Vikings-Patriots: 10 players who stood out
A closer look at the Vikings' second preseason game
By Matthew Coller
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings faced off with the New England Patriots in the second preseason game on Saturday. Here’s a look at the players who stood out…
QB — Sam Howell
In the first preseason game, Howell looked like he was in command of the offense and quieted concerns about his struggles in practice. The second preseason game looked much more like his problematic practices. The Vikings’ backup went 1-for-5 with a 13-yard completion on an underneath pass to his tight end and had a good throw dropped by Lucky Jackson. Otherwise, he held onto the ball too long, scrambling twice and taking several hits.
His lowlight of the day came under pressure when he elected to heave the ball in the air under pressure rather than throw it away. The Patriots easily intercepted the pass.
The Vikings have to be extremely nervous about Howell and considering other options after this showing.
QB — Brett Rypien
The Vikings’ QB3 started his first drive with some quality execution, hitting Zavier Scott and Nick Vannett with gains of 18 and nine yards that took the offense into New England territory. A 9-yard completion to Lucky Jackson got them inside the red zone but back-to-back incompletions from Rypien ended the drive on downs. His fourth down throw flew over the receiver’s head in the back of the end zone when they only needed one yard for a first down.
Rypien got the ball back with under a minute left and a chance to get the Vikings on the board. He looked like he was in command, making two nice throws to Felton and another completion to Thayer Thomas. He just missed a touchdown pass but overthrew Thomas in the end zone. The drive ended when Lucky Jackson dropped an easy out route that would have given them one more shot at a touchdown.
Rypien finished with a solid 7-for-11 with 83 yards.
QB — Max Brosmer
The former Gopher came into the game and immediately got the offense moving with quick throws. He completed a 8-yard pass to Tim Jones, 6-yard throw to Myles Price and 6-yarder to Jeshaun Jones for a first down. However, the drive came to an end when Brosmer got sacked and missed Myles Price on a rollout.
On his second drive, Brosmer found Price downfield but the play was called back by penalty. He took a sack as he attempted to escape the Patriots’ pressure, setting up third-and-23. He got sacked again on third down.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Brosmer dropped a dime to Tim Jones down the sideline for 28 yards. It was a terrific touch pass. But the QB was let down at the end of the drive by a dropped pass and instant sack.
Brosmer had a chance to tie the game late but overthrew an open receiver and then got instantly pressured and threw underneath, forcing a punt.
He got the ball back with 1:46 at the 31-yard line and was immediately let down by his supporting cast with a drop and a holding penalty. But Brosmer stepped up under pressure and hit Jeshaun Jones to convert a fourth-and-long to keep the game alive. Then he found Jones on an out-breaking route for another first down.
Brosmer completed two more throws to bring them to the 13-yard line and then came within inches of Price catching a touchdown. Brosmer tossed an interception into the end zone on the final play, ending his solid day in unfortunate fashion.
CB — Mekhi Blackmon
If there was any thought that Blackmon was in a competition with Jeff Okudah as CB3, that ended today. While Okudah watched from the sidelines, Blackmon played the entire first half, totaling over 30 snaps. His performance was underwhelming, allowing a deep throw down the sideline in front of him.
Blackmon was still in during the second half, which was telling.
RB — Zavier Scott
Scott’s big preseason opener put his name on the map as part of the RB3 competition. He didn’t pick up much traction in the ground game in the first half, gaining just 12 yards on five carries but he did have two catches for 26 yards.
To begin the second half, Scott caught another screen for an 18-yard gain. He finished with 10 runs for 28 yards and three receptions for 44 yards.
TE — Nick Vannett
Ben Yurosek started the game but Vannett came in pretty quickly and made plays, catching two passes for 21 yards. The TE3 spot remains up for grabs and it’s possible they could give it to the veteran.
WR — Tai Felton
After losing Rondale Moore to injury, it seems the Vikings are hoping that a young player rises to the punt return challenge. After not taking any punt return reps in the first preseason game, the third-round receiver was the first player back to return when the Patriots punted in the first quarter. He fair caught the ball.
As a kick returner, Felton has seemingly been the first choice all offseason. That might not continue to be the case after he fumbled on a short return in the first quarter.
With under a minute remaining, Felton caught a deflected pass up in the air for a first down. Later in the drive, he made a sliding 20-yard reception across the middle for another first down that put the Vikings in field-goal position.
WR — Lucky Jackson
During camp, Jackson has emerged as a key part of the first team with Justin Jefferson sidelined. He did not have the type of game that would separate him from the other receivers with, dropping two passes that should have been easy completions.
The bottom line for the WR group is that if Jalen Nailor is injured seriously, they will need to go find another answer soon.
DT — Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
The rookie, who saw a lot of work with the 1s and 2s in joint practice, continued to flash as he picked up a TFL and a QB pressure. He’s become an intriguing project player who might be carving out a role for himself.
WR — Myles Price
Price entered in the second half and grabbed a short pass from Brosmer. Then he had the most impressive special teams play of the day with a 22-yard return. On a play that was called back by penalty, he made a very good catch on a throw that was high and toward the sideline.
In the fourth quarter, Price got his chance to kickoff return and nearly took one to the house after breaking a tackle. He went 81 yards before being taken down at the 8-yard line.
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Bonus guys who stood out: Bo Richter. Last year he was a camp darling but he’s continued to make plays when given an opportunity. Kobe King got a ton of work. PFF listed him at 55 snaps. Will Reichard made his kicks and Oscar Chapman effectively held for the kicker and had a 58-yard punt.
I’ll be interested to see how King grades out. Seemed like he did well in the first quarter. Can’t say I was watching him a ton after that. Blackmon was rough. Pretty disappointing. ST was rough, too. I figured the ST would have some of their starters out there early on even if the offense and defense didn’t, but maybe they were all second string and it doesn’t matter. That unit has flat out sucked for a few years now. I’m not giving Daniels a lot of leeway this season. I would’ve moved on from him after last year.
I didn’t watch a snap listened to part of the game on the radio. I’m concerned with your appraisal of Howell, Brosmer is a good story, I’d like to see him survive, I don’t know what the process is or if that’s a viable alternative. I’m starting to get interested but I’m not there yet. I respect all of you that are. I’ll get there football!