The Vikings signed Aldrick Robinson on Monday to add to their receiving corps.
Robinson doesn't have flashy stats, but he does add depth, which ESPN's Courtney Cronin **recently pointed out is important** for Minnesota. Cronin wrote:
Some will argue that Minnesota doesn't need to place a big emphasis on finding pieces to slot in behind two of the game's best receivers. After all, if [Stefon] Diggs and [Adam] Thielen are going to get a majority of Cousins' targets, with other passes spread to Rudolph and pass-catching back Dalvin Cook, how might a reserve receiver make significant contributions?
Cronin opined that the Vikings "don't have receiver depth to combat unforeseen circumstances" and that they are hoping one of the players in the position group will "grab hold of the third receiver job."
Robinson might be the player to fill that role, and in the meantime, Minnesota will keep giving [Laquon] Treadwell and Brandon Zylstra (who has a considerable role on special teams) opportunities to see where they can contribute.
Cronin referred to Diggs and Thielen as "versatile chess pieces" who can be used on the outside or in the slot and said that Robinson could best fit "as a speedy vertical threat" who can help the Vikings offense stretch the field.
[If] Robinson can build a rapport with Cousins and carve out a distinct role for himself in this offense, Minnesota might finally start building the depth it struggled to create for so long.
Vikings fan club T-shirts benefiting Zylstra's high school
Minnesota native Brandon Zylstra is indirectly raising money for his alma mater from afar.
The receiver has quite the fan club back home in Spicer, and a custom-created T-shirt is **benefiting New London-Spicer High School**. Carolyn Lange of the West Central Tribune explained that Michelle Olson, who owns Johnny O'Neill's restaurant and bar in Spicer, started the campaign. Lange wrote:
Olson, who owns Johnny O'Neil's restaurant and bar in Spicer, ordered 300 purple T-shirts with Zylstra's name and number on the back and a graphic on the front declaring "New London-Spicer Minnesota fan club."
"They were gone in one day," Olson said.
She then put a notice on the business' Facebook page saying she would order more shirts if people let her know.
Within a couple days she had orders for about 900 more.
According to Olson, $7 from each $15 T-shirt sale will go back to the school's football booster club. The gesture received the backing of NLS Head Coach Dan Essler.
"We're really excited to have somebody in the NFL," Essler told Lange. "It shows that if you work really hard you can achieve your dreams."
