Wyatt Davis
Because the Minnesota Vikings will not partake in the 2021 NFL playoffs, some fans prefer the Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears to resemble a preseason game, showcasing rookies while benching starters.
That is not going to happen – unless head coach Mike Zimmer is bluffing.
For some reason, Zimmer seems staunchly committed to playing starters, relegating “high upside” players like Kellen Mond and Wyatt Davis to the bench. A school of thought suggests those men should cut their teeth in a meaningless regular season game. Because if not now – when? Unfortunately for the young men, Zimmer is not on board, offering a one-word reply on the idea.
Just like 2020, the Vikings play this end-of-season contest merely for pride. If they win, their NFL draft position will slide back a bit. Should they lose, the Vikings could inch up a couple of spots.
It’s really just a matter of differing philosophies. Zimmer wants to win – that’s his job – and starters obviously provide the best odds for it. Rookies could accrue valuable experience, but Zimmer apparently does not care. Or maybe he believes some of the rookies are terrible? Who knows.
For the pro-rookie camp of fandom, the fear of injury is also spooky. What happens if Zimmer plays the entirety of his starters, and a player like Justin Jefferson blows out his knee? Then what?
Well, because Zimmer is on the hot seat per most pundits’ opinion, it won’t be his problem soon to mitigate a major injury to big-name players. In that regard, it feels like possible sabotage, to an extent. That’s clearly not the intention, but if Jefferson snaps an ACL while Zimmer is canned a day later – it would be some wicked poetic justice.
What’s more, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could be the subject of trade rumors in a few weeks. If the Vikings want to trade him – while pursuing an unknown quarterback for 2022 – having a peek at Kellen Mond isn’t the worst idea. See what he does well – see if he’s horrible. Rookie development usually goes this way as teams have a look at “what they have” when the stakes are low.
But not this version of Vikings.
Just like last weekend, when Sean Mannion struggled, the more-mobile Mond was not inserted into the game until it was a necessity (hand cramp and pickle juice for Mannion). Zimmer already has a reputation for slow-rolling rookies into playing time, so refusing to give 2021 rookie on-the-job experience in a purposeless game is emphatically on-brand.
The only argument in support of Zimmer’s tendency is straightforward: winning.
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If your objective is to sit down on a couch and watch the Vikings win – you know, the standard goal in sports – yes, Zimmer’s way is intelligent. Kirk Cousins and his pals should beat the Andy Dalton-led Bears at home. Nobody would be surprised if they didn’t, but, on paper, the Vikings should be triumphant.
Therefore, it’s up to the beholder to decide what’s more important. Should the Vikings end 2021 righteously with a victory over the hated Bears? Or should fans not care about a win and thus watch rookies?
You’re probably going to watch the former.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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).