Vikings Rookie CB May Miss Week 2
Dustin Baker
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Few “negatives” arose from the Minnesota Vikings defeat of the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, but the team’s 2nd-Round rookie cornerback was injured with a quad injury.
Andrew Booth played two special teams snaps and left the game because of the tweak, and his status for the Vikings Week 2 showdown in Philadelphia is unclear.
The Vikings 1st-Round pick Lewis Cine missed Week 1 with a knee malady but is trending toward playing in Philadelphia.
When the Vikings began training camp eight weeks ago, Booth performed marvelously out of the gate. For a few days, he even looked like a rookie who could challenge veterans Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler for a starting job. Yet, as the preseason wore on, Booth returned to earth and eventually settled around CB4 near the final preseason game.
Strangely, though, as the regular season neared, Booth slid all the back to the CB6, occupying territory usually reserved for Kris Boyd. So, Booth experienced special teams action during his NFL maiden voyage — and was promptly injured.
Injuries were the knock on Booth in college, too. His talent suggested 1st-Round draft placement, but Minnesota was able to scoop him from Round 2 because of the injury history.
At least for a week or two, onlookers of the Vikings now understand why Booth slid to the 2nd Round. In his stead, fellow rookie Akayleb Evans should receive a wee bit of playing time, while Minnesota’s coaching staff may call upon a corner like Tay Gowan, Parry Nickerson, or recently-signed Duke Shelley for active-roster duty.
Evans took “Booth’s snaps” against the Packers after the injury, playing on six defensive snaps and 10 special teams plays.
With or without Booth (and Cine), the Vikings defense was stifling on Sunday, holding Green Bay to just seven points and recording the NFL’s fourth-best performance per defensive EPA/Play. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins were better on defense in Week 1 than the Vikings.
The Eagles are favored by 1.5 points to take down the Vikings on Monday night.
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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