3 Vikings Who Must Step Up to Keep Their Roles
It’s been a mixed bag from the Minnesota Vikings over the first two weeks of the season, which leaves them with a 1-1 record as they head into their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
VikingsTerritory examines three Vikings who need to improve to secure their spots on the depth chart.
Injuries are biting hard, with some starters already sidelined, giving players opportunities to move up the depth chart temporarily. Aaron Jones would have made this list if he hadn’t already hit Injured Reserve this week, giving Jordan Mason the chance to step up into the undisputed RB1 role for at least four weeks. Mason now has the opportunity to stake his claim to be the Vikings’ lead back moving forward.
Vikings Players in Jeopardy of Slipping Down the Depth Chart
A banged-up offensive line is giving multiple backup players a chance, and Andrew Van Ginkel is questionable this week after missing last week’s game, giving Dallas Turner the possibility of more extended play. Outside of the injuries, three players need to start showing more if they are going to keep hold of their current roles on the team.
Ivan Pace Jr.
Most at risk is linebacker Ivan Pace, who is fortunate that Blake Cashman is in the middle of a spell on IR with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1. Eric Wilson has proven to be the solid veteran addition the Vikings hoped for, and so far this season is comfortably outperforming Pace. If the third-year LB wants to keep his starting place when Cashman returns from injury, it’s go-time.
His smaller stature leads to a style of play that has him shooting gaps at speed and trying to get to the QB or RB. If he gets home, it looks great, but Pace has missed tackles in the opening two games. He needs to start making sure he brings players down when he gets there.
Cashman is Minnesota’s lead linebacker and will return to that role when he is healthy. Through two games, Pace has tallied 12 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss, and has 1 QB hurry, while allowing completions on 4 of 7 targets when in coverage.
In comparison, Wilson has tallied 10 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss and a forced fumble. He also has 2 QB hurries and allowed completions on just 1 of 3 targets. Pro Football Focus gives Pace a hideously bad overall grade of 31.8, while they score Wilson at 56.2. Pace has a terrible coverage grade of 29.5, with Wilson excelling there with a 64.0 grade but a very poor pass-rushing grade of 37.5.
When Cashman returns, Pace will be sent out for pass-rushing situations, with Wilson taking over the rest of the time, as indicated by the current form guide.
Adam Thielen
It’s early days, and maybe a change of QB this week will spark a change, but the grand return of Adam Thielen hasn’t sparked into life yet. With the trade bringing Thielen home from Carolina not happening until late, there was always likely to be some time needed for Thielen to settle back in.
However, with only four targets, the team has managed only two catches for 26 yards, resulting in a disappointing return. There was also the successful catch on a 2-point conversion against Chicago that has been the highlight so far.
With one more game before Jordan Addison returns from a three-game suspension to re-take the mantle of the Vikings WR2, leaving Thielen and Jalen Nailor vying for the WR3 spot. Across the first two games, Nailor has seen the field more and caught 4 of 8 targets for 59 yards; he also drew the vital pass interference call that swung the game in Week 1.
It is likely to be a case of horses for courses for Thielen and Nailor once Addison returns, with Thielen favored for short downage situations and Nailor when Minnesota wants to throw the ball deep. Both men get another chance to stake their claim this week.
Isaiah Rodgers
After impressing as a depth player for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, Isaiah Rodgers signed with Minnesota to be their starting outside cornerback. It’s not been an easy start for Rodgers in Brian Flores’ notoriously complex defensive system.
It has been tough in coverage so far for Rodgers, who has allowed completions on 5 of 11 targets for 47 yards. Not terrible numbers, and he has yet to allow a touchdown, but PFF grades him a lowly 48.9 in coverage. However, they do give him an impressive 71.5 grade for run defense, where he has impressed with two tackles for loss in the opening two games.
Rodgers isn’t in immediate danger of losing his place, with no one behind exactly pushing to take his spot – especially with Jeff Okudah nursing a concussion over the first couple of weeks. Rodgers will want to lock down his coverage in the coming weeks to prove he can be the outside corner that the Vikings want him to be. That will be severely tested this week as he lines up against Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins on the outside.
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