Some Praise for 2 Unsung Vikings Contributors
The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with plenty of injuries so far in 2023 which very well could have derailed their season.
Instead, in part because of their talent as well as the culture that Kevin O’Connell is building in Minnesota, the Vikings have rallied around their depth pieces and are on a four-game winning streak that has propelled them into the playoff picture.
It was a similar story in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. There were plenty of heroes from that game, so today, we’re going to take some time to appreciate two of the unsung Vikings contributors from their latest victory.
LT David Quessenberry
When Christian Darrisaw went down with a groin injury on Saturday, the Vikings needed a fast fix for their left tackle spot. Against a strong Atlanta defensive front which has been among the league leaders in pressure rate all season, David Quessenberry stood up to the challenge.
It wasn’t always pretty (he allowed Calais Campbell to sack Josh Dobbs in the end zone for a safety), but Quessenberry quickly cleaned things up after that play. He finished the day graded as the best pass-blocker on the Vikings offensive line by PFF.
This isn’t the first time that the veteran has been thrust into an impossible situation at the last minute, either. With Darrisaw sitting out of Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Oli Udoh going down with a season-ending injury, Quessenberry stepped in to finish the game at left tackle and didn’t allow any sacks against a ridiculously powerful Eagles front. If Darrisaw is forced to sit out in Week 10, Vikings fans should feel strongly about the backup getting another start.
WR Trishton Jackson
Without Justin Jefferson going into the game, and K.J. Osborn going down in the first half, the Vikings found themselves extremely thin at the wide receiver position. Following Josh Dobbs’ 18-yard TD run in the second half, Minnesota needed to convert a two-point conversion in order to tie the game as two of their top options were on the sideline.
It was Trishton Jackson who stepped up, fighting for position on the goal line. With Dobbs rolling out of the pocket, he delivered a low throw to the receiver, who went down and got it to tie the game at 21.
Jackson has been on NFL practice squads going back to 2020, but this is the first season that he has gotten regular season playing time with a team. The Vikings have put trust in the young receiver, and he paid that off big time with a massive conversion to change the tides in the game towards the Vikings’ favor.
It doesn’t sound like Jefferson will be back for Week 10 while Osborn could very well be out with his concussion. As a result, Jackson will need to continue making plays for this offense against a stout Saints secondary.
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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.