3 Winners & Losers from 1st Vikings Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings are 1-0 in the meaningless preseason standings. It was the first exhibition victory for head coach Kevin O’Connell and the first for the franchise since 2019, when Kyle Sloter was wearing purple and gold in the pre-COVID era, throwing for 102 yards and a touchdown on only seven attempts.
3 Winners & Losers from 1st Vikings Preseason Game
Preseason games are excellent opportunities to evaluate players. The coaches see their guys every day, but outside of those at practice, fans got their first opportunity to watch the newcomers play. There have been some winners and losers.
Winner: Jalen Nailor
One of the main storylines of the summer is Jalen Nailor’s emergence as the team’s WR3. After K.J. Osborn’s exit, the Vikings needed a new top option behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Nailor seems to be that guy.
The 2022 sixth-rounder has always been a talented player, but injuries have slowed him down in college and with the Vikings. However, he has been shining all training camp long and kept that momentum going in the preseason, catching three passes early in the game for 63 yards. He was the clear go-to wideout and could be a major asset in 2024.
Punt returner Brandon Powell is a solid WR4 and perhaps better suited for that role, while Nailor offers more upside.
Loser: Ed Ingram
The starting right guard has been clearly the entrenched starter on Minnesota’s offensive line, but the Vikings re-signed Dalton Risner and seemingly want to use him as a backup guard on either side. He could replace Ed Ingram if the third-year player struggles at some point.
And he did just that. After starting with the first-team offense, he remained on the field for another series after his four wingmen had called it a day. He allowed two QB hurries in only 11 pass-block snaps, leading to an atrocious PFF pass-blocking grade of 17.1.
It should be noted that he faced one of the meanest defenders in the league. Christian Wilkins, who signed a $110 million contract in the offseason and bullied Ingram. Still, allowing defenders to hurry the QB can ruin plays, drives, and games. Ingram needs to play better with Risner lurking behind him.
Winner: Bo Richter
Not many Vikings fans knew about an Air Force outside linebacker by the name of Bo Richter. His dominant performance against the Las Vegas Raiders was his official introduction to Skol Nation.
Overshadowed all summer by fellow undrafted rookie Gabriel Murphy, who didn’t suit up because of an undisclosed injury, Richter excelled with the second and third-stringers, recording a sack and five tackles.
He played with a certain motor and tenacity that every coach would fall in love with. Richter made a strong case to remain with the Vikings either on the 53-man roster or the practice squad once the rosters are trimmed on August 27.
Loser: Seth Vernon
The Vikings have a punting competition, but incumbent punter Ryan Wright was indisputably a superior punter on Saturday. He dropped one of his three attempts inside the 20 and averaged 57 yards per punt, while his challenger, Seth Vernon, punted twice for a combined 90 yards. One of those went for only 35 yards.
In addition to that, Wright seems to be the top option as a holder, and since that’s another element of the gig, Wright should be heavily favored to enter his third season as Minnesota’s punter.
Winner: Trishton Jackson
Nailor wasn’t the only receiver who shined. Trishton Jackson recorded four catches for 100 yards, including J.J. McCarthy’s wonderful go-route touchdown pass. He frequently got open and made plays when his team needed him.
He might have a chance to contribute this year after spending three seasons primarily on the Vikings practice squad (outside of a few weeks last season on the 53-man roster).
Loser: Kene Nwangwu
Kick return star Kene Nwangwu had a spectacular rushing touchdown, showing his speed on a 48-yard run. The problem is that he also had a couple of atrocious pass-blocking reps, including on McCarthy’s interception when he got blown up by a blitzing defender.
Some might say he can just carry the ball. Why should he even be on the field when he’s supposed to block? But it’s quite simple: coaches will not put him on the field if he can’t block, and he clearly proved that he can’t be trusted. Endangering the passer is the last thing the coaching staff will do, so he can’t be the team’s RB3, opening the door for Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride.
Outside of his long rush, his other four rushes tallied a total of only four yards.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus and ESPN helped with this article.
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