Vikings RB Depth Takes a Hit Ahead of Week 8
The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North showdown as part of the Week 8 slate of the NFL schedule.
Minnesota is coming off a huge win in Week 7 where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a big upset. As a result, they’ve propelled themselves all the way back into the NFC playoff picture.
However, for this game, Minnesota will head into Lambeau Field a bit shorthanded. Saturday’s headlines brought news that the Vikings RB depth would take a slight hit against the Packers with RB Kene Nwangwu out because of injury.
Vikings RB Depth Takes a Hit Ahead of Week 8
On Saturday afternoon, it was reported that Nwangwu had been ruled out for Sunday because of an illness. The Vikings announced the news via social media, tweeting, “Kene Nwangwu (illness) has been downgraded to OUT for #MINvsGB.”
Nwangwu has not been with the Vikings for much of this season. He began the year on IR with an undisclosed injury, and the running back finally returned to the field in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers.
In that game, Nwangwu went back to his usual position at kick returner, bringing back a pair of kicks for 41 total yards. His returns resulted in 28 and 13 yards apiece.
The running back was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft out of Iowa State, and he has largely had much more of an impact with the special teams than in the offense.
Over his first two seasons in the NFL, Nwangwu returned 53 kicks for 1499 yards and 3 TDs. He led the league with a pair of kick return TDs during his rookie season, and in 2022, he was named a second-team All-Pro at the position.
In Nwangwu’s place, the Vikings have been utilizing Ty Chandler as their main return man in 2023. However, Chandler is yet to have the same impact that Nwangwu brings to the table, returning just three kicks for 70 yards this season.
Hopefully, Chandler can bounce back in Week 8 against a Packers team that is allowing 21.3 yards per return, placing them 16th in the league in that area. Kickoff between the Packers and Vikings is scheduled for 12 PM Central on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
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.