Minnesota's roster will shrink soon too, which makes its third preseason game on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) down south at Tennessee, an incredibly important test. Not for starters on opposite ends of the age spectrum, like 22-year-old quarterback J.J. McCarthy or 32-year defensive lineman Javon Hargrave – but for players trying to propel strong training camps and exhibitions into trusted roles in the organization.
The game versus the Titans will be a terminal stop for some Vikings. And for others, the cherry on top of a sweet ramp-up to the real deal. One player who's impressed, largely out of nowhere, and is seemingly rebuking the odds against him is undrafted rookie d-lineman – undrafted tryout rookie – Elijah Williams.
Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores recalled this week how Defensive Backs Coach Daronte Jones discovered Williams on a visit to his alma mater, Morgan State, and returned with a sparkle in his eye.
"[D.J.] came back and said, 'Hey, this guy's got a little something to him,'" Flores said.
That "little something" has translated to seven tackles, two hits on quarterbacks and five hurries across 61 defensive snaps so far. Of course, Williams, a college sack machine, with 31 (and 52 tackles for loss) at the FCS level, is not a lock to make the 53-man roster. But he's doing what he can to give himself a shot.
"Look, I think there is a lot of depth in that room and I think all those guys have shown up positively in practice, in games, but even before that in meetings and walkthroughs, in the weight room, really in every area, and I'm really proud of that group," Flores commented Tuesday afternoon. "I walked in [to the defensive line room] probably two weeks ago and said that 'Each one of you guys can play. Don't worry about decisions we make. Just worry about getting better every day and putting it on tape.'
"They've all done that," Flores continued. "In this line of work where, I know cuts are coming, you can do everything right and sometimes it doesn't work out. But what you need to do is do everything right and inevitably it'll work out. We've got a lot of guys like that. The edge room is the same way, the DB room is the same way, where, you know, not gonna be able to keep all of them. We understand that. They've just got to put their best foot forward day after day after day after day, and they'll find a place in this league."
What better message to set the stage for the team's visit to Music City.
Here are three major competitions to track as the Vikings head to Nashville for their final tuneup.
1. Backup QB battle part 3
Wes Phillips is in lockstep with Kevin O'Connell in evaluating backup quarterbacks.
The Vikings offensive coordinator almost said verbatim what Minnesota's head coach divulged around this time a week ago: The greatest attribute of a No. 2 quarterback is his ability to function without reps.
"I think the best backup quarterbacks can come in and move the football team with minimal to no reps," Phillips echoed at his press conference Wednesday. "I mean, ultimately, reps in game week are precious. And when you're trying to get your starter ready to do all the things that you're going to ask him to do within a game week, you know, there are times where the backup can get in there, but for the most part, they're going to have to just be mentally prepared – mental reps – and know the game plan in and out and prepare as if they're playing. The guys that show that they can go in there with minimal to no reps and perform and help move the team are the guys, I think, that end up sticking around for a long time."
That's to say, the parameters of Minnesota's QB competition (behind McCarthy) begins with the ability of Sam Howell, Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer to enter the action unprompted, and perform efficiently.
Friday will be an especially great measuring stick because the club's final training camp practice on Wednesday had a scrimmage structure that reserved the vast majority of snaps for McCarthy and the 1s.
O'Connell and Co. want a backup that takes ownership of the responsibility to be ready and strap his helmet in a pinch – like when Nick Mullens converted a crucial third down on two occasions last season.
Additionally, Phillips pushed back on "experience" being a backup's greatest quality: "I feel like over the years I've been with some guys that maybe aren't the older guy in the room, maybe not the journeyman quite yet, but just have a great instinct for the game, are really smart and work really hard at it," he said.
2. Depth receivers stepping up
The good news is Justin Jefferson returned to practice this week and participated in a few drills.
The bad news is Jordan Addison is set to serve a three-game suspension, sidelining him for Monday Night Football at Chicago, Sunday Night Football at home against Atlanta and Week 3 against Cincinnati.
The ugly news is Jalen "Speedy" Nailor recently jammed his hand and his future status is uncertain.
And so there's ginormous eyeballs on the rest of the Vikings receivers (listed alphabetically): Silas Bolden, Tai Felton, Dontae Fleming, Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones, Tim Jones, Robert Lewis, Myles Price and Thayer Thomas. Tim Jones is the only player in that group with an NFL reception (17 for 154 yards).
Felton is a third-round rookie with nice size and speed. Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Thomas are holdovers from the past couple seasons, who've refined their crafts on the practice squad. Price has flashed in his first two preseason games, with a TD catch Aug. 9 and an 81-yard kickoff return Aug. 16.
Friday's contest should help, but there's a lot to be desired from the position between now and Sept. 8.
"Guys have done some good things and stepped up at times, and at other times, we would like guys to kind of show that they're putting themselves ahead of the rest," Phillips emphasized. "So it's going to be kind of a continued thing as we go here, just based on our (current) receiver situation, to see who's really going to step up and kind of fill one or two roles that we're going to need, especially early in the year."
"I think there's ability in that room. There's a lot of good young football players, and the thing with young football players is they just need an op," Phillips added. "Sometimes as a coach you're like, 'Are they ready when the lights come on Monday night in Chicago? Are they ready to fill that role?' But sometimes they just need that opportunity. And we've got some guys that have shown, I think, enough throughout training camp and the preseason to say [the moment is not] going to be too big for them."
3. Special teams showcase
Beyond kicker Will Reichard, who has looked completely dialed in as of late, and three-time Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola, there are battles across the board on Matt Daniels' special teams units.
Which player(s) will field kickoffs and punts? Who is going to supplant Trent Sherfield, Sr., as this year's ace gunner on the punt team? What about someone taking Brian Asamoah II's many responsibilities?
And, will incumbent punter Ryan Wright or Aussie Oscar Chapman emerge in a "neck-and-neck" heat?
Daniels provided insight Wednesday on numerous competitions, including factors that are narrowing efforts to find the franchise's new punt returner. Ball security is gravely important, of course. The other elements he values are a player's ability to track a punt, catch it and make smart split-second decisions.
He cited a misjudged rep last week where Bolden tried cheating a punt by lining up deep and to his left, anticipating a boot in that direction. Instead, he was sent a cross-kick and was unable to sprint to the other side of the field before the ball hit at Minnesota's 17, bounced, and was downed at the Vikings 6.
"Field position is always going to be at a premium for us," Daniels said.
Likewise, ball security is top priority on kickoff returns.
"We can't have balls on the ground. We've got to be able to protect it, especially when we're going into the cavity of the defense right there as a cover team," Daniels explained, referencing a return that spawned a fumble by Felton. "We've got to get our pads down, got to have second-hand cover going through traffic. And so, you know, luckily we're able to [recover], but Tai's got to do a better job of that."
Daniels mentioned running back Zavier Scott as an option in the KOR phase. Scott has been sharp out of the backfield, with 50-plus scrimmage yards in both exhibitions, and recently filed in for return reps in practice. Daniels highlighted his ability to break tackles and stick his foot in the ground and get vertical.
"We kind of see him as a guy who can possibly be a threat back there," Daniels stated.
Regarding the ancillary roles that often leave lasting impressions on games, like when a player sprints the length of the field on the punt team to deny a return or cause a timely fumble, or those tasked with protecting operations as a whole in a blocking capacity, Daniels is confident in the players at his disposal.
Specifically, he praised Jeshaun Jones' work last week on the punt-return unit, and listed linebackers Kobe King, Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi and Chaz Chambliss as candidates to assume Asamoah's workload.
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