Some Vikings Players Could Head to the Bench
The Minnesota Vikings lead the NFL in turnovers — 7 fumbles and 2 interceptions — after surrendering the third-fewest from 2021 to 2022.
Correspondingly, the purple team owns an 0-3 record and a bleak prognosis to reach the postseason.
Some Vikings Players Could Head to the Bench
The fumbles especially have doomed the team’s chances of grabbing wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Chargers. And now Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is taking a stand. He’s seen enough.
O’Connell laid down the gauntlet Monday, acknowledging his squad’s fumbling disease and plan to fix it, “We need to end every snap with the football in our hands. And that’s going to be continued urgency and emphasis like it was last week, and we’re going to continue to do it and do it differently and emphasize it in different ways until that value is received because that is a losing formula as we’ve seen being where we’re at in the turnover differential right now.”
Without the plagues of lost fumbles, Minnesota would likely have a winning record.
O’Connell continued by saying fumblers made head to the bench, “I think that’s something we’re going to fix it one way or another. Either guys are going to do it, or we’re gonna have to put other guys in the game that have ball security.”
The fumbles have occurred all over the place, not from one specific player. But if one sifts through O’Connell’s words, he’s likely talking about a player or two in particular — running back Alexander Mattison and punt returner Brandon Powell.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and wide receiver Justin Jefferson have fumbled, too, but none of those men will be benched. The team would collapse without Cousins’ 2023 performance, Hockenson is the highest-paid TE in history, and Jefferson is the franchise’s lifeblood.
So, the message can be interpreted as a message aimed at Mattison and Powell, replaceable players on the depth chart.
Minnesota swung a trade for Cam Akers, a running back, last week, and with or without Mattison’s fumbling gaffes, Akers will experience playing time on offense this week or next. If Mattison continues to turn the ball over, Akers could actually earn RB1 duties before the end of the season.
On Powell, he doesn’t really play on offense, but via the punt return game, the Vikings could utilize K.J. Osborn on special teams or promote Jalen Nailor when he returns from injured reserve.
The Vikings may not be able to salvage the season at its 0-3 standing, but O’Connell will assuredly try vehemently, and that starts with eliminating the turnovers. As of Monday, he’s willing to demote players who can’t find the antidote to the fumble bug.
Minnesota is an early favorite to defeat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and will probably win — if players avoid fumbles.
New Blood on the Way for Vikings
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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