9 Vikings to Watch in the 2nd Preseason Game
After winning the first preseason contest of the year, the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to face the New England Patriots on Saturday at noon. The starters are not expected to participate after (some of them) getting action in the preseason opener.
9 Vikings to Watch in the 2nd Preseason Game
Because those top guys aren’t suiting up, Skol Nation can get a good look at the depth players. Here are some of them that deserve your attention.
1./2. Brett Rypien & Max Brosmer
This might have turned into a real competition for the third quarterback job. Rypien had a bad day last week, while Brosmer was fantastic. Rypien is praised for his football smarts, but if he can’t turn his on-field product around, there won’t be room for him.
Brosmer, meanwhile, has the opportunity of a lifetime to either snatch that spot from Rypien or convince someone else to take a shot and hire him should he become available in a couple of weeks. Backup QB Sam Howell will start the game, and after some early struggles, the fourth-year player has looked better recently, including a decent preseason performance. There’s one roster spot available.
3. Zavier Scott
The calculation at running back is quite similar, as the Vikings will go into the season with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, and they need a third guy in that room. That could be incumbent RB3 Ty Chandler, or Zavier Scott, who has yet to take a snap in the NFL after spending two years on practice squads.
Why should this year be different? Well, Scott showed enormous promise in his Vikings preseason debut. He has the size and the explosiveness, as well as the receiving skills, to be a solid third option, but he needs to continue his upward trend.
4. Pick Your Receiver
I could literally list any receiver besides the established top three of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor. With Rondale Moore’s injury and Addison’s suspension, there’s a big role available early in the season for the best of the rest.
That includes rookie Tai Felton, who is safe on cutdown day as a third-rounder, but he has yet to prove he is a reliable player on offense. Lucky Jackson is finally on pace to make the team in his third attempt, but more is required. Rookies Dontae Fleming, Silas Bolden, Myles Price, and Robert Lewis have a shot to make a name for themselves on special teams and by showing reliable hands on offense.
Thayer Thomas has flashes in joint practices, but didn’t record a catch last week. Jeshaun Jones occasionally turned heads in camp, and special-teams ace Tim Jones needs a bounce-back game after producing a pair of flags in his Vikings debut. It’s anyone’s guess who comes out victorious on Saturday.
5. Ben Yurosek
Johnny Mundt left in free agency, and now the Vikings need a new TE3. The intended new Mundt Gavin Bartholomew is on the PUP list with a back injury, so it’s an open competition.
Rookie Ben Yurosek is a willing blocker, showing his catching ability would go a long way after a goose egg in the opener. Closing the door before Bryson Nesbit or Nick Vannett can enter the race makes sense.
6. Joe Huber
Guard Joe Huber was phenomenal in the first preseason contest. The undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin made a strong case for a roster spot, but the offensive line is a numbers game. Perhaps the Vikings could give him an audition at center following Zeke Correll’s ankle fracture.
The current center depth chart shows veteran Ryan Kelly ahead of sophomore Michael Jurgens, who has not convinced everyone.
7. Elijah Williams
A no-name in the drafting process, Elijah Williams earned his roster spot in rookie tryouts after the draft. He spent his college career at Morgan State as an edge rusher and defensive lineman hybrid, but the Vikings list him as an interior defender.
His name popped up in various practice sessions, and his preseason game was promising, too. It’s still a long shot for him to make the 53-man roster, but a dominant performance could change the equation.
8. Zemaiah Vaughn
A spring and summer standout, Zemaiah Vaughn still hasn’t clinched a roster spot yet, especially with the other guys in that position group also looking pretty good. Vaughn has the size and the athleticism to turn into a solid corner, but he is still inexperienced at the position after starting his career at receiver.
Continuing to show growth should be on his to-do list, so the Vikes have no other choice but to keep him around.
9. Oscar Chapman
In the last three seasons, Ryan Wright held the punting duties, but his inconsistencies over the years have opened the door for competition. Undrafted rookie Oscar Chapman can’t be ruled out.
The Aussie punter out of Auburn has something called a Banana Punt in his arsenal. That makes a returner’s job harder. He needs to display kicking power as well as touch to challenge Wright.