Vikings Designate New Kick Returner
The Minnesota Vikings made the surprising move to relieve kick returner Kene Nwangwu of his duties. He was drafted in 2021 and has held that job ever since, but the front office said goodbye to the fourth-year player, shockingly waiving him.
It raised the question of whether the Vikings would need to find a new kick returner for the 2024 season.
Vikings Designate New Kick Returner
Nwangwu’s exit left a gaping hole in the special team’s room. On the unofficial depth chart the team released during training camp, the Vikings listed Ty Chandler as the top option behind Nwangwu. Wide receiver and punt returner Powell was third.
In plot twist fashion, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added a new name to the list during his press conference on Thursday. He was asked about the plan at kick returner, and his answer was straightforward.
Right now, it would be Myles Gaskin. [We are] really, really excited about what he did this training camp. [He] came back in incredible shape. Kevin (O’Connell) and I have the glass windows where he can kind of look on the field, and you see a guy after game day doing all kinds of drills just deciding for himself, “I want to be the best version of myself for this team.” [He] had a great camp, won the job and we’re excited to [see] what he’s bringing.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Gaskin, it is, returning kicks under the new rules. Those new rules are in place to increase the number of kick returns in the upcoming season, which does vastly improve the viewer experience but also the importance of the return specialist.
In the preseason, the Vikings trotted various players out to return kicks. Gaskin logged three returns, averaging 18.3 yards. His longest was 20 yards, which is not inspiring at all.
However, perhaps not too much stock should be put in preseason special teams as Week 1’s group will look very different.
Gaskin returned a couple of kicks for the Dolphins in 2021 and six in his productive college career at Washington.
The veteran running back was initially released from Minnesota’s roster and failed to make the cut. However, the team signed him to the 17-man practice squad. A player can be elevated from the practice squad three times in a season, which will presumably be the case on September 8 when the Vikings face the New York Giants.
After those three contests, the Vikings either need a new returner or sign him to the roster. A relevant element to that conversation is that contracts of vested veterans (three or more seasons in the league) become fully guaranteed if a player is on the roster in Week 1, so signing Gaskin to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 2 could be in the cards.
In addition to his new job as the KR, Gaskin will function as the team’s RB3 behind Ty Chandler and Aaron Jones. He didn’t record a run last season and only ten with the Dolphins in 2022. However, Gaskin tallied roughly 1,200 rushing yards in 2020 and 2021.
The 27-year-old will be Minnesota’s first kick returner after the rule change.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt