Questions Answered: Vikings RB Cut, Albert Wilson in the House, Smith-Marsette Injury
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the June 1st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Why did A.J. Rose look so good in the preseason of 2021 only to get cut this time around?
A: For two reasons — a) This coaching staff is new and has no loyalty to a preseason performer b) Rose played against backup players during the preseason of 2021, so his production should be evaluated with an asterick.
Plus, the RB position is becoming less important as each day goes by in the NFL, pivoting to an era of WR supremacy. The Vikings don’t need six running backs. However, for WRs, it’s the more the merrier heading into the 2022 season.
The Vikings will be fine with Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, and Ty Chander. Rose will sign elsewhere.
Q: What role will Albert Wilson fill for the Vikings?
A: Well, his special teams resume as a professional is skimpy, but it seems most everybody has decided Wilson be the Vikings punt returner.
He’s never returned punts in the NFL, although he has been the returner for a handful of kicks.
In college, though, Wilson was a kick and punt-returning machine. His yardage tabulation at Georgia State ranked in the Top 50 all-time at the NCAA level.
Wilson will vie for a WR4 or WR5 spot with some special teams on top.
Q: Is the injury to Ihmir Smith-Marsette serious?
A: No, Smith-Marsette won’t be available for mandatory minicamp next week, but he’s on track for training camp.
He suffered a lower leg injury, and this stuff just happens. Unless Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff lies — as people speculated for the Zimmer regime — Smith-Marsette will be fine by the end of July.
The timing of his injury with the acquisition of Albert Wilson was fascinating nevertheless.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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