Young Vikings Defender Set to Make His Season Debut
The Minnesota Vikings had a crazy injury report on Wednesday, as 15 players were listed. That number dipped to only two players with “out” designations on Friday, and three others earned the questionable labels. Ty Chandler was moved from questionable to out on Saturday.
Young Vikings Defender Set to Make His Season Debut
Safety Theo Jackson will be sidelined on Sunday, and he’ll be joined by defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez. The latter, a second-year defender, has been a valuable asset in the defensive line rotation, enjoying a breakout season as the top backup lineman behind starters Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, and Jalen Redmond.
He won’t be available to stop Jayden Daniels on Sunday after suffering a neck injury last week. Rodriguez didn’t practice all week, indicating that he was not close.
Down an interior defender, the Vikings will turn to practice squad employee Taki Taimani. He was elevated on Saturday and could log his first snaps of the season.
Taimani was a 2024 undrafted rookie. After a strong preseason and training camp, he was part of last year’s 53-man roster, even playing a rotational role. The Oregon alumnus is a true run-stuffer who flashed his ability to close running lanes. At 6’1″ and 324, it’s no wonder he’s efficient in that area. He’s Minnesota’s heaviest defensive player on the team and can play the nose tackle position Rodriguez has played at times this year.
Yet, he didn’t make the team this time and had to take the slot on the practice squad. With Redmond emerging as a secret star and Hargrave and Allen joining in free agency, the top jobs were taken, even after Harrison Phillips was shipped to the Jets. Then add rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Rodriguez, and preseason star, undrafted rookie Elijah Williams, and the Vikings were running out of roster spots.
Last season, the undrafted first-year defender actually played games in the first half of the year, primarily on potential running downs with Phillips, earning a solid PFF run-defense grade of 69.9. An injury then knocked him out for the remainder of the season, and Redmond exploded in his spot.
On 70 defensive snaps, Taimani logged three tackles. Of course, nose tackles don’t particularly put up huge numbers.
The Vikings’ rushing defense has been a mixed bag this year. Brian Flores’ squad has the 12th-most rushing yards allowed, but the 11th-fewest in yards per carry. DVOA has them 11th on the ground, and EPA/run 20th.
It’s been up and down, and that matches the eye test. The Vikings stopped the likes of Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Jahmyr Gibbs, but couldn’t find a way to slow down Kenneth Gainwell, Kimani Vidal, or Emmanuel Wilson.
On Sunday, they will face Chris Rodriguez Jr., who, with all due respect, is closer to the second group that had success against the Vikings.
Perhaps Taimani’s presence will help contain him.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.