Vikings vs. Raiders | 7 Items To Watch
The Minnesota Vikings kick off their 2024 campaign on Saturday with a preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Kevin O’Connell’s crew is coming off a disappointing seven-win season, and because of some key departures, mainly Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter, the team isn’t expected to finish any better than last year.
Vikings vs. Raiders | 7 Items To Watch
The good news is that there is always a next guy, a next star, who is still waiting to be discovered. For the Vikings, there are some obvious candidates but also some underdogs. There are seven main elements to watch in the game.
Does J.J. McCarthy Look the Part?
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. The tenth overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, is the key to the Vikings becoming a competitive football team in the next few years. If he’s good, Skol Nation can watch a bunch of playoff games, and if he isn’t, well, he will be replaced in a few years after a couple of years with underwhelming records.
It’s a preseason game and shouldn’t lead to any overreactions. His performance will not answer the question about his long-term outlook.
However, it would be a huge positive if he does look comfortable calling the plays, dropping back, and throwing the ball in his first game action as a Viking. The ability to make the right decision quickly is what all elite quarterbacks have in common. Trending that way would be quite satisfying, although mistakes should be granted, knowing no quarterback is his best self at the age of 21 in his first preseason game.
Will Reichard’s Consistency
Kicker Will Reichard was drafted to upgrade the position from Greg Joseph, who kicked for the purple team for three seasons. In his five-year career at Alabama, Reichard hit 295 of 297 extra points and 84 of 100 field goals.
Through the first three weeks of training camp, Reichard has turned some heads by hitting short field goals at a high percentage and adding kicks from a longer distance. A 58-yarder that looked like it would’ve been good from 70 provided hope that he can indeed be a reliable kicker. Can he do it in the stadium, too?
Can a RB Step Up?
Alexander Mattison is out as Vikings running back, and Cam Akers joined the Houston Texans. The Vikings have added Aaron Jones, and everyone knows he can play at a high level. Third-year player Ty Chandler will support him in the backfield, but the Vikings need a third guy who can carry the rock in case of injury.
Kene Nwanwgu has been a wonderful kick returner but has barely contributed to the offense. Myles Gaskin was a starter early in his career but hasn’t been a factor in the last two seasons, and sophomore DeWayne McBride is still buried on the depth chart despite the subpar options.
Preseason is a great opportunity for runners to shine as coaches want to take the load off QBs, so can one of the three make his case for the RB3 gig?
Undrafted Takeover
Just last season, Ivan Pace starred in his first preseason game. This time, the Vikings have four undrafted rookies who have earned some buzz in training camp.
Cornerback Dwight McGlothern has an easy path to the roster, considering the state of the CB room. He has the length and the ball production to surprise some folks. Pass rusher Gabriel Murphy was considered by many as a mid-round pick because of his productive play at UCLA, but his size apparently scared folks. All of that sounds a lot like Pace’s situation a year ago.
Wideout Jeshaun Jones was a promising receiver in his career at Maryland when he was healthy. Unfortunately, two ACL tears hurt his stock. He’s been a frequent target in McCarthy’s highlight plays. Pass rusher Owen Porter played at the University of Marshall, and a few reports have surfaced about his decent play.
Can Nick Muse Repeat Last Year’s Play?
Tight end Nick Muse played a phenomenal 2023 preseason but only caught one pass in the entire season. It could be a make-or-break month for him as ending up on the waiver wire is just as possible as earning a significant role until T.J. Hockenson returns.
He is facing experienced competition with Robert Tonyan and Johnny Mundt behind Hockenson and Josh Oliver, but if he can repeat last year’s success, there might be a roster spot waiting for him.
Jalen Nailor WR3?
K.J. Osborn left in free agency, and the Vikings didn’t replace him. That led to an open competition that appears to be between punt returner Brandon Powell and speedy third-year player Jalen Nailor.
Injuries bugged Nailor in his sophomore season, but he has been healthy in training camp, healthy enough to be a human highlight reel. If he can continue that trend, he will be the third wideout option for the Vikings once the season rolls around. Nailor could put up big numbers on Saturday.
Depth Safeties
The three starters, Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus, have been established. Behind them, the Vikings employ four more safeties: Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Lewis Cine, and Bobby McCain.
Jackson’s emergence has been a huge storyline in training camp, and there’s a chance that he is a future starter for the Vikings. Smith isn’t playing, so Jackson should get an extended run. Ward was a special teamer last year. The Vikings have tried him at cornerback, and as a 2023 fourth-rounder, there might be some untapped potential.
Cine’s disappointing stint with the Vikings has been well-documented, but it could come to an end sooner rather than later. He needs a big day more than anyone. McCain just joined the team, but he is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and has a ton of experience in the league.
The order of the depth chart could be reshaped or confirmed by the play on Saturday.
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