Questions Answered: Dantzler’s Indefinite Absence, CB Depth, Duke Shelley
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the November 12th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: With Cameron Dantzler out for four games, who will emerge in his spot?
A: A combo platter for Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth — heavy on the Evans at the beginning.
This is the time. The time is now. Folks knew cornerback injuries would hit — remember how Mike Zimmer always lamented injuries to CBs? — and here they are. The Vikings have banked on the two rookie corners as contingency plans for Dantzler or Patrick Peterson injuries.
Evans played wonderfully last weekend, and Booth hasn’t really played at all. If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made good draft selections in April, you’ll find out accordingly in the next four weeks.
Q: Are there any decent free-agent cornerbacks that the Vikings can sign?
A: Yes, of course. But none are overly exciting.
- A.J. Bouye
- Maurice Canady
- Janoris Jenkins
- Kevin King
- Tavon Young
Those men could provide reasonable CB4-CB5 depth, but the Vikings best plan is to trust their in-house men in Evans and Booth. The men on the list above are old and free agents for a reason.
The Vikings were never very deep at cornerback — unless both Evans and Booth are productive — so folks sort of knew this moment would arrive. It has, and Vikings fans must hope for the best with rookies.
Q: I saw the Vikings activated Duke Shelley for Week 10. Who is he?
A: Shelley was a 6th-Round draft pick in 2019 by the Chicago Bears and remained in Chicago for three seasons. He’s played 625 defensive snaps in 32 career games.
The 26-year-old probably won’t see too much of the field for the Vikings unless more injuries arise. But he is a serviceable contingency plan. His Pro Football Focus grade usually lives in the 50s.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).