12 Snap Reactions after Vikings at Eagles | Preseason
Each week, we offer a “snap reactions” piece detailing thoughts and analysis after the latest Minnesota Vikings game.
12 Snap Reactions after Vikings at Eagles| Preseason
This will be off-the-cuff, a wee bit random, and hopefully insightful.
The Vikings won on the road Saturday afternoon over the Philadelphia Eagles 26-3, creating a spotless preseason record after not winning a game in August since 2019. Well done.
1 — Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell didn’t see the field, so the Vikings WR room is mostly locked up — Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Nailor, and Powell. Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield will hope to fill out the room, and perhaps both can stay on the active roster if the team keeps six. They might need an excess of pass-catchers with T.J. Hockenson on tap to miss the start of the season.
2 — Speaking of Trishton Jackson: man, oh man, did he win the preseason. He scored in every game, made an impact, and it would be criminal if he got dumped onto the practice squad. The guy is the real deal.
3 — Assuming the Vikings keep three quarterbacks — last year they rolled with two into the regular season — Jaren Hall wrapped up the QB3 job. Some fans on social media lauded him as a total stud, which was an exaggeration. He’s not a QB1 or anything of the sort, but QB3 looks good on him.
4 — It’s all worth noting that Hall was banged up in the 3rd Quarter — an item to monitor as Minnesota’s summer has been ravaged by injury.
5 — Kicker Will Reichard was perfect — on Saturday and in the preseason — outside of a blocked field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders that wasn’t really “his fault.” The idea that the Vikings might have the kicking spot figured out since the good part of Blair Walsh’s career is enticing. His “throwaway” 57-yard field goal at the end of the game was marvelous. A tease.
6— Kevin O’Connell’s commentary with Paul Allen and Pete Bercich on the microphone was fantastic. The team and KFAN should make that a staple of preseason football because, let’s face it, sometimes the preseason is awful.
7 — Levi Drake Rodrguez fired up another sweet game sans one personal foul penalty. O’Connell also sang his praises on the sidelines while talking with Allen and Bercich, which should be an indicator that he’s safe for the September roster.
8 — Kene Nwangwu didn’t play, which is a strong hint that he’ll be the RB3 in 2024. That wasn’t known for sure a couple of months ago. Myles Gaskin also played well all preseason and on Saturday. DeWayne McBride will be cut or travel to the practice squad.
9 — We didn’t expect Dwight McGlothern to run with the last-teamers, but men like Duke Shelley received playing time before the undrafted rookie. McGlothern produced a sweet quarterback pressure that should’ve been a sack. He better make the roster on Tuesday. He’ll get stolen from the practice squad otherwise.
10 — Linebacker Dallas Gant is a name to remember for fans. He stood out in the preseason, and with Brian Asamoah playing extensively on Saturday, Asamoah’s roster security could be up in the air. At the very least, Gant will earn practice squad placement and has an outside shot at making the team for the regular season.
11 — EDGE Andre Carter II finally had a summer moment. He had been quiet in June, July, and August until Saturday. The young defender probably won’t make the 53-man depth chart, but he certainly had a splashy sack that turned into a fumble.
12 — The next time we publish snap reactions will be after the game at the New York Giants. We formally predict the 2024 team will finish 7-10, mainly because of a brutal schedule, the NFC North’s sudden supremacy, and uncertainty about Sam Darnold’s ceiling.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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