Vikings rookie tight end Gavin Bartholomew hasn’t factored into Minnesota’s season. The reason is his health, or lack thereof. He has been on sidelines for the entire season, going back to not participating in training camp.
Ideally, the young tight end is soaking up the mental aspect of the game. Stick around the building and grind through film. Watch excellent older players such as T.J. Hockenson alongside Josh Oliver go about their business, plucking out usable insights along the way. But while these things have value, Bartholomew is still being left behind (sometimes literally). He began the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list and is still there as October proceeds forward.
Vikings Rookie Gavin Bartholomew Getting Left Behind
Pretty quietly, the Vikings have welcomed a youth movement at the tight end position.
Bartholomew, 22, got snagged in the 6th. The team then rolled into undrafted free agency with the willingness to spend big bucks, a desire that manifested itself in kicking over hearty deals to Ben Yurosek (23) alongside Bryson Nesbit (23). The former made the 53-man roster while the latter sits on the practice squad. Yurosek has been hurt recently, but he appears to be moving in a better direction as someone who is soon to play again.
There was then the decision to extend Mr. Oliver, a blocking bully who thrives largely due to his physicality and quiet confidence. Keeping the TE2 around town isn’t about youth. Rather, it’s about holding onto a tremendous blocker who helps Minnesota to enhance its ruggedness, something that can sometimes be lacking in the high-skill Vikings offense.
At the top of the position is Mr. Hockenson. Working under a four-year pact that’s promising to pay $66 million means that expectations are high for the pass catcher. Minnesota’s head coach has publicly praised Hockenson’s blocking, an aspect of the tight end’s game that has improved. One may nevertheless wonder what the future holds for Hockenson.
Next offseason, the team could decide on a simple cut. Doing so would mean accepting $12,425,000 in dead money alongside $8,930,000 in liberated cap space. Alternatively, a trade could free up that cap space while bringing an asset back to Minnesota (at least in theory).
Neither option — a cut or trade — appears particularly likely. Hockenson is still a valued member of the team. Nevertheless, he’s putting together modest production (19 catches, 153 yards, and 1 touchdown) while on a major contract. The Vikings are stepping into a cap crunch next year and have plenty of youth at the position. Is that a recipe for moving on? If so, then will Gavin Bartholomew getting back to the field be something that makes a difference?
The 2025 season isn’t an overly optimistic place for Bartholomew. Regardless, the future could still be bright for the former Pittsburgh Panther.
Gavin Bartholomew hasn’t seen the final chapter written in his football story. Far from it. The current setback is discouraging — for him most of all — but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for the young tight end. Working back to full health and reinserting himself into the tight end competition whenever he’s able to do so will be a welcome development in Minnesota.
The rest of the Vikings’ 2025 draft class has been contributing on Sunday. Donovan Jackson (when healthy) is the starting left guard while Tai Felton is a depth receiver, a menace at gunner, and a returner on kickoff. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has been worked into the d-line rotation while Kobe King is helping on specials.
So, too, are several UDFAs — Myles Price, Austin Keys, Joe Huber, and so on — helping.
Seeing Gavin Bartholomew back in 2026 would be a nice boost for the team regardless of what happens at the top of the tight end position. Where he slots into the mix will be something to monitor once 2025 gives way to 2026.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
