What’s Going on with Kene Nwangwu?
K. Joudry
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So far, we’ve seen a lot of positives from the Minnesota Vikings. However, one area that has struggled has been the kickoff return unit. Coming into the year, many – including yours truly – expected it to be a strength, largely because of sophomore Kene Nwangwu.
The depth RB was chosen by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He missed the initial part of the season due to injury, but once he got onto the field he made a massive difference. In limited chances, Nwangwu brought two returns back for touchdowns.
By the end of the year, Kene Nwangwu had some impressive numbers. His 18 returns went for 579 yards, which is a 32.2 yards-per-return average. Given that a touchback goes to the 25, averaging more than 30 suggests that the KR was often giving his team a notable advantage in field position.
In 2022, the same can’t be said, at least not yet. Nwangwu has had 13 chances to return the ball; he has picked up 307 yards in the process. That means he’s averaging less than 24 yards per return. In other words, the Vikings would have better field position (on average) if they simply accepted a touchback.
Now, we should remember that there’s merit in bringing the ball back, even if the individual return doesn’t go very far. The opposition needs to respect the fact that Minnesota is likely to return the football, making their day just a touch more complicated. A poor angle from a tackler or a failure to wrap up the ball carrier can result in a long gain for Minnesota.
However, it’s also worth remembering that returns come with risks. A ball can be fumbled; penalties can occur. In many ways, then, a return is a risk/reward scenario. The hope is that Kene Nwangwu will reward the Vikings by bringing the ball back for a sizable gain. The downside is a turnover or lesser field position.
In the end, I think Matt Daniels and Nwangwu will get the return back on track. It’s early in the year, but the team still needs to confront the trend that’s emerging. The kickoff returns haven’t been explosive enough, so there needs to be a sense of urgency when it comes to finding a solution.
The team’s next chance will take place this Sunday when Minnesota travels to Miami. The game will begin at 12 CT.
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