Questions Answered: The New Guy from LA, Bears Thoughts, Duke Shelley for 2023
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the January 3rd 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.
Questions Answered: The New Guy from LA, Bears Thoughts, Duke Shelley for 2023
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Q: Will Bobby Evans from the Rams become a significant contributor?
A: No, probably not.
Per Pro Football Focus, Evans is one of the NFL’s worst offensive tackles in 2022. His grade is below 30.0, so, you know — oofta.
He’ll live on the practice squad and get a shot if more injuries arise. The Vikings are currently without Brian O’Neill, Garrett Bradbury, Austin Schlottmann, and Blake Brandel in the trenches. Not ideal.
But, on the whole, Evans isn’t really a plug-and-play starter. That’s what Oli Udoh is for.
Q: Do you expect the Vikings to play full strength for the entirety of the Bears game?
A: We don’t really like it, but it seems Kevin O’Connell will indeed play starters.
We could see him pulling players at halftime if the Vikings hopped out to a nice lead — but these Vikings never hop out to a nice lead.
The Vikings aren’t likely to reclaim the No. 2 seed. We’d rest starters if it were up to us. Alas, it is not up to us. Regardless, expect a healthy dosage of starters at Soldier Field unless O’Connell changes his mind tomorrow, which would be odd “this late” in the week.
Q: Has Duke Shelley done enough to be penciled in as a starter in 2023?
A: Shelley has performed marvelously as an unexpected contributor, but waltzing into 2023 with Shelley as the CB1 seems a little optimistic.
The Vikings still must see what the future holds for Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans. Plus, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could draft another corner in Round 1 or 3.
We’d love to see Shelley remain on the team but would like to see if this production is sustainable.
Which Greg Joseph Stands Up?
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).