The Vikings’ Most Mysterious, Uncertain, and Competitive Starting Position
Maybe we’re massaging the definition of starting position, but let’s run with it. The Vikings’ most mysterious job is punt returner.
Brandon Powell was the man tasked with holding down the PR1 spot over these past two seasons. Shifty and sure-handed, Powell was reliable but unspectacular. He’ll secure the football — the all-important first step — but didn’t do much with it afterwards. Sensibly enough, the Vikings are looking for more upside, but it’s unclear who will provide it.
The Vikings’ Most Uncertain Spot: PR1
Matt Daniels was unusually outgoing with his praise for the newcomer’s potential (and physique). Jalen Reagor was added in a 2022 trade and was supposed to be an electrifying option as Minnesota’s PR1.
Instead, Reagor struggled.
Infamously chosen a spot ahead of Justin Jefferson — surely, an all-time NFL draft blunder for the reigning Super Bowl champs — Reagor didn’t move the needle on special teams (or on offense). He returned the ball 26 times in 2022, picking up 167 scoreless yards along the way. His longest return went for 25 yards but his average was sitting at a modest 6.4 yards per return.
The switch was made in 2023 to Mr. Powell, someone who won’t wow anyone with his size but who is a strong competitor and quite elusive. No doubt, good skills for a returner.
The veteran represented an upgrade but fell short of becoming dominant. Brandon Powell had 37 punt returns go for 289 yards back in 2023, good for a 7.8-yard average. A step forward. He followed up the ’23 season with 23 returns for just 164 yards in 2024. The average took a step back, going down to 7.1 yards. In neither season did he score as a returner.
Powell hasn’t been brought back, leaving the punt returner job unfilled. Who is going to snag the Vikings’ most mysterious starting spot?
The best guess right now could be Silas Bolden, someone who earned a lucrative UDFA contract. Some of the stats from Janik Eckardt’s piece: “Bolden started his career at Oregon State but played the last of his five collegiate seasons at Texas, where he became their primary punt returner, returning 30 punts for 315 yards and a touchdown. On offense, he added 23 catches for 267 yards and one score, and he rushed for another touchdown.”
Looking at the Vikings’ roster opens the possibility to several more options.
Jalen Nailor, the fourth-year receiver, could be someone who helps with returning punts. Primarily the WR3, Nailor’s recent impression as a punt returner isn’t a good one, seeing the ball sail over his head at Lambeau in a gaffe that sparked the Packers’ comeback effort (one that almost succeeded).
So, too, could Thayer Thomas earn the gig. He has been kept around on the practice squad for a reason. Thomas is sturdier than some may realize, coming in at 6’0″ and 195 pounds. Can he become the shifty returner who thrives, someone who balances safety with explosiveness? In college, Thomas had a total of 70 punt returns. They went for 681 yards — a 9.7-yard average — and 1 touchdown.
One could then think of lesser-considered options — Tai Felton, Ty Chandler, etc. — for the job. Genuinely, there’s a lot of uncertainty at punt returner.
Matt Daniels has done reasonably well as the team’s special teams coordinator since 2022. Seeing the coordinator get excellence from the PR1 spot, through, would represent a nice boost for a team that’s on the cusp of handing things over to a passer who has never attempted a pass in the NFL.
Yes, special teams is sometimes forgotten, but gaining even tiny boosts across the roster can accumulate. The Vikings’ most enigmatic roster competition is therefore one that’s worth monitoring.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.