There’s a Predictable Non-Reunion for Vikings this Weekend
The Minnesota Vikings are set to square off against the Detroit Lions in one of the most anticipated regular season matchups of recent memory. Minnesota is a surprising 5-0, and the Lions are the cream of the crop in the NFC North. You would have been sorely mistaken if you expected Marcus Davenport to make it to Week 7.
There’s a Predictable Non-Reunion for Vikings this Weekend
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings signed Marcus Davenport, hoping that he could pair with Danielle Hunter. That may have proved fruitful if Davenport had remained on the field. Unfortunately, he is made of glass and played just four games. He decided to see if he could best that mark this season with the Detroit Lions, as his season ended after just two games.
Suffering a season-ending triceps injury, Davenport won’t be on the field for the Lions on Sunday. That means he won’t have the opportunity to face teammates he hardly got to know, and he won’t be the one to pick up his current employer after Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury.
When Minnesota signed Davenport off the New Orleans Saints scrap heap, they did so thinking they grabbed a young talent with upside. That may be true, but the inability to remain healthy is a problem. Davenport played 13 games (drawing starts in each) for the 2019 Saints. He played in 15 games during the 2022 season. In every other season of his seven-year career, he has been a complete non-factor when looking at how the opposition will prepare for him.
Davenport is clearly too fragile to handle the rigors of the professional level. It’s an unfortunate reality, but one that Minnesota grew well too aware of last season. Davenport may have had visions of facing his former team when he signed with the Lions, but that would have required his body to cooperate.
Detroit’s defense leaves plenty to be desired, and that’s probably the Vikings’ greatest opportunity on Sunday. The more that Sam Darnold can expose the opposition, the better. It seems he will have a chance to do so without a stout pass rush, and that should only make his prospects for a big game more likely.
This could certainly be a coming-out party for Justin Jefferson in 2024.
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 daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.