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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Snap Counts: Nwangwu Sees Time on Offense, Pair of Vikings Make Defensive Debuts

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are back below .500 after Sunday's 34-26 loss against the 49ers.

Minnesota heads to Detroit in Week 13 matchup for an NFC North battle.

Here's a look at Minnesota's snap counts in Week 12:

— Kirk Cousins and all but one of the starting offensive linemen (LG Ezra Cleveland, C Mason Cole, RG Olisaemeka Udoh and RT Brian O'Neill) played all 55 offensive snaps. The quarterback threw for 238 yards with two scores and an interception.

— Rookie left tackle Christian Darrisaw was injured in the second half and was replaced by Rashod Hill. Darrisaw played 38 snaps while Hill played 17.

— Adam Thielen (53 snaps) and Justin Jefferson (51 snaps) both rarely left the field. Thielen had five catches for 62 yards and two scores (all in the first half). Jefferson had four catches for 83 yards as he surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark. K.J. Osborn played 30 snaps and had a 5-yard catch, and Dede Westbrook played five snaps.

— Dalvin Cook played 29 snaps before leaving with a shoulder injury. The Vikings running back will undergo an MRI today. Alexander Mattison played 29 snaps and had a 6-yard touchdown run. Neither player was effective as they combined for 60 yards on 17 attempts, including a 30-yard run from Cook. Fullback C.J. Ham played 20 snaps on Sunday.

— Tyler Conklin played 44 snaps, recording two catches for 25 yards. Minnesota's other two tight ends — Chris Herndon (eight snaps) and Luke Stocker (six snaps) — didn't play much.

— Blake Brandel was on the field for five snaps as an extra lineman. And rookie Kene Nwangwu made his offensive debut with two snaps, including a 7-yard carry.

— Defensively, the Vikings had four players — Eric Kendricks, Patrick Peterson, Xavier Woods and Harrison Smith — who were on the field for all 70 snaps. Kendricks and Woods are the only two players to be on the field for all 762 defensive snaps this season. Smith had an interception.

View game action photos between the Vikings and 49ers during the Week 12 matchup at Levi's Stadium.

— Anthony Barr played 44 snaps before leaving with a hamstring injury. Nick Vigil played 57 snaps, and Blake Lynch was on the field for 20 snaps as Minnesota called upon its linebacker depth.

— Minnesota once again had four cornerbacks see the field on defense. Peterson played every snap, but the other three players were part of a rotation. Bashuad Breeland played 49 snaps, followed by 25 from Cameron Dantzler and 15 from Mackensie Alexander.

— D.J. Wonnum led the way at defensive end with 61 snaps and also recorded a sack. Sheldon Richardson kicked outside and started at defensive end, playing 53 snaps. Tashawn Bower, who was signed Wednesday, played 19 snaps at defensive end. Patrick Jones II was on the field for 15 snaps.

— Second-year defensive tackle James Lynch led all interior linemen with 55 snaps played. Armon Watts was on the field for 54 snaps and recorded a sack for the second straight game. T.J. Smith made his Vikings debut with 20 snaps. Minnesota played without starters Dalvin Tomlinson (Reserve/COVID-19 list) and Michael Pierce (on Injured Reserve with an elbow injury).

— Josh Metellus played three snaps on defense in the Vikings three-safety package. Rookie Camryn Bynum missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury.

— Blake Lynch led all players with 25 snaps on special teams. Kris Boyd played 21 snaps there, and Ryan Connelly played 19. Ham Dan Chisena, Troy Dye and Myles Dorn saw the field for 18 snaps on special teams. Metellus played 17 snaps there.

— Stocker played 13 snaps in the third phase. Woods (12 snaps) and Vigil (11 snaps) each also helped out on special teams.

— Nwangwu played seven snaps on special teams and scored on a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The rookie leads the NFL with two such scores in 2021.

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