Four Vikings Who Have Disappointed Through Week 2
The Minnesota Vikings have started the season 0-2 following their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
Prior to the pair of Monday night games, the Vikings are one of eight teams with an 0-2 record to begin the year. It certainly isn’t a place where Minnesota envisioned they would be to begin the season, but there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
However, they will need improvements from a few players in order to make that turnaround happen. Here are four Vikings who have disappointed through the first two weeks of the season.
RG Ed Ingram
The Vikings largely ran back the same offensive line group from 2022 to 2023, hoping that continuity would lead to improvements from the group. So far, that has not been the case for right guard Ed Ingram.
Through the first two weeks of the season, Ingram has allowed seven pressures, four QB hits, and a sack. PFF has graded him at 51.4 in pass protection, and his run blocking has been much of the same at 51.1. In order for Minnesota to turn things around, they will need better play across the board from their right guard.
RB Alexander Mattison
Apart from the offensive line struggles, the Vikings need more production out of their new RB1. Minnesota released Dalvin Cook this spring, and they are relying on Alexander Mattison to carry the load on the ground this year.
Through two weeks, Mattison has totaled 19 carries for 62 yards, an average of 3.2 yards per carry. Minnesota’s 69 total rushing yards is tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. The New Orleans Saints also have 69 while the Pittsburgh Steelers have 41. However, both teams play on Monday night, meaning the Vikings will very likely be at the very bottom of the list in about 12 hours.
DL Dean Lowry
The Vikings brought in Dean Lowry in free agency in an attempt to bring more of a pass-rushing presence to the interior of their defensive line. From 2020-2022, Lowry recorded a combined 8.5 sacks for the Packers, and PFF gave him credit for 80 pressures over those three seasons.
So far in 2023 though, that pass-rushing presence has been non-existent with the Vikings. Lowry is yet to record a pressure this season, and PFF has him at a career-low 48.7 for his pass-rushing grade. Minnesota is going to need someone other than Danielle Hunter to get to the QB if they want to turn things around this season.
OLB Pat Jones
Speaking of pass-rushing, Pat Jones showed a lot of promise over his first two NFL seasons after being a third-round pick in the 2021 Draft. He recorded 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks as a rotational player in 2022.
With Marcus Davenport missing time due to an ankle injury, the Vikings have once again relied on Jones to be a rotational pass-rushing presence for their defense. However, Jones’ snaps haven’t been productive ones through the first two weeks. He has three pressure, but no sacks or QB hits so far this year. Additionally, he has been a liability against the run. Especially if Davenport misses more time this year, the Vikings need more production from Jones in the coming weeks.
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.