Vikings Stood Pat at 2 Key Positions
As the offseason turned towards training camp, the Minnesota Vikings continued to work on their eventual 53-man roster. With the cutdown day having come and gone, the franchise decided to stay put at both the wide receiver and running back positions. That seemed unlikely for most of the lead-up to 2024.
Minnesota Vikings Stood Pat at 2 Key Positions
The running back room was a problem for the Minnesota Vikings last season. Alexander Mattison flopped as a starter, and multiple runners had to be brought in before Ty Chandler assumed the role. Chandler is back for the 2024 season, and he has shown he has the capabilities to start. Aaron Jones may be the best running back Kevin O’Connell has ever employed. That tandem is going to work. What about Myles Gaskin though?
Shockingly, Kene Nwangwu wound up being cut and is now with the New Orleans Saints. Myles Gaskin will be the Vikings’ kick returner and third running back. He has previously operated as a starter, and although he’s not cut out for that role, he should be assumed as a fine backup. It’s curious that the Vikings decided to roster him after waiving him multiple times last season, but they clearly like Gaskin more than any other option.
The wide receiver position might be the bigger shock. It was relatively widely assumed that the third wide receiver didn’t reside on the Vikings roster. Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell were going to fight for the opportunity, but question marks surrounding both players existed. Then the preseason action kicked off and Nailor looked the part of a legitimate threat.
From the first preseason game, Nailor immediately took the role and ran with it. There was never a point in which he didn’t look like a true starter for the Vikings, and that’s something the franchise has been banking on. Health has been the only reason he has been slowed thus far, and seeing him work in space was truly a joy to watch.
The emergence or realization of Nailor’s role quickly dispelled any thoughts that Minnesota would need to add someone else. Hunter Renfrow and Adam Thielen both had their names come up. It was assumed that a Texans wide receiver could be made available. None of that has seemed to matter, though, and the Vikings are set with their group.
Things could get dicey if Jordan Addison misses more time than just because of his ankle injury. A suspension would put Nailor into the second wide receiver role, and without T.J. Hockenson, Justin Jefferson will be working against significant double teams. The key points to the equation are how well Sam Darnold can get him the ball and how quickly Nailor can establish himself.
At any rate, Minnesota stuck with the players it had on the roster, which is a surprise.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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