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Vikings players still fighting for their spot on a roster — either the Vikings’ or another team’s — have quite the stage to do so Friday night in their preseason finale against the Titans in Nashville: The Vikings’ first road trip is a nationally televised game (7 p.m., CBS).
“Always a good operation to go through that as a team, and what it’s like at the hotel and meetings and walk-throughs and things like that‚” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. “Looking forward to seeing our team dialed in and coming off of what was a really positive week last week for the growth of what we’re trying to become.”
Many questions remain entering Friday’s game, with the Vikings’ wide receiver room leading our list of what to watch after a week of highs and lows:
1. Time for a WR to take their ‘opp’
This week, Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson returned to practice for the first time since late July and seems on track to play Week 1.
But Jalen Nailor was absent all week dealing with a hand injury, and more potential trouble came Wednesday as both Jordan Addison and rookie Tai Felton exited a camp-closing scrimmage early with what appeared to be hand/arm injuries.
The Vikings have already been planning for an Addison absence, as he’s suspended for the first three games of the season. If Nailor is not ready to go against the Bears on Sept. 8 (O’Connell called Nailor “week-to-week”), the No. 2 receiver spot alongside Jefferson is wide open.
For someone currently in the building to take that spot, they need to seize the opportunity Friday night with a big performance.
“I think there’s ability in that room,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Wednesday. “There’s a lot of good, young football players. The thing with young football players is they just need an opp. ... We’ve got some guys that have shown, I think, enough, throughout training camp and the preseason to say that it’s not gonna be too big for ‘em.”
Only one receiver, Myles Price, has caught a touchdown through the Vikings’ first two preseason games. Tim Jones, who leads the team with 68 receiving yards, boasts the longest reception at 28 yards. No receiver has more than five total receptions.
2. Which QBs will see time?
It’s unknown whether the Vikings will play all three quarterbacks behind J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart again or how they will divide time.
Last year, the Vikings played only two quarterbacks in their preseason finale against the Eagles. Jaren Hall took the bulk of the reps and made the initial 53-man roster, but the Vikings waived him and added Brett Rypien two days later.
Sam Howell split reps with McCarthy in the team’s Wednesday scrimmage, which could be an indication the team doesn’t plan to play him Friday. But he’s also coming off a performance with just one completion and an interception last weekend.
After the 20-12 loss to the Patriots, O’Connell said he’s still learning what each of Howell, Rypien and rookie Max Brosmer can do.
“There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them,” O’Connell said. “As far as, like, what that means, and the overall competition, I think I would just say it’s still open, and we’re trying to figure out what that room is going to look like for the season.”
3. New face in the mix for returns
Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels acknowledged Wednesday some of the mistakes young players trying out roles within his phase of the game have made through two preseason games. He said decision-making is one of the key factors in determining who, if anyone, from the current crop of kick and punt returners earns the jobs in the regular season.
The Vikings continued to try different combinations on both return units during practice this week, with running back Zavier Scott entering the mix as a potential candidate.
Scott is ”an explosive guy,” Daniels said. “Can break tackles, stick his foot in the ground and get vertical. So we kind of see him as a guy who could possibly be a threat back there.”
4. Last look before cuts
The deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 players is 3 p.m. Central on Tuesday.
The Vikings sat at least 31 players last week against the Patriots, including some players in No. 3 or role-player spots like cornerback Jeff Okudah and safety Theo Jackson.
While defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was dealt to the Jets in a trade Wednesday night, most, if not all, of the players who have been rested should have roster spots locked up.
That leaves about 23 active roster spots and 17 practice squad spots (including their International Pathway player, punter Oscar Chapman) for the Vikings to fill out.
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“Always a good operation to go through that as a team, and what it’s like at the hotel and meetings and walk-throughs and things like that‚” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. “Looking forward to seeing our team dialed in and coming off of what was a really positive week last week for the growth of what we’re trying to become.”
Many questions remain entering Friday’s game, with the Vikings’ wide receiver room leading our list of what to watch after a week of highs and lows:
1. Time for a WR to take their ‘opp’
This week, Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson returned to practice for the first time since late July and seems on track to play Week 1.
But Jalen Nailor was absent all week dealing with a hand injury, and more potential trouble came Wednesday as both Jordan Addison and rookie Tai Felton exited a camp-closing scrimmage early with what appeared to be hand/arm injuries.
The Vikings have already been planning for an Addison absence, as he’s suspended for the first three games of the season. If Nailor is not ready to go against the Bears on Sept. 8 (O’Connell called Nailor “week-to-week”), the No. 2 receiver spot alongside Jefferson is wide open.
For someone currently in the building to take that spot, they need to seize the opportunity Friday night with a big performance.
“I think there’s ability in that room,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Wednesday. “There’s a lot of good, young football players. The thing with young football players is they just need an opp. ... We’ve got some guys that have shown, I think, enough, throughout training camp and the preseason to say that it’s not gonna be too big for ‘em.”
Only one receiver, Myles Price, has caught a touchdown through the Vikings’ first two preseason games. Tim Jones, who leads the team with 68 receiving yards, boasts the longest reception at 28 yards. No receiver has more than five total receptions.
2. Which QBs will see time?
It’s unknown whether the Vikings will play all three quarterbacks behind J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart again or how they will divide time.
Last year, the Vikings played only two quarterbacks in their preseason finale against the Eagles. Jaren Hall took the bulk of the reps and made the initial 53-man roster, but the Vikings waived him and added Brett Rypien two days later.
Sam Howell split reps with McCarthy in the team’s Wednesday scrimmage, which could be an indication the team doesn’t plan to play him Friday. But he’s also coming off a performance with just one completion and an interception last weekend.
After the 20-12 loss to the Patriots, O’Connell said he’s still learning what each of Howell, Rypien and rookie Max Brosmer can do.
“There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them,” O’Connell said. “As far as, like, what that means, and the overall competition, I think I would just say it’s still open, and we’re trying to figure out what that room is going to look like for the season.”
3. New face in the mix for returns
Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels acknowledged Wednesday some of the mistakes young players trying out roles within his phase of the game have made through two preseason games. He said decision-making is one of the key factors in determining who, if anyone, from the current crop of kick and punt returners earns the jobs in the regular season.
The Vikings continued to try different combinations on both return units during practice this week, with running back Zavier Scott entering the mix as a potential candidate.
Scott is ”an explosive guy,” Daniels said. “Can break tackles, stick his foot in the ground and get vertical. So we kind of see him as a guy who could possibly be a threat back there.”
4. Last look before cuts
The deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 players is 3 p.m. Central on Tuesday.
The Vikings sat at least 31 players last week against the Patriots, including some players in No. 3 or role-player spots like cornerback Jeff Okudah and safety Theo Jackson.
While defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was dealt to the Jets in a trade Wednesday night, most, if not all, of the players who have been rested should have roster spots locked up.
That leaves about 23 active roster spots and 17 practice squad spots (including their International Pathway player, punter Oscar Chapman) for the Vikings to fill out.
Startribune
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