Purple Rumor Mill: Patrick Peterson as a Punt Returner, Best RB-WR Trio in NFL, Kwesi’s Guys
Dustin Baker
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VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the September 3rd edition.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Rumor: Patrick Peterson may take punt returner snaps in 2022.
This rumor came from SKOR North and Darren Wolfson of KSTP in particular. Wolfson mentioned, “In practice [on Wednesday], it was K.J. Osborn and Patrick Peterson returning punts.”
Peterson as a punt returner may be a weird concept for Vikings fans, but Peterson lifers know the drill. From 2011 to 2018, Peterson returned punts in Arizona, even [remarkably] scoring four punt-return touchdowns in his rookie season.
Of course, this is likely just a contingency plan for Minnesota in 2022. Wolfson also said Reagor is expected to return punts, so this Peterson-punt-returner idea shouldn’t be considered gospel.
It’s merely a wrinkle available if needed.
Rumor: The Vikings have the best offensive playmaker trio in the business.
Well, this badboy came from NFL Network. Kyle Brandt tweeted praise for the Vikings playmaker threesome.
The Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase would certainly give Minnesota a run for its money. Perhaps the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, as well.
But do the exercise yourself. Try to find an RB-WR-WR trifecta more productive than Cook, Jefferson, and Thielen. It ain’t easy.
Rumor: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mostly kept “his guys” on the roster while cutting the 2021 draft class.
Pretty much.
Adofo-Mensah intentionally or inadvertently slashed the 2021 draft class from the Vikings 53-man roster, inxnaying Kellen Mond, Wyatt Davis, Chazz Surratt, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and others. In return, he kept almost all of his 2022 rookie draft class, plus UFDA Luiji Vilain and free agent Jonathan Bullard.
This is how it goes. Adofo-Mensah was hired to improve the roster, and in his estimation, the 2021 draft class wasn’t very good. Thankfully for the Vikings sake, Christian Darrisaw, Patrick Jones, Kene Nwangwu, and Camryn Bynum look like hits, for now, so the 2021 group isn’t a lost cause.
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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