The 4 Now-or-Never Storylines for Vikings Final Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings host arguably the worst team in football on Saturday afternoon, welcoming the Arizona Cardinals to U.S. Bank Stadium for the final preseason game.
The 4 Now-or-Never Storylines for Vikings Final Preseason Game
Unlike the first two exhibition games, the Vikings are actually slated to win this contest, holding a -1.5-point spread advantage over Jonathan Gannon’s Cardinals.
And to prepare you for the event, these are the Vikings four now-or-never items to monitor, ranked in ascending order of importance (No. 1 = most important).
4. The Lewis Cine Experience
Cine has battled back from a terrible leg injury suffered last October in London. He’s already flying around preseason fields, gaining as much on-the-field experience as possible.
But the “problem” is that folks evidently don’t remember he broke his leg less than a year ago, and they want the former 1st-Rounder to be ready for everything now. Cine has produced some impressive defensive plays and mangled a few.
Saturday’s game is the final chance of the summer to show why he deserves ample playing time in September.
3. Does Nick Muse Convince Vikings to Keep 4 TEs?
This jolly and infectious personality has pushed the Vikings hand during the preseason. He resembled a WR1 last weekend against the Tennessee Titans and grabbed a magnificent touchdown versus the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago.
The Vikings don’t typically retain four tight ends for the regular season, but Muse might do enough to convince them otherwise. Another wonderful showing against Arizona could seal the deal.
T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, and Johnny Mundt are expected to grab the other three TE spots on the depth chart.
2. Can NaJee Thompson Do It One More Time?
NaJee Thompson should easily earn a spot on the Vikings regular season roster. Kris Boyd left in free agency, so somebody should restock the cabinet on special teams. That can be Thompson.
Thompson may already have a CB-ST job sewn up, but one more outstanding preseason showing would make the case irrefutable.
He claimed in the spring that he was the best special teams player in the nation, and at the moment, Vikings fans believe him.
1. DeWayne McBride — Yes or No?
When the Vikings drafted McBride four months ago, many believed he was a lock to make a thumbprint on the team’s RB room. Dalvin Cook later left the organization, and an RB group of Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler isn’t exactly God-like.
Through two preseason games, though, McBride hasn’t looked overly productive, and now he needs a competent showing versus the Cardinals to avoid the practice squad.
McBride scored a touchdown last week against the Tennessee Titans. The next step is to chip off a few noteworthy runs. The man was a workhorse at UAB; he should have the grit to beat up on the lowly Cardinals.
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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