to Kansas City.
Oliver lost the fumble on a reception which set up the Chiefs with good field position early in the first quarter, leading to a Kansas City touchdown. Oliver is a strong blocking tight end who doesn't get many targets, and losing a fumble won't help his case for more opportunities as a receiver.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Gets first TD of season
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Oliver had two receptions for four yards, including a four-yard touchdown, in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
Oliver is mostly a blocking tight end, as he went out on a route on just eight of 27 snaps on offense. He could be an occasional option in the red zone, but it was just his third touchdown reception in 38 career games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Three receptions in Vikings debut
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Oliver brought in all three targets for 32 yards in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay.
Oliver started at tight end opposite T.J. Hockenson as the Vikings opened in a two-TE set. Oliver is mostly a blocking tight end in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, but did go out for a pass on 13 of his 30 snaps. He won't generate enough targets for viable fantasy value in most leagues, but he could be a factor should Hockenson get hurt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Expected red-zone factor
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Oliver is expected to be a factor in the Vikings' red-zone offense, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis.
Signed to a surprising three-year, $21 million in free agency after spending the last two seasons buried in Baltimore's run-heavy offense, Oliver has been a pleasant surprise in offseason workouts, per Lewis. Vikings OC Wes Phillips said that Oliver could do more through the air than most realized, and that he's built like a "rhinoceros" in the open field. Oliver is unlikely to see consistent targets as long as T.J. Hockenson is healthy, but it sounds like Minnesota has plans for Oliver in multiple-tight end sets, particularly in the scoring area.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Gets big payday from Vikings
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Oliver and the Vikings reached agreement Monday on a three-year, $21 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
A 2019 third-round pick, Oliver played only four games for his original team (Jacksonville) in two seasons but then developed into a solid backup tight end for Baltimore in 2021 and 2022. He's caught only 26 passes in 35 career games, and while he should see a few more targets in Minnesota, there's not much fantasy upside so long as T.J. Hockenson stays healthy. This move strongly suggests fellow free agent Irv Smith will sign elsewhere rather than sticking with the Vikings.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Sees role increase in 2022
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Oliver caught 14 of 25 targets for 126 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
Oliver saw a role increase in his second year with Baltimore as he played nearly 500 snaps and recorded his first season with double-digit receptions despite the team bringing in two tight ends in the fourth round of the draft. Rookie Charlie Kolar being injured for much of the season helped Oliver carve out a bigger role, and he established himself as a useful blocker in Baltimore's run-heavy scheme. He's due to hit free agency this offseason, and with Mark Andrews already in the fold along with Baltimore's investments at tight end in the draft, it's possible he will be playing elsewhere in 2023.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Little involvement in Week 18
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Oliver played 32 of the Ravens' 75 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-16 loss to the Bengals and failed to corral his lone target.
Though the Ravens played the regular-season finale without top tight end Mark Andrews -- who sat out for rest purposes -- Oliver wasn't a major beneficiary. Oliver's 43 percent snap share actually took a step back from his 60 percent mark against the Steelers one week earlier, as Isaiah Likely (88 percent, 8-103-0 receiving line on 13 targets) and Charlie Kolar (44 percent, 4-49-0 on six targets) instead took advantage of Andrews' absence. Because the Ravens value Oliver's blocking skills and ability to contribute on special teams, he's still likely to be active for Sunday's rematch with the Bengals in the wild-card round.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Goes without target in Week 14
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Oliver played 42 of the Ravens' 61 snaps on offense and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 16-14 win over the Steelers.
Oliver turned some heads when he recorded four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' Week 12 loss to the Jaguars, but the absence of No. 2 tight end Isaiah Likely for that contest played a major role in Oliver's breakthrough performance. With both Mark Andrews and Likely available for the Ravens' subsequent two contests, Oliver has faded almost exclusively into a blocking role when he's taken the field. He's played 66 combined snaps on offense over the past two weeks and hasn't been targeted once.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Excels in expanded role
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Oliver recorded four receptions on six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Jaguars.
Oliver stepped into an expanded role with Isaiah Likely (ankle) sidelined, and he excelled with the opportunity. He tied for the team lead in receptions and led in receiving yards. Oliver's performance was highlighted by a 12-yard touchdown catch that came late in the fourth quarter, though he also caught a 40-yard pass from Lamar Jackson early in the third quarter. Although Oliver entered Sunday's game with only seven receptions, the Ravens have been in need of pass-catching options much of the season, so if Likely remains out Oliver could maintain his expanded role.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Likely to step in as No. 2 TE
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Oliver is expected to serve as the Ravens' No. 2 tight end behind starter Mark Andrews in Sunday's game against the Jaguars with Isaiah Likely (ankle) ruled out for the contest, Ryan Mink of Baltimore's official site reports.
Baltimore also has Nick Boyle and Charlie Kolar available as options at tight end, but the former serves mainly as a special-teams contributor and blocker on offense, while the latter has yet to make his NFL debut. Oliver, meanwhile, has already held a steady role on offense all season, even on the occasions both Andrews and Likely have been available. He's played no fewer than 30 percent of the offensive snaps in any of Baltimore's 10 games to date and has drawn at least one target in each of the past six contests.
