Skip to main content
Advertising

News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Snap Counts: Dantzler & Tomlinson See Significant Playing Time; Cook Played Half of Sunday's Loss

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are 1-3 after a physical game Sunday against the Browns.

Here's a look at Minnesota's snap counts in the 14-7 home loss to Cleveland in Week 4:

— Kirk Cousins and the starting offensive line played all 67 offensive snaps on a tough day for the offense (255 total yards on 12 possessions). That group has played all 286 offensive snaps so far in 2021.

— Dalvin Cook was on the field for 33 snaps, playing just under half the game (49 percent) as he battled through an ankle injury. Alexander Mattison played 23 snaps, C.J. Ham played 21 snaps, and Ameer Abdullah was in for five on offense. Minnesota managed just 65 total rushing yards.

— Adam Thielen played all but one snap on a busy day. Justin Jefferson was on the field for 59 snaps, and K.J. Osborn played 42 snaps. Dede Westbrook played eight snaps and had one reception.

— Tyler Conklin played 57 snaps to lead the tight ends group. Ben Ellefson was on the field for 14 offensive snaps. Chris Herndon, who played a dozen snaps in each of the first three games, saw his snap count drop to seven.

— Defensively, the Vikings had five players — Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Xavier Woods, Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson — who were on the field for all 78 snaps. That group has been on the field for all of Minnesota's 261 defensive snaps this season.

— Cameron Dantzler played a whopping 72 snaps, by far his highest total of the season. Dantzler took over for Bashaud Breeland (six snaps) in the first quarter and played the rest of the game. Breeland's injury was listed as an illness. He made a hard tackle on Cleveland's opening drive and soon headed to the sideline medical tent. Mackensie Alexander played 33 snaps, his lowest total so far this season against a run-first Browns team.

— Danielle Hunter played 65 snaps, while D.J. Wonnum was in for 53 snaps at defensive end. Everson Griffen played 43 snaps, and Stephen Weatherly played 13 snaps.

— Dalvin Tomlinson played a season-high 50 snaps against a stout Cleveland rushing attack. Armon Watts also set a season-best with 44 snaps. Sheldon Richardson played 32 snaps. Michael Pierce, who injured his elbow/shoulder in practice last week, got the start but played just 21 snaps. He will get an MRI this week after missing the entire second half.

— Blake Lynch made an impact while playing a season-high 36 snaps as the third linebacker in the base defense. Lynch played 42 combined defensive snaps in Weeks 1-3.

— Lynch also led all Vikings players in special teams snaps for the fourth straight week as he played 21 snaps. Camryn Bynum, Troy Dye, Josh Metellus and Ryan Connelly played 17 snaps apiece on special teams.

— First-round rookie Christian Darrisaw played one special teams snap. He was active for the first time this season.

Advertising