6 Options for Vikings Returner Duties
The returner duties are one area of the Minnesota Vikings team that should see some healthy competition over the preseason. Both jobs appear to be up for grabs, whether kickoff or punt returns.
6 Options for Vikings Returner Duties
Over the last two seasons, Brandon Powell has been the primary punt returner, but with the Vikings’ WR room looking strong, he won’t be back for 2025 unless there are injuries. Ty Chandler handled kick returns over that period and remains on the roster; however, he has never made a return of significance. Minnesota should look at finding a more dynamic returner. The current roster has six options for the Vikings’ returner duties in 2025.
Ty Chandler
Chandler could remain at kick returner as a safe pair of hands who has never made costly mistakes. He also hasn’t done much to get excited about, only returning 12 kicks over the past two seasons for an average of 25.2 yards and a long of 35. With the NFL moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line, Minnesota would be better off if Chandler does not return the ball if he’s back there.
If the new rules encourage teams to kick in bounds more often, then the Vikings need a more dynamic returner. Chandler should be on the roster as a running back and can be used in emergencies, but he shouldn’t be the primary kick returner.
Jalen Nailor
Jalen Nailor handled one punt return in 2024 — the only time he has done so professionally. He might want to add that string to his bow in a competitive WR room behind the Vikings’ top two guys. Nailor did act as a punt returner in his college days at Michigan State, but with no great success.
He averages six yards per return as a Spartan. The nicknamed “Speedy” has the potential to be a returner with his speed, but does he have the vision? No evidence points that way right now.
Isaiah Rodgers
New Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers could be in line for starting duties in Minnesota’s secondary, but he also has a history as a punt and kick returner during his time with the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles.
Kick return has been his specialty, and he took a 101-yard return to the house in his rookie season — the only touchdown of his career to date. If the Vikings want Rodgers to be their CB2 this season, then that will involve a significant increase in time on the field on defense. Minnesota may not want a starting CB returning kicks as well.
Rondale Moore
Signed to a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency, Rondale Moore comes to the Vikings with a returner pedigree. During his rookie season, he was the Arizona Cardinals’ kick and punt returner in 2021. After three seasons in Arizona, Moore found himself traded to the Atlanta Falcons, but a knee injury in training camp meant he never played a game for the Falcons.
The second of four WRs on this list, Moore may have to go back to his returner roots to strengthen his case for a place in the Vikings’ final 53-man roster.
Tai Felton
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent his team’s third-round draft pick on Maryland WR Tai Felton. When talking about Felton to the media, the Vikings GM noted that Felton had done some punt return work and that they hoped to develop that area of his game. Another speedy receiver, Felton will hope to carve out a role on offense, but he can add to his value to the team early on if he covers return duties.
Silas Bolden
There are question marks over all five of the options named so far. This is where undrafted rookie Silas Bolden comes in. Bolden comes in as somewhat of a return specialist, having spent time both returning kicks and punts during his time at Oregon State and Texas.
He mostly returned kickoffs at Oregon State and scored a punt return touchdown in 2023 before transferring to Texas, where he primarily took on punt return duties. Bolden excelled as the Longhorns’ punt returner, and his 315 yards on 30 returns led the SEC. He also scored his second punt return touchdown of his career. Bolden is the standout candidate as a returner, but is that enough to get him on the roster?
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