7 Winners from the Vikings 2nd Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings fell in their second preseason game vs. the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night, 24-16.
While the loss marked the ninth consecutive losing effort in preseason action for Minnesota, there were plenty of players who stood out in a positive way this week. Here is a look at 7 winners from the Vikings second preseason game.
S Lewis Cine
Vikings fans have been chomping at the bit to see more of Lewis Cine, and we got to see a ton of him on Saturday night. The safety played almost the entire game on defense. He led the team in tackles with 7, including a tackle for loss and a sack. This was a strong showing from Cine, and it should provide optimism moving forward.
QB Jaren Hall
Jaren Hall’s preseason opener against the Seahawks was a bit of a mixed bag, but he looked much better in his second game. He completed 4 of his 7 passes for 49 yards, and he very easily could have had another completion or two had Blake Proehl not failed to haul in both of his targets. Hall led the Vikings only touchdown drive of the night, and it was capped off by a 1-yard TD run by DeWayne McBride.
K Greg Joseph
Greg Joseph started the weekend as a winner when the Vikings waived his competition at kicker, Jack Podlesny. The incumbent showed the team made the right decision by riding with him, nailing all four of his kicks on Saturday night. None were from further than 45 yards out, but this is a positive sign for Joseph after struggling with consistency during the 2022 season.
RB Aaron Dykes
A little over 48 hours before kickoff on Saturday, the Vikings made the decision to sign another running back in Aaron Dykes. Usually, it takes a week to get a new signing onto the field, but Dykes took snaps immediately for the Vikings. He started the game as the kick returner, and he even got three carries that went for 19 yards. If Kene Nwangwu isn’t back by next weekend, we could see even more of the new Vikings RB.
LB Troy Dye
Troy Dye didn’t have a great game in last weekend’s loss to the Seahawks, especially struggling in pass coverage. However, he bounced back in a big way in Week 2 of preseason action, using a savvy veteran move to intercept a Malik Willis pass. Dye is doing his best to make sure he isn’t forgotten in the LB battle.
All the TEs
Kevin O’Connell may have said that Johnny Mundt is the best TE3 in the NFL this week, but the rest of the group doesn’t look too shabby, either. All three of Nick Muse, Ben Sims, and Colin Thompson surpassed 30 receiving yards on Saturday evening, with Muse’s 48 yards actually leading the team. If the Vikings want to keep a fourth tight end around this year, they have quite a decision to make with all the talent at the position.
CB NaJee Thompson
CB NaJee Thompson burst onto the Vikings scene in Week 1 of the preseason, recording a pair of impressive stops as the team’s punt gunner. The human highlight reel put together yet another play on special teams this week, stopping Titans returner Kyle Phillips in his tracks on a punt return during the first quarter. Thompson appears to be on the fast track towards making the Vikings final 53-man roster if he can keep up this impact on the special teams.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
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