The Vikings Found a Secret Weapon
Weapons on the football field can come in all shapes and forms. For the Minnesota Vikings, Justin Jefferson is certainly the ultimate game-changer, and he’s flanked by Jordan Addison (usually), T.J. Hockenson, and Adam Thielen. The club also employs some playmakers on defense at every level. On Monday, Javon Hargrave and Andrew Van Ginkel flashed the most.
The Vikings Found a Secret Weapon
Often forgotten is the third phase: Special teams. Coordinator Matt Daniels relied on a new punt returner in rookie Myles Price, and he was phenomenal in his first NFL game.
Just like J.J. McCarthy, Price made his NFL debut in the contest against the Chicago Bears. The wide receiver and returner went undrafted in April, and his expectations were not as high as those McCarthy had to overcome.
Regardless, he undoubtedly had to survive some pressure, playing on the road, against a division opponent. As a returner, every play counts, and a tiny mistake can cost critical field position and gift the other team points. But he did a marvelous job, hauling in every punt and kick that went his way. Price accumulated four punt returns for 68 yards and he returned a pair of kickoffs for a total of 49 yards.
Craig Peters of Vikings.com noted, “Rookie Myles Price looked cool, composed and completely a threat. He totaled 68 yards on four punt returns for a whopping average of 17.0 yards with a long of 22. Minnesota in 2024 averaged 6.8 per punt return with a long of 15 for the whole season.”
The return game was a point of emphasis throughout the offseason. Rookie receiver Tai Felton was expected to play a big role as a returner, but it has been Price stealing the show in the offseason and in the season opener.
“Price also returned two kickoffs for 49 yards, and Ty Chandler returned three for 85,” Craig added. “Chandler even took one back 7 yards deep late in the game. The play was heads up because it got the game on the inside of the 2-minute warning, allowing Minnesota to avoid punting back to the Bears until 16 seconds remained.”
In the preseason, Price logged an 81-yard kick return. He got caught just a few yards away from a touchdown. He also had three punt returns for 36 yards. The newcomer possesses the quickness and the speed to be a real weapon for the Vikings, and he proved that on Monday.
Price attended the University of Indiana last year after four seasons at Texas Tech. Throughout his career, the speedy receiver collected 2,217 receiving yards, 13 receiving scores, as well as another 270 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He also returned 42 punts and three kicks.
Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker about Price’s NFL debut: “For years, it has been a massive challenge for the Vikings to find consistent success at the punt returner position. However, Myles Price may be the answer to turning those woes around. Price put on a clinic as the return man for the Vikings on Monday night. He returned four punts for a total of 68 yards, averaging 17 yards per return. The best part about Price’s night was the consistency.”
Price surely was consistent. His worst return still notched nine yards, and the other three were for 20, 17, and 22.
“There weren’t any atrocious returns, and there weren’t any crazy breakaway returns to make the overall numbers look better than they were. It was blissful consistency from Price as the return man. Hopefully, that continues moving forward,” Baker concluded.
Safely securing the ball is crucial for returners, and the departed Brandon Powell was good at it. However, he lacked a certain playmaking ability, but Price absolutely has that gene. He might threaten the punt return touchdown drought that’s nearing its ninth anniversary next month.
Price looks exactly like the kind of player who can change a game on every single punt.
Editor’s Note: Information from ESPN, PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.