The Minnesota Vikings snagged a 13-10 victory in their annual preseason opener over the New York Giants. Of course, the final result is an afterthought. More important is what some individual players did for their immediate outlook.
Myles Price Can Play
Sophomore wideout Myles Price was the obvious winner of the day, catching four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota’s top returner showcases his skill set as a true receiver, including a jump ball when a Giants corner tried to jump the route, but Price completed the catch, kept his balance, turned up-field and added some yards after the catch.
A few minutes later, he was Carson Wentz’s target in the end zone and completed a (near) one-handed grab. The receiver depth is unsettled after the top trio of Justin Jefferson and Jauan Jennings (who both didn’t play) and Jordan Addison. Felton, one of Price’s main competitors for a larger offensive role, had a drop and finished with one catch for five yards. The performance does not settle the receiver pecking order, but Price made the strongest case of the group on Saturday.
Last year, Price didn’t look nearly as sharp as an offensive player, but claimed his roster spot by showing his potential as a kick and punt returner. On Saturday, he made the case for some touches on offense.
Chuck Demmings Is at Least CB4
Entering the game, Chuck Demmings was clearly the training camp standout. Yet, on the first unofficial depth chart, he was listed behind Dwight McGlothern with the third team. When starters Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy left the game, however, veteran James Pierre and Demmings were the first guys off the bench. Zemaiah Vaughn and McGlothern saw the field later in Saturday’s contest.
While he didn’t make any notable plays for his August highlight reel, Demmings has already earned the trust of the coaching staff and appears to be the front-runner for a backup job.
RB Duo Is Already Sharp
Kyler Murray was the main attraction when the starting offense (minus Justin Jefferson) got the ball. He completed two of three passes for 10 yards and gave Aaron Jones a chance on a third-down play. His play was overshadowed by the two running backs Jones and Jordan Mason.
Both logged three carries, Jones for 27 yards and Mason for 17. Jones had an 18-yarder, and Mason one for 15 yards. As practices offer limited tackling effort, preseason gives us the first real chance to see the running game in action. Some of them were stuffed at the line of scrimmage and there’s more work to be done, but the two backs looked explosive and ready for Week 1.
A side note is rookie Demond Claiborne, who couldn’t get into the open field, but he put his speed on display a few times. Ultimately, he finished the game with 12 carries for 28 yards. Claiborne is at his best when he can get to space rather than repeatedly hammering into condensed goal-line fronts. The rookie did not find a long lane Saturday, but his burst remains a trait Minnesota can develop and deploy in the right situations.
J.J. McCarthy Remains a Work in Progress
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy continues to put the same struggles on tape that bothered him last year. He didn’t have a dreadful game, but he once again held the ball too long and his usual inaccuracies also made an appearance. His final stat line reads 4/7 for 34 yards. It’s worth noting that the entire second-team offense played a sloppy game, filled with penalties and other mistakes like blown blocks or drops.
In the meantime, QB3 Carson Wentz completed 9 of 14 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Wentz looked like the more settled quarterback on Saturday, operating the offense with better rhythm and delivering the touchdown pass to Price. One preseason performance should not overturn the depth chart, but it will inevitably raise questions about whether the Vikings’ most experienced backup gives them their safest option behind Murray.
To complete the list, Max Brosmer attempted just two passes (one completion for six yards). He suffered a thumb injury and was replaced by Wentz afterward.
Jamal Adams’ Injury Clouds His Vikings Debut
Former All-Pro defender Jamal Adams saw his first game action in purple, but it might have already been his last. Early on, he looked like a real wepon for Flores, as he can line up all over the field, playing snaps in the box, and others in the secondary.
During a coverage snap, Adams suffered a knee injury and was carted off. The Vikings will need further evaluation before knowing how much time he could miss, but the injury immediately clouds the outlook for a player Flores had begun using in multiple roles. Early comments from Kevin O’Connell didn’t offer much optimism.
About The Author
