The Vikings Quietly Benched Someone on Sunday
Sunday’s game was fun to watch for Vikings fans, as the team finally delivered, especially quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who showed some growth against the Dallas Cowboys. It may have been fun for Skol Nation, but Theo Jackson probably doesn’t think the same way, as he got the bench treatment.
Theo Jackson Evidently Benched
Safety Jackson earned a starting job in the summer — or in March, when Cam Bynum departed. On Sunday, he didn’t log a single defensive snap.
The fourth-year player started in seven of his 11 appearances. He was in the starting group in the first six and then got shuffled out of the lineup, playing as a rotational piece through the next three contests. That was followed by a brief return to the starting unit, as he played a decent game against Green Bay. A neck injury sidelined him for two games. He was fully cleared for Sunday and played nine snaps on special teams.
On defense, meanwhile, coordinator Brian Flores turned to 2023 draftee Jay Ward, who played 11 defensive snaps. Joshua Metellus (missed one snap) and Harrison Smith played the full-time safety roles.
In Flores’ famous three-safety looks, Jackson is currently not the first choice. Maybe Ward’s ability to play corner has prompted Flores to give him a promotion.
As a starter in the first six matchups, Jackson played over 80% of the defensive snaps every week. The following reduction coincided with Smith’s return from his illness. However, Jackson still contributed in a rotational role afterwards.
Throughout the season, Jackson has been on the field for 449 defensive snaps and 52 on special teams, registering 39 tackles. He has yet to catch an interception, struggling in that area like most Vikings all year.
Entering the season, Jackson was viewed as a potential breakout player. Bynum left in March for Indianapolis and Jackson signed a new contract extension, earning a promotion to Flores’ three-safety rotation.
In August, ESPN’s Ben Solak named him the Vikings’ x-factor and wrote, “The 2024 Vikings’ defense starred three safeties: Cam Bynum and Harrison Smith each played more than 1,000 snaps, and Joshua Metellus was just behind with 991. Bynum was the deep middle player in Brian Flores’ chaotic defense full of coverage traps and rotations. As such, Bynum was hugely productive on the football, tallying 12 pass breakups and five interceptions over the past two seasons.
“Bynum left for Indianapolis on a big free agent deal, leaving Jackson to fill his shoes. Jackson has taken fewer than 200 defensive snaps combined over the previous two campaigns. But he has been lauded for his preparation in the Vikings’ building, where he was the primary backup safety for all three of Metellus, Bynum and Smith — three very different roles. Flores has enjoyed having a reliable safety blanket in Bynum, who allowed him to call many of his more aggressive blitzes; if Jackson can offer the same production, expect Minnesota’s D to keep chugging.”
Bynum’s departure was a big deal because he covered the backend of the blitz-heavy defense while also helping out in the running game. Jackson has not been able to step into that role.
He was initially acquired during the 2022 season, shortly after Lewis Cine’s season-ending leg injury. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah snatched him off Tennessee’s practice squad, and he hasn’t left since. Because the other guys remained fairly healthy in his first two seasons, his opportunities were limited.
In training camp, O’Connell said about his defender: “Really, since we acquired him, he’s always been kind of an ascending player, but just with how deep that safety room was and has been, without opportunity. But then, when coaches identified having Theo in the game in some of those three and four-safety grouping defenses over the past couple years, we’ve had some real positive things happen. And as you guys have seen him, anytime he’s around the football in the deep part of the field or getting a key to break on something underneath, if he’s around it, he’s going to make the play.”
It’s been a strange season, as Jackson hasn’t had the expected impact.
It remains to be seen if the Vikings give him another look in the final three games. He’s signed for two more seasons, but the franchise can realistically move on from him after 2026. Harrison Smith’s looming retirement could earn him another chance, though the Vikings might swing big to find a successor.
Jackson is 27 years old and has failed to establish himself as a starter in the league this season.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.