5 Vikings Who Need Big Preseason Games the Most
The Minnesota Vikings kick off their annual preseason schedule on Saturday when the Houston Texans challenge Kevin O’Connell’s squad. In the following two weeks, the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans are on the docket.
5 Vikings Who Need Big Preseason Games the Most
In all three games, but especially in the opener, a group of Vikings needs a big performance to gain some momentum. J.J. McCarthy might belong on this list, but let’s be honest, enough has been said about the new QB1. We’ll focus on five other guys.
1. Ty Chandler
Running back Ty Chandler was an emerging playmaker for the Vikings late in the 2023 season, as he provided more juice in the backfield than Alexander Mattison, whose starting spot he snatched.
A couple of years later, Chandler is on the roster bubble and might not even be around when the organization travels to Chicago in September. He continues to struggle in pass protection, making it hard for coaches to trust him, and he’s been unremarkable as a kick returner.
Furthermore, Chandler was replaced in each of the last two seasons by the pair of trades for Cam Akers. This offseason, the Vikings added Jordan Mason in addition to re-signing Aaron Jones. He needs a big day to prevent the Vikings from looking at fellow depth runners Tre Stewart and Zavier Scott, or the waiver wire.
2. Taki Taimani
The defensive tackle group has undergone a fascinating transformation this offseason. Ex-Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave have replaced veterans Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery. Harrison Phillips and Jalen Redmond are still in the mix, and the Vikings acquired Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in the draft. Levi Drake Rodriguez has recently emerged as a real option entering his second preseason.
Suddenly, someone who was on last year’s 53-man roster, Taki Taimani, could be the odd-man out. The undrafted sophomore is a force in the running game, but he doesn’t really push the needle against the pass. He excelled in last year’s preseason, and there’s certainly a chance he can repeat that, but as he was listed as a third-team player behind the previously mentioned six, his impact has to be substantial.
3. Brian Asamoah
Brian Asamoah was once a promising third-rounder for Ed Donatell’s defense, who showed flashes in his debut season. In years two and three, however, he didn’t play a role in Brian Flores’ defensive unit.
In fact, the Vikings added Kobe King in the draft, who has been getting reps ahead of Asamoah in training camp. His calling card is special teams at this time of his career, but all signs point towards a divorce in a few weeks. Big-time improvements could still help him, though.
4. Sam Howell
Rarely has a practice ended without reporters noting that backup quarterback Sam Howell tossed another interception. He was acquired in the draft (via trade) to be Minnesota’s QB2 for the upcoming season, but his performance in training camp has raised some eyebrows.
The fanbase has started to suggest that the Vikings should trade for Kirk Cousins or Jameis Winston, or consider Carson Wentz.
Well, at this point, Howell needs to show growth. The excuse that he’s new in the offense doesn’t count anymore. He needs to prove that he’s reliable in case of an emergency.
5. Will Reichard
Another guy who has raised some concerns is Will Reichard, Minnesota’s second-year kicker. Last year’s sixth-rounder was excellent early in his career, but struggled after returning from a stint on IR.
Those struggles have carried over into training camp, and his numbers have started to look alarming. Usually, kickers are better in practice, but at the end of the day, practice is not a game. If he can show his coaching staff that he’ll get it done on weekends, it would take some pressure off him.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.