After watching Jarius Wright get buried on the wide receiver depth chart a year ago, it might be surprising to some fans that as recently as 2015, he was a useful cog in the Minnesota Vikings offense.
With Stefon Diggs’ move to the slot in 2016, Wright was relegated from clutch third-down target to frequent gameday scratch. He saw his snaps cut by over 70 percent and only saw more than five snaps in three separate games: versus Houston when Diggs was hurt, versus Indianapolis when the Vikings were getting blown out and versus Chicago when Diggs was hurt again.
This regression in usage was strange, considering Wright had signed a four-year extension just one year prior, locking him up through the 2019 season, but it made sense when considering the alternative.
The Vikings knew that they had something special in Diggs — which they may not have known when they extended Wright — and wanted him to become a capable slot receiver to alleviate some of the press-coverage rigors of playing split end. This came at Wright’s expense, who has always been a natural slot receiver. Plus, the team seemed determine to get a closer look at free-agents-to-be Cordarrelle Patterson and Charles Johnson as outside receivers, leaving Wright as a frequent no-go on Sundays.
But the Vikings are talking as if Wright is still very much in the picture.
“I think Jarius Wright can be extremely valuable to us,” said quarterback Sam Bradford. “He beats one-on-one coverage consistently, whether it be on some quick option type routes or even on the deeper stuff with his vertical speed, and so to have a guy that you can use in that slot role that can both kind of take the top off the defense, or at least scare him with his vertical speed and then also work some of the underneath option-type routes. You can use him in a variety of ways to create some matchups that you feel like are advantageous for us.”
Wright’s greatest strength in 2014 and 2015 — his two best seasons — was his ability to haul in third-down receptions. He gained 19.5 yards per reception on 17 third-down targets in 2014 (including an 87-yard game-winning touchdown against the New York Jets), then followed that up with 15.1 yards per reception on 14 third-down receptions a year later.
Diggs and Adam Thielen, Minnesota’s top two receivers last year, each converted 14 third downs through the air, but neither were as explosive in terms of yardage as Wright was from 2014-15. That could be attributed to the offense’s more conservative approach under interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Though Wright disappeared for much of the 2016 season, the Vikings have been quick to assure reporters that Wright is still in the team’s good graces. “He is not a guy we have forgotten about or anything like that,” head coach Mike Zimmer said.
It appears as if Wright’s likeliest path to getting on the field more in 2017 would be if the increased versatility and added strength of Diggs enables him to play more outside, opening the slot for Wright. If Laquon Treadwell either remains injured or isn’t deemed ready to be a trusted receiver, this scenario could come into play during the season’s first four weeks when Michael Floyd is suspended. Wright could also be used as a fourth receiver if the Vikings are looking to spread the field.
Last year’s dip in production was disappointing for Wright and led to a great deal of speculation that his future with the Vikings was in jeopardy. The receiver didn’t mince words when asked during training camp about his place on the roster. “I continue to make plays,” said Wright, “and if you think I’m a slouch, then you don’t watch football, and so that makes you an idiot.”
