1 Depth Guy Was Electric in His Vikings Preseason Debut
In Saturday’s preseason opener, some Vikes turned heads. Converted cornerback Kahlef Hailassie starred at safety, Gabriel Murphy set the tone on the defensive front as a QB hunter, and Sam Howell showed that he’s, indeed, a decent QB2 for the purple squad.
1 Depth Guy Was Electric in His Vikings Preseason Debut
Howell’s running back rotation was led by Ty Chandler, the returning third runner on the team. Chandler, however, could be challenged in the next two weeks by Zavier Scott, a practice squad player from a year ago.
He was phenomenal in his Vikings debut. Scott had yet to play for the club because the running backs were relatively healthy throughout the season (besides the usual minor issues). Therefore, it wasn’t necessary to call up the practice squad dual-threat Scott, a runner-receiver combo out of the backfield.
In fact, the 26-year-old has not made his regular-season debut. He spent all of 2023 on the Colts’ practice squad and last year with the Vikings. In his Vikings preseason debut, though, Scott showed that he deserves a shot, finishing the game with seven carries for 40 yards (resulting in an impressive 5.7 yards per carry), and he added one catch for 11 yards.
The third-year player displayed promising explosiveness and possesses the catching ability of a receiver, thanks to his background as a receiver in college. He lined up at wide receiver, running back, tight end, and even wildcat quarterback in his college career at UConn and Maine.
Scott had more receiving yards than rushing yards in his final collegiate season in 2022. He registered 352 rushing yards and 438 through the air. For those curious, he also had two passing yards.
His NFL career started with the Colts as an undrafted rookie in 2023, but he was released after the 2024 preseason. Minnesota added him to the practice squad, and he has been waiting for a chance to showcase his talent. The two top spots are set with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, but Scott might have a chance to steal Chandler’s third running back spot.
Chandler has ideal speed and has shown he can be a solid runner, but the coaching staff is always hesitant to give backs with shaky pass protection skills more run.
“There are times Ty Chandler has been one of our most explosive players,” O’Connell told the media last month. “It might not even be a play that fans notice. Like last year, he spells Aaron [Jones] or Cam for a few snaps and has a great 6-yard run on a duo. Then I go fast on a tempo pass play and we have a protection issue.”
Keeping the quarterback clean is always a major item on everyone’s to-do list, but especially for running backs who are the last line of defense. Chandler had an unimpressive five yards on five carries.
That’s where Scott could sneak in and seize his opportunity.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote about the Vikings newcomer: “The buzz began early in training camp. The Vikings were having a hard time hiding the fact they saw something in Scott, a 26-year-old who went undrafted in 2023. You could see why Saturday. Scott became the featured player of the team’s third drive. He hammered his way into holes. He caught a screen and knifed his way up the field for an 11-yard gain. He showed some intriguing vision. The final numbers won’t blow anyone away: He finished with 40 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. It was the trust O’Connell and the Vikings’ offensive staff had, returning to him on five straight snaps, that says everything.”
If you want your preseason and training camp standout, Mr. Scott is about one performance away from running away with the unofficial Mr. Mankato award.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.