Vikings’ Next Man Up … Could Be a Rookie
The injury bug has rattled the Minnesota Vikings — pretty much since the middle of the summer, two months before meaningful football games kicked off.
Vikings’ Next Man Up … Could Be a Rookie
Last weekend was no different, as veteran starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore tweaked his hamstring in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Minnesota held on by a score of 23-22, but Gilmore exited the game and didn’t return.
So, with Gilmore’s status for Week 13 unclear — a date at home with Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons — defensive coordinator Brian Flores might need assistance from a corner not named Stephon Gilmore, and there’s a decent chance that the Vikings turn to undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern.
Flores utilized Fabian Moreau in Gilmore’s stead in Week 13, an experiment that quickly went pear-shaped. Moreau was called for two crucial defensive pass interference penalties — one of them bogus — while Marvin Harrison Jr. torched him for a touchdown.
Moreau could get the start if Gilmore is on the shelf, but don’t rule out McGlothern for Week 14 action. Head coach Kevin O’Connell talked about Nudie — that’s McGlothern’s nickname — this week: “We’ve got ‘Nudie’ on the practice squad, or I should say Dwight McGlothern. But we’ve got him at any point in time, that we’ve had clearly we have a lot of confidence in.”
O’Connell said, “We’ll see,” on McGlothern possibly getting the nod against the Falcons, a decision likely up to Flores, the almighty defensive architect.
McGlothern was speculated as a mid-to-late-round pick leading into the 2024 NFL Draft, but then the event passed without his name mentioned at the podium in Detroit. He experienced two-way utility as a wide receiver and cornerback in high school before heading to LSU. The four-star recruit was a part-time starter in Louisiana during the post-Justin Jefferson era but transferred to Arkansas after two seasons. He logged seven interceptions and 72 tackles in two seasons with the Razorbacks. His measurables at the NFL Combine didn’t jump off the page, evidently causing 32 general managers to say “no thanks” during the draft.
Flores heaped praise on his young defensive back in the summer. “Nudie’s done a real nice job. We liked a lot of things about him, as well, coming out. Ball skills would be the first thing that comes to mind,” Flores told reporters about Nudie. “He’s a guy who’s just got a knack and a feel for being around the ball when it’s in the air. Obviously he’s got height and length and speed, but the instincts are the thing that jumped out to me and us as a staff. There’s a lot to like about Nudie.”
Nudie assuredly has the size to play cornerback in the pros — he’s 6’2″. He became the Vikings’ one big youthful hope at corner a few months ago when fellow rookie Khyree Jackson passed away in a tragic car accident.
And unless Minnesota leans into the Fabian Moreau experience or signs a different veteran like Patrick Peterson, McGlothern could have his number called as soon as this Sunday.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.