The Young Viking Who Just Blew the Doors Off Week 11
On a day when the “other” 2024 1st-Rounder struggled for the Minnesota Vikings, the second leg of that Round 1 parlay stood off the page. That’s right: Dallas Turner had a game in Week 11, tormenting the Chicago Bears for all 60 minutes.
Minnesota Vikings fans are buzzing after one young Viking delivered a breakout performance in Week 11, shaking up expectations for the season.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy played poorly for the first 57 minutes of the loss to the Bears, while Turner shone the entire day.
So, yes — bittersweet.
Dallas Turner Breaks Out for Vikings
He has arrived, and folks won’t hope he’s here to stay.
Turner Posts Massive Performance against Bears
Most of the Vikings’ contest against Chicago involved disappointment: a defense that couldn’t stop the run, a quarterback who couldn’t complete most passes, and special teams that couldn’t step up with the game on the line.
However, Turner was different.
The second-year EDGE posted these numbers in Week 11:
— 7 Tackles
— 3 QB Hits
— 2 Tackles for Loss
— 1 Sack
— 1 Pass Defended
That’s the stuff of dreams for a young pass rusher, and while Turner must continue his upward trajectory, he truly did his part to topple Chicago. The rest of the club? Not quite.
A New Role
Previously, when Turner would enter the starting lineup this season, he’d fill in for Andrew Van Ginkel, who plays a versatile role in Brian Flores’ defense. He drops into coverage more frequently than most outside linebackers, while also getting after quarterbacks and running backs.
Jonathan Greenard, who missed Sunday’s game with a bad shoulder, rushes the passer and stuffs running backs. Without the EDGE1 playing, Minnesota asked Turner to take over Greenard’s role.
And it seems that role is more suited to his talent profile — more so than Van Ginkel’s job description.
A Game with Few Bright Spots
Minnesota faced emotional playoff elimination against Chicago, needing a win to stay afloat in the NFC’s crowded field. Chicago won, and Minnesota didn’t have many bright spots, aside from Turner, special teams returner Myles Price, and perhaps the aforementioned Van Ginkel.
The afternoon was pretty damn rotten from a Vikings standpoint, but Turner’s emergence soothed some festering fan resentments.
How about the Sustainability?
Now, Turner must keep it up. Simple as that.
He showed enough on Sunday to merit consistent inclusion in the defensive game plan, even when some Vikings fans and social media accounts are oddly eager to call him a bust. To avoid any negative association, Turner must continue his current rise to power.
For example, wreaking havoc on Green Bay this weekend and then at Seattle after that might do the trick.
PPTSD on Turner
Our Janik Eckardt opined on Turner’s Week 1 showing, “Last year, Turner was stuck behind Pro Bowlers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, only playing a rotational role with Patrick Jones also in the mix. He recorded three sacks and an interception along the way, looking mostly unremarkable with a couple of splash plays mixed in here and there.”
“This season, he once again came off the bench, but Andrew Van Ginkel’s neck injury opened the door for him to step into the All-Pro’s versatile role in Flores’ defense. Van Ginkel returned to the field and Turner to the bench — until Greenard suffered a shoulder injury against the Ravens. Suddenly, Turner was asked to replace Greenard, whose job isn’t to be a versatile chess piece but to get after the quarterback.”
Turner’s Vikings are an early touchdown underdog this weekend in Green Bay.
“And he might be a better fit for that. On Sunday, Turner had perhaps the biggest game of his career, as the criticism of his draft selection had gotten louder and he could finally show that he was, indeed, worth the investment. He proved doubters wrong, registering seven tackles (two for loss), a sack, and a pass breakup,” Eckardt continued.
“In what can be classified as his coming-out party, Turner was disruptive, and he made plays all day. It’s also time to credit Caleb Williams. Chicago’s QB wiggled out of multiple potential sacks and made plays with his legs. Turner got him on the ground once.”
Turner will turn 23 in February. Still a young’un. He’s under the Vikings’ control for the next three seasons if the organization opts into his fifth-year rookie option.
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