Snap Counts: Willekes, Nwangwu Make NFL Debuts in Week 8

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings couldn’t get the job done Sunday night. Minnesota led for most of the game but the end result was a 20-16 loss to Dallas. Here’s a look at Minnesota’s snap counts in Week 8: — Kirk Cousins and the starting offensive line (RT Brian O’Neill, RG Olisaemeka Udoh, C Garrett Bradbury, LG Ezra Cleveland and LT Christian Darrisaw) played all 66 offensive snaps. Cousins was sacked just once, but Minnesota tallied a season-low 184 passing yards. — Adam Thielen played all but one snap and had success with six catches for 78 yards and a score. Justin Jefferson played 47 snaps after the wide receiver appeared to get banged up early in the third quarter. K.J. Osborn was on the field for 38 snaps. Rookie wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette played a season-high 11 snaps. Smith-Marsette recorded his first NFL catch. It was a gain of 6 yards.— Dalvin Cook played 47 snaps, recording 78 yards on 18 carries. Fullback C.J. Ham played 26 snaps and was involved with four touches. Alexander Mattison played eight snaps. — Tyler Conklin led a busy day for Minnesota’s tight ends. He played 54 snaps and ended up with five receptions for 57 yards. Luke Stocker (17 snaps) and Chris Herndon (15 snaps) also saw the field a decent amount. —Wide receiver Dan Chisena played a pair of offensive snaps. He’s been on the field for three total offensive plays and 44 special teams snaps in the past two games. — Defensively, the Vikings had six players — Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Xavier Woods and Harrison Smith, Bashaud Breeland and Cameron Dantzler — who were on the field for all 73 snaps. Woods had an interception, sack and forced fumble against his former team. Barr had a fumble recovery, Kendricks had a sack and Smith forced a fumble that went out of bounds. — Mackensie Alexander was the only other cornerback who saw the field, as he played 39 snaps. Minnesota used just three cornerbacks in their first game without veteran Patrick Peterson, who is on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. — Danielle Hunter played only 27 snaps as he left the game with a shoulder injury. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said the defensive end will get an MRI on it today. Everson Griffen led that position group with 60 snaps and had a sack. D.J. Wonnum played 53 snaps and Kenny Willekes made his NFL debut with 16 snaps on defense.— The Vikings once again used a heavy defensive tackle rotation as Michael Pierce missed his third straight game with an an elbow injury. Armon Watts led the way with 47 snaps for that group, while Dalvin Tomlinson also got the start and played 43 snaps. Sheldon Richardson played 30 snaps, while James Lynch was on the field for 16 snaps. — Linebacker Nick Vigil played 30 snaps in the Vikings base defense against a stout Cowboys rushing attack. — Rookie safety Camryn Bynum played four defensive snaps. He has now played nine snaps this season. — Vigil led all Vikings players in special teams snaps with 22. Bynum was part of a group of that played 21 snaps and included Chisena, Blake Lynch, Josh Metellus, Troy Dye and Ryan Connelly. —Kris Boyd (16), Ham (16) and Harrison Hand (14) Jordan Berry (11) and Andrew DePaola (11) all played double-digit snaps on special teams. Finally, rookie Kene Nwangwu made his NFL debut with five special teams snaps, but the kickoff returner didn’t record a return.

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