The Single Viking Who Helped his Cause the Most Over the Weekend
Step back from Minnesota’s defeat to New England on Saturday. Is there a single Viking who did a better job than Myles Price when it comes to pushing for a roster spot?
The receiver/returner had a really nice day. Not flawless, no, but one that certainly makes coach, writer, and fan alike perk up a bit when it comes to the back end of the roster. He looks like someone who could sneak onto the team, primarily to help Matt Daniels on specials but with the possibility of making a play (or two) for Kevin O’Connell on offense.
The Single Viking Who Shined the Brightest
Start off with some of the basic background.
Mr. Price has been on my radar for a few weeks, largely due to his proficiency at catching the football. I know, I know: that’s a skill that sounds basic. There are some, though, who make catching the ball look effortless and automatic. To be sure, that’s a coveted ability for someone who is looking to prove capable of making the 53 as a returner. Don’t move on from the player who secures the football (almost) every time.
Playing the Texans, Mr. Price did a nice job. A pair of targets turned into a pair of catches. He snagged 18 yards and scored a touchdown. Solid.
As an encore, Myles Price was even better. The output on offense was modest: 4 targets went for 2 catches and 11 yards. He did have a nice catch called back, the play when Coach O’Connell said a bad word on live TV (goodness, the NFL’s official social media even shared the moment). Crucially, the mental error may have belonged to Price as the one who appeared to be late getting lined up on the line of scrimmage.
But then there was the effort on special teams. Folks, Price’s chance of getting onto the roster without special teams is essentially zero, so seeing him shine in this area is where the rubber meets the road.
Myles Price turned a pair of punt returns into 33 yards, working out to a very strong average of 16.5 yards per return. The longest of his two returns went for 20 yards. On kickoff return, Price went for 81 yards, a tremendously explosive play. Note, as well, that Price snagged a tackle on kickoff coverage, showing that he can help in that area as well.
Rookie receiver Tai Felton — chosen in the 3rd of the 2025 NFL Draft — fumbled his lone kickoff chance. Alec Lewis, Vikings writer for The Athletic, commented on Felton’s kickoff fumble: “Tai Felton just fumbled on the kickoff. Returner situation is a major issue and has been.”
Lewis is right, but the comment arrived prior to Myles Price’s return. Does the team now have a strong lead within the mystery that is the KR1 spot? Could the UDFA function as both the main option for punt return and kickoff return? If so, then a spot on the 53-man roster is more than worth it.
After the game, Kevin O’Connell chatted about his rookie returner: “I love how hard he plays, I love his play strength. And then you just get the feeling that it’s not too big for him.” Not too long afterwards, O’Connell describes Price as having “energy” and being “tough.” At other points in the same presser, the Vikings’ HC mentioned the importance of getting the major kickoff return.
Not to be outdone, Myles Price also got his shot with the media. He was enthusiastic and charming, talking about how being a punt returner is his favorite part of the sport. “That’s my favorite position in the world,” Price explains when discussing returning punts, “it’s backyard football.” He cherishes the chance to “make everybody miss.”
Minnesota brought Price to town on an undrafted free agent contract. Crucially, there was $0 in guaranteed money (contrasting sharply with Silas Bolden, a punt returner who earned $205,000 in guarantees). The suggestion is that he wasn’t the most coveted player, but his on-field effort on Saturday — alongside some strong moments in camp — showed that he has plenty of potential.
Myles Price, 23, is listed as being 5’9″ and 183 pounds.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
