Kevin O’Connell Takes Shot at Roster Bubble Player
The Minnesota Vikings have been in training camp mode for a few days. Gaining familiarity with teammates, getting in shape, and learning the new plays are the obvious goals. For about half the team, however, showing enough promise to earn one of the 53 coveted roster spots and 16 practice squad slots is the primary objective.
Kevin O’Connell Takes Shot at Roster Bubble Player
One of those is running back Ty Chandler, a player who has yet to have his real breakthrough at the pro level. In some limited reps, he showed his explosiveness, but that hasn’t helped him get consistent snaps in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Cam Akers was added in each of the past two campaigns, signaling that Chandler didn’t earn the trust of his coaching staff.
Mr. O’Connell revealed the reason this week.
“There are times Ty Chandler has been one of our most explosive players,” O’Connell told the media Wednesday. “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.”
He stressed that he needs more consistency from his fourth-year runner.
Most fans just look at what the player does with the ball in his hands, especially when it comes to running backs. For coaches, however, doing the right thing without the ball is just as important. Sure, Chandler is a speedy player who can always make a big play happen, but if he’s to blame for the broken pass play just seconds later, coaches tend to bench that guy regardless of his playmaking ability.
O’Connell emphasized that Chandler “is coming into a critical year for himself.” That’s undoubtedly the case, considering the Vikings said “goodbye” to Akers once again but added Jordan Mason via trade from the San Francisco 49ers to solidify the RB2 position next to returning starter Aaron Jones.
Chandler’s limited opportunities will be even less this year if the two top ball-carriers remain healthy and the Vikings also have an open competition for Chandler’s kick return spot. If they find another returner and are intrigued by one of the depth runners on the roster (Tre Stewart and Zavier Scott) or by one athlete on the trade block or free-agency market, Chandler could easily be on the chopping block. Neither of those “ifs” is far-fetched by any means.
The former 5th-rounder had his best college season in his lone season at North Carolina after being in a timeshare role at Tennessee. Minnesota added him, but his role was nonexistent in his debut season, as he was stuck behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. A thumb injury further robbed him of chances.
In year two, Cook was no longer around, and Mattison underwhelmed. Yet, Akers was acquired via trade, and Mattison remained in the starting role until an injury forced the Vikings to make a change. Chandler played well (with the ball) in the final four games of the season.
The front office swapped Mattison for Jones in the 2024 offseason and later traded for Akers again. Chandler got some touches, but never usurped Akers once he was in the building, and the pass-blocking aspect certainly played a role.
He’s already 27 years old, as he was an older prospect in his draft class, and his time is running out, considering runners slow down in their late 20s. Chandler is also in the final year of his contract. He needs a big camp to make the team, and he needs a decent season to generate a new contract, whether that will be with the Vikings or elsewhere.
Minnesota’s RB3 has appeared in 37 games through three seasons, rushing 164 times for 663 yards and three touchdowns, while adding another 27 catches for 201 yards. His 12 returns went for 302 yards, without any big-time returns. The longest return went for 35 yards.
Chandler remains a player to monitor.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.