3 Things to Watch in Vikings’ 3rd Preseason Game
The Vikings are two from two in their preseason games this year, with victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns. Minnesota heads to Philadelphia for their final game before football starts for real in September. A victory for the Vikings over the Eagles would buck the recent trend — 10 straight preseason losses coming into this year — and see the Vikings sweep their preseason opponents this year.
3 Things to Watch in Vikings’ 3rd Preseason Game
Wins are nice, but they aren’t the purpose of the preseason. It’s about preparing for the competitive stuff and giving players on the fringe of the roster a chance to stake their claim for a place on the final 53. With that in mind, here are three things to watch for in the Vikings 3rd preseason game.
How Lewis Cine Follows Up
The best result for Lewis Cine in Philadelphia could be a case of “less is more.” Cine led the team on defensive snaps in Cleveland with 64 in what seemed to be an extended chance to prove himself. The 2022 first-round pick answered the call with 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception. He led the team on defense with a 79.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and had the Vikings fanbase that had largely written him off believing again.
Cine’s dream scenario for following that up would be a couple of good plays and then being told to put his feet up — a sure sign that he’s earned his spot on the roster. We will see what the Vikings coaching staff has planned for him on Saturday. He will still be behind the Vikings’ three main safeties (Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus), so they may still decide to give him plenty of playing time.
Can Backup QBs Keep Explosive Plays Coming?
One of the main reasons the Vikings are winning their preseason games is that the backup quarterbacks are throwing touchdowns. Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall threw for three touchdowns last week. Compare that to the Browns duo of Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who threw for three interceptions. It’s easy to see where the game was won and lost.
We know what to expect from Mullens, who can be explosive but also careless. Last week, we saw the best we’ve seen of Hall, who went 4 of 5 for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns with a perfect passer rating. I expect the Vikings will keep both Mullens and Hall on the roster, but I’d like to see lots of Hall in the final preseason to give him the opportunity to stake his claim at being the Vikings’ QB2.
The Culmination Of The WR3-5 Battle
I expect the Vikings to keep five wide receivers on the roster. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor will definitely be there. It would now be a big surprise if Trishton Jackson wasn’t also there, which leaves one spot left. The Vikings currently have 11 WRs, but realistically, that spot is a battle between two men: Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield.
The likes of Lucky Jackson, Malik Knowles, Thomas Thayer, Jeshaun Jones, and new signing Justin Hall are all trying to get a place on the practice squad. They can follow in the footsteps of Trishton Jackson and work towards an eventual breakthrough. With a year on the team behind him and a probable role as the team’s punt returner, the job looks to be Powell’s to lose. Can Sherfield do something to force his way into the roster? He has one more chance to do so.
Vikings Waive 2 Players
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