One Vikings Starter Hardly Played vs. Buccaneers

Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fan reacts during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings released an “unofficial” depth chart last week before their Week 1 showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and they weren’t kidding about unofficial.

One Vikings Starter Hardly Played vs. Buccaneers

Why? Well, starting linebacker Brian Asamoah barely played on defense against Tampa Bay.

The second-year defender played two defensive snaps and 12 special teams transactions during the loss to the Buccaneers, a totally unforeseen development because the man was called a starter on the depth chart.

Starter Hardly Played
Dec 4, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II (33) leaps over the celebration pile late during the fourth quarter after an interception by safety Camryn Bynum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

For context, these were the defensive snaps per player for Week 1:

  • Byron Murphy: 68
  • Camryn Bynum: 67
  • Jordan Hicks: 66
  • Harrison Smith: 65
  • Akayleb Evans: 62
  • Harrison Phillips: 60
  • Danielle Hunter: 58
  • Josh Metellus: 57
  • D.J. Wonnum: 54
  • Ivan Pace Jr.: 46
  • Dean Lowry: 46
  • Patrick Jones: 40
  • Jonathan Bullard: 29
  • Mekhi Blackmon: 15
  • Khyiris Tonga: 9
  • Troy Dye: 2
  • Brian Asamoah: 2
  • Theo Jackson: 1
  • Benton Whitley: 1
Young LB Says
Sep 25, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II (33) in action against the Detroit Lions during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Instead of Asamoah, the undrafted rookie linebacker, Ivan Pace Jr., absorbed “Asamoah’s snaps,” in addition to multiple safeties folded into the gameplan like Josh Metellus. Had the Vikings won — they should have, according to oddsmakers — Asamoah’s relative absence would be a nothingburger. But losses always reveal warts.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said about the linebacking rotation, “Yeah, I know the plan was there was going to be a little bit of a rotation there, so I’ll have to look at it. Keeping up with the snap counts play-to-play, maybe one day I’ll be able to do that. But I’ll take a look at it, and I think we feel really good about kind of a three-man grouping right there.”

Aug 26, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell takes the field before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

It is unclear if Asamoah on the bench indicates a 2023 trend — which would represent a full promotion for Pace Jr. — or a Week 1 outlier. The team will provide more clarity in three days when it travels to Philadelphia for a Week 2 date with the Eagles, a team that defeated the New England Patriots in Foxboro on Sunday.

“But Ivan Pace had earned the right to be on the field. Brian had to deal with an injury through camp, and those reps were really valuable. We still feel great about Jordan (Hicks), I.P. and Brian and Troy (Dye) also with his ability to step in there, made some good plays on teams. So that inside backer group is a strength for us,” O’Connell added.

Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. (LB23) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.

Asamoah will likely be interwoven in the defense before too long, but the lesson is to always take a Week 1 depth chart with a grain of salt.

The Vikings allowed just 242 yards to the Buccaneers on Sunday despite the loss — their lowest total in a game since 2020.


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.