All of the Sudden, A Trendy Viking is Walking on Shaky Ground
For a little while, Lucky Jackson was looking like a near lock to be on the final roster. Did the game on Saturday do anything to change that reality?
The trendy Viking, a 28-year-old receiver, offers a lot to like. He has been through a lot in his career, overcoming various hurdles while chasing his spot in the NFL. The issue that arose over the weekend is simply that he turned 5 targets into just a single catch for 9 yards. Did that raise any concern in the Twin Cities?
Lucky Jackson, A Trendy Viking, Now on Shaky Ground
Previously, the Vikings’ receiver depth has come up in discussions surrounding the Vikings (with someone arguing that inaction is the best course of action). A variety of poor outcomes — Rondale Moore’s injury, Jordan Addison’s suspension, and Justin Jefferson’s hamstring — make some skittish about the WR spot.
The optimistic thinking is that Justin Jefferson is going to be ready in time for Week 1. Not seeing him on the practice field may cause a bit of concern, but the Jefferson approach is designed to ensure that he’s available when it matters. Toss in the top pair at tight end — T.J. Hockenson & Josh Oliver — alongside the top pair at running back — Aaron Jones & Jordan Mason. These players help ensure J.J. McCarthy has the support he needs. And then there is the upside present in Jackson.
Going into the Patriots game, Lucky Jackson was sitting in a good spot. Sure, he was part of the solution at receiver — a valued depth option — but then there was the reality of him being the (unofficial) PR1.
Well, those roles didn’t work out particularly well for Mr. Jackson. He didn’t get a punt return in the game, instead seeing Myles Price do a very good job with his pair of returns that went for 33 yards. Even worse is the reality on offense, the lonely catch for 9 yards. Rubbing salt in the wound is that PFF gave him a very poor grade, an offense-worst 38.5 grade.
Earlier in the day, Janik Eckardt discussed some of the losers from the game.
“Wideout Lucky Jackson,” Eckardt writes, “had been an emerging player all summer long, until Saturday, when he dropped a pair of catchable passes. In the public perception, he went from the main WR3 candidate during Jordan Addison’s absence to ‘maybe this guy shouldn’t be on the roster’ within one game. His only saving grace is that no one else really stood out that day, unless you count Myles Price’s plays on special teams.”
Part of the bad news for Jackson is that Price did have such an impressive day.
Jackson’s spot on the roster is contingent on a pair of things: being a reliable depth receiver while also being a major help on specials. Remove one of those parts of the mix and things get dicey for the veteran who is still battling to establish his NFL career.
Right now, Jefferson, Addison (suspended for the initial three games), Jalen Nailor, and Tai Felton are going to be on the final roster. Who else locks down a spot?
Contenders to jump into the openings at receiver are Price, Tim Jones (who had 5 receptions go for 68 yards and who has a history of helping on specials), Jeshaun Jones, Thayer Thomas, and others. All are battling for that final spot or two. And, of course, there’s Jackson.
At the end of the day, Lucky Jackson had a single bad day. That alone won’t be enough to bump him from being on the 53 to getting slid down to Minnesota’s practice squad (where he had worked for the vast majority of 2023 and 2024). Safe to say, though, that making more of his opportunity versus New England would have been helpful.
Mr. Jackson is carrying a $960,000 cap charge into the season. Cutting him would leave behind $0 in dead money.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
