It looks like all systems are go for starting wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who missed Week 9 with a rib injury but appears on track to play Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.
As Diggs rejoins Adam Thielen to form the dynamic pairing in the passing game, what does it mean for rookie Chad Beebe, who earned an activation against the Detroit Lions and made three catches in 13 snaps?
According to head coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings had been eager to activate Beebe for several weeks before his inclusion on Nov. 4. The undrafted free agent made an instant impact with two first down receptions and seemed to usurp Brandon Zylstra — who only got one snap — in the pecking order.
“I felt like I could belong here, and I was just going to continue to practice each and every day like it was game day,” Beebe said after his debut. “I continued that each and every day and here we are now.”
Minnesota’s emphasis to not only get Beebe on the 53-man roster, but on the field for meaningful downs right away, shows their affinity for the 24-year-old. A series of injuries in training camp to receivers Brandon Zylstra, Tavarres King, Jeff Badet and Stacy Coley initially opened the door for the Northern Illinois grad.
“It started back in training camp,” said offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. “You could just tell this kid understood football. I don’t know, he obviously has great bloodlines. He is a great kid. He doesn’t say anything. All he wants to do is learn. It started back in training camp where you’re like, ‘Wow, this guy just keeps making plays.’ The more you give him, the more he makes plays and, ‘Wow, this guy can handle playing a lot of spots.'”
The son of longtime receiver Don Beebe, Chad Beebe didn’t go the path of his father, who was drafted in the third round. Instead, his unlikely path resembles that of the Vikings’ two top receivers.
Like Thielen, Beebe was an undrafted tryout player that had to earn a chance just to compete during OTAs and training camp. Like Diggs, he made his mark instantly after getting activated for the first time. Diggs first emerged in Week 4 of the 2015 season with six catches for 87 yards.
“Remember how Diggs was when he was a rookie and he’d come out here and catch balls all over the place, and then we finally got him active?” Zimmer said Thursday. “It’s kind of been that way with Beebe. I’m not saying they’re the same guy, but he kept, over the course of time, continuing to show that.”
So how much room is there for Beebe in the offense with Thielen and Diggs at, or close to, full strength?
Thielen has played 96.4 percent of snaps this year, and Diggs played 87 percent in the eight games he was active. The Vikings do, however, use three wide receivers on over three-quarters of their snaps.
Laquon Treadwell has played 44 snaps per game with Thielen and Diggs healthy, and Aldrick Robinson has played 10 per game.
Considering Beebe’s differing skillset from Treadwell, the Vikings could consider cutting into Treadwell’s snaps if they’re looking for Beebe’s separation on quicker passes, which he displayed against the Lions. Beebe was in the game for five third downs and one fourth down, making all three of his catches in those situations.
“He is really, really quick,” said DeFilippo. “He’s got quick feet. You know the old saying, which I wasn’t sure I believed in, but guys that say, ‘He is quicker than fast,’ well, I believe it now. He is fast, but he is legitimate quick. And he is a fast decision maker.”
Both DeFilippo and quarterback Kirk Cousins have complimented Beebe’s ability to learn quickly as a rookie, part of the reason he earned the promotion. And it doesn’t seem like Beebe is going to be one-and-done, as long as he continues progressing.
“I think the more he can handle and the more he shows he can handle, the bigger his role will be,” said DeFilippo.
Become a Zone Coverage Member Today!
