Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) in the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings and Andrew Booth dodged a bullet on Saturday when the rookie cornerback left a preseason game versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated after the game that Booth’s injury was minor and reaffirmed such on Monday when he said Booth is “a little bit more than day-to-day” with the ankle tweak.
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Booth, a product of the Vikings draft-night trade with the Green Bay Packers and follow-up deal with the Indianapolis Colts, was selected by Minnesota in Round 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft. He dazzled early at Vikings training camp, hoping to snag a starting corner job from Cameron Dantzler.
Since then, Booth has looked more like a rookie cornerback, experiencing up-and-downs while still maintaining a positive trajectory. He had a forgettable first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders but began to rebound versus the 49ers.
Vikings fans held their breath when Booth was hobbled over the weekend — and for good reason. Booth fell to the 2nd Round of April’s draft because of injury concerns. During the lead-up to the draft, he was recovering from a sports hernia injury and didn’t get on the field for the Vikings until training camp. So, couple his history of injuries with Vikings fans’ inherent cynicism, and some thought Booth could be lost for an extended period.
But, thankfully for Booth, the injury appears to be a “normal” one not requiring a long absence. O’Connell also said he expects Booth ready for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, a line he’s used for tight end Irv Smith. The Vikings skipper also reiterated his belief that Smith will be back, too, for Week 1.
Kris Boyd (CB), Dan Chisena (WR), and Harrison Phillips (DT) were also held out of practice.
Booth coaxed 49ers wide receiver Malik Turner into a 15-yard penalty on Saturday before leaving with the ankle injury.
The Vikings travel to Denver this weekend for the final preseason game of 2022.
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).