New Vikings RB May Takes Center Stage
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, who holds down the third halfback spot and half of kick returning duties, may not play this weekend.
With a notable injury in the mix for the Minnesota Vikings, a lane has been cleared for one halfback to emerge — as early as this weekend.
His injury status is up in the air, and all signs point to at least a one-game absence.
If so, that would pave the way for a preseason hero in Minnesota: tailback Zavier Scott.
Unsung Vikings RB3 Is the Next Man Up
Scott may make his NFL debut.
RB Ty Chandler Likely to Miss Time
The Vikings tweeted Wednesday that Chandler, among others, is likely to miss games in Week 2 and beyond. The speedy halfback is battling a knee injury.
CBS Sports on Chandler: “Head coach Kevin O’Connell said during Wednesday’s press conference that Chandler suffered a knee injury during the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Bears on Monday. O’Connell added that Chandler is expected to miss time while recovering from his knee injury, though how long his absence will be is unclear.”
“Chandler is unlikely to play against the Falcons on Sunday but could be available for the Vikings’ Week 3 bout against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 21. The 2022 fifth-rounder played 13 special-teams snaps in Week 1 and returned three kickoffs for 84 yards, so Tai Felton is a candidate to join Myles Price (knee) on kickoff returns.”
Insert Zavier Scott
Remember the guy who terrorized exhibition opponents in August? His name was Zavier Scott, an under-the-radar contributor at training camp. Then, the preseason confirmed folks’ good suspicions.
The 6’1″ 220-pounder who once played wide receiver has recently healed from an injury and appears poised to take the reins of the RB3 job. Many fans actually thought Scott would win the RB3 job from Chandler when the first depth chart arrived, but Chandler prevailed nevertheless.
Scott is in on deck to act as the purple team’s RB3 against Atlanta.
Summer Heroism
Fans always search for stealthy summer standouts in July and August; it’s part of the thrill with training camp and the preseason.
Among a handful of little-known Vikings players in the summer of 2025, Scott made a name for himself. Minnesota has struggled in recent seasons with scoring redzone rushing touchdowns and with short-yardage rushing situations, in general. So, when Scott, with his size, began to emerge, folks started to notice.
Scott notably showed the juice in Minnesota’s first preseason game against the Houston Texans.
A Different Kick Returner
Aside from Scott, Chandler’s probable absence has other ripple effects. With the NFL’s new kick return rules, each team tends to place two returners back to field kicks, and in Week 1, Chandler, along with rookie Myles Price, manned the assignments.
Scott is unlikely to return kicks — he’s not a speedster — and the Vikings will need a Chandler alternative on special teams.
The summer clues point to rookie wideout Tai Felton, who does have returner speed, and might just be the perfect job for a rookie looking to put his thumbprint on the team. Otherwise, Felton is listed around WR4 or WR5 on Kevin O’Connell’s depth chart.
Zavier Scott News and Notes
The Viking Age’s Adam Carlson noted on Scott late last month: “There might not be a bigger winner this preseason than running back Zavier Scott. He looked like a capable rusher and receiver while also showcasing his ability to handle kickoff returns.
“The roster spot behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason seems to be wide open, and Scott made a great case to be the RB3 for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025.”
Zone Coverage‘s Matt Fries on Scott: “Athletically, Scott tested quite well for an RB back in 2023. He has nice size at 6’0″, 219 lbs., and ran a respectable 4.49-second 40-yard dash (some sources have it listed at 4.50 seconds). He had great jumps, highlighted by a 37.5″ vertical jump, and strong agility with a fantastic 4.11-second short shuttle.”
“At nearly 220 lbs., Scott has very good size for an RB. He demonstrated this by running through arm tackles, as seen in the play above, and other examples of contact balance. Minnesota’s OL gets good push on the play below, moving the line of scrimmage about three yards, but there isn’t a wide crease for Scott to run through. That’s okay, because rather than try to dance around, he works through the back of Rouse to pick up a couple of extra yards.”
If Scott carries the rock on Sunday, it’ll be his first NFL action.
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