5 Vikings Who Need a Big Showing in Tonight’s Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings are set to play their second preseason game on Saturday night against the Tennessee Titans.
With kickoff just hours away, here is a look at 5 Vikings who need a big showing in the team’s second preseason game in order to help secure their spot in the lineup and/or their roster spot.
RG Ed Ingram
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t made many acquisitions on the interior of their offensive line during training camp, but they have decided to move Blake Brandel over to the guard spot after spending much of his career at offensive tackle.
Especially with Chris Reed remaining on the NFI list heading into Saturday’s game, the Vikings need RG Ed Ingram to step up and prove that he is capable of holding off an opposing pass-rush. His first preseason showing was not the greatest performance, but hopefully, Week 2 can be a bounce back opportunity.
CB Andrew Booth
This Thursday, both Mekhi Blackmon and Akayleb Evans left practice with injuries. While it appears that neither of the injuries are serious, it remains to be seen how much of a role they will play in Saturday night’s game against the Titans.
These injuries potentially open the door to Andrew Booth as he attempts to gain some ground on Blackmon and Evans in the starting battle. He had an excellent practice on Thursday, so perhaps the young CB can build off of that performance.
WR Trishton Jackson
The Vikings have a fierce battle at WR right now. Players like Brandon Powell and Jalen Reagor have been showing out in practice and the first preseason game. Jalen Nailor has strong potential, and we can’t count out one of the more recent Vikings acquisitions, N’Keal Harry, either.
This leaves players like Trishton Jackson needing to set themselves apart in order to have a chance at making the final roster. He did not have a reception in the first preseason game, and he was just barely on the outside looking in last year. Jackson is a talented player who needs to make some plays to get onto the roster.
RB DeWayne McBride
The Vikings have continued adding running back talent this week, signing Aaron Dykes to the roster ahead of their second preseason game. The assumption is that, especially considering Kene Nwangwu remains sidelined with an injury, Minnesota isn’t convinced in its RB depth behind Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler.
DeWayne McBride averaged just 2.5 yards per carry in the preseason opener, and he was tasked with returning kicks after Nwangwu’s injury. That didn’t go well either, averaging well under 20 yards per return. The rookie needs to show what he is capable of in an NFL offense.
LB Troy Dye
Undrafted rookie free agent Ivan Pace has been the talk of training camp, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has essentially stated that the rookie has made the roster. He is simply competing for immediate playing time at this point.
With Pace seeming like a lock to make the roster, that takes away a linebacker spot in a room that also contains Jordan Hicks and 2022 third-round pick Brian Asamoah. Troy Dye has been a player that Vikings fans have been waiting to see take the next step for awhile now, but it seems like he will need to prove why he deserves a roster spot in 2023 with all the other linebackers in the group.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.