Questions Answered: Kwesi’s Rookie Class, Andrew Booth Injury, 2 as the Number
Dustin Baker
|
Questions Answered: Kwesi’s Rookie Class, Andrew Booth Injury, 2 as the Number
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the November 28th 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.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1195767″ player=”26281″ title=”Reaction%20to%20Vikings%20Win%20over%20Patriots” duration=”987″ description=”Dustin Baker goes through the broad talking points of the Vikings win in Week 12.” uploaddate=”2022-11-28″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19439/snapshot/1195767_th_1669660721.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19439/sd/1195767.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Q: Doesn’t it feel like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class is a bit of a bust?
A: If all of the rookies retired tonight — yes.
But that’s not the case, and rookie draft classes need about four years to achieve full form. Indeed, Lewis Cine was lost for the season, and Andrew Booth could also be heading that way. However, Akayleb Evans looks like a budding impact player, Ed Ingram is getting a total trial by fire, Brian Asamoah is ready, and the late-rounders are healthy aside from Ty Chandler.
It would’ve been lovely if Cine and Booth didn’t encounter injury, but this is the NFL. It happens.
We can make a “bust” determination in 2025 or so.
Q: What is Andrew Booth’s injury, and is he done for the season?
A: Booth had surgery to repair his meniscus, and his status is undetermined.
He could return later in the regular season or perhaps the postseason. But we’d be willing to bet he’ll be shelved until 2023. And along with Lewis Cine, Booth’s injury signals a whimper from the two main defensive rookies.
But they have time to bounce back. Rookies busting out in Year One is a perk but not a requirement. Thankfully for the Vikings sake, Akayleb Evans has looked the part to date. Evans should be back for Week 13 against the Jets.
Q: If the Vikings magic number is down to two, do you think they’ll wrap up the NFC North on Sunday?
A: We like the Vikings chances to defeat the Jets, but the Lions have been rather scrappy lately.
They damn near beat the Bills at home on Thanksgiving. Before that, they won three in a row. Based on the last month’s performance, Detroit should probably topple Jacksonville.
And if it does beat the Jaguars, then the Vikings can just win the division outright in Week 14 against — you guessed it — the Lions.
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).