The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the second week of preseason. Minnesota’s new front office and coaching staff will hopefully better understand where the roster stands. While I still don’t expect to see any big-name players get any playing time, it should be interesting to see how the depth of this team shakes out.
While, for most fans, this type of game will feel like a bit of a farce, with both teams showing basic looks with limited personnel, it will be a good experience for the younger players to get some reps at US Bank Stadium in a game situation.
Here are five things to look for in the Vikings’ Week 2 preseason game against the Niners.
Ed Ingram
There is an undeniable excitement around rookie Ed Ingram that I don’t think this team has ever had about a rookie offensive lineman. In his first week of the preseason at right guard, he posted an 87.3 PFF grade with grades of 84.4 in run blocking and 74 in pass blocking. He only allowed one pressure and impressed by looking as NFL-ready as we have seen a rookie Vikings offensive lineman look.
While the old regime was hesitant to start rookies early, Kevin O’Connell and Co. have rewarded Ingram. He’s taken most of the first-team snaps in the joint practices, where he has gained invaluable experience against NFL starters. If Ingram is ready to start this season at right guard from Week 1, it settles four out of five of the offensive line positions and gives the Vikings a sense of stability that they haven’t had in years at the position.
Kellen Mond
After last week’s preseason game, most Vikings fans have concluded that Sean Mannion is who he is, nothing more. But Kellen Mond impressed at the end of the game, finishing the first preseason game 9 of 14 with 119 yards and two touchdowns.
He initially looked shaky, but Mond seemed to grow more confident the longer he stayed in the game. Mond has built on his start during the Raiders game with a good week of joint practices against the 49ers, where he seemed to revel in his newfound confidence.
Mond is far from a finished product, but seeing him play well in the preseason is helping cement his case as a potential backup for this team. While he primarily played last week against third-string defenders, it would be good to see how he fares against primary backups and the starters on defense who San Francisco doesn’t rest.
Backup Running Backs
We all know Dalvin Cook can break a game with his explosiveness when he has the ball in his hand. But we all know he is just one hit away from missing multiple games. With Minnesota’s offense relying on Cook so heavily to control the tempo of the game, it only makes sense to get good backups who can spell his workload. That will keep him as fresh and healthy as possible.
We all know about how Alexander Mattison‘s contrasting style has made him great in rotation with Cook. But I have serious concerns about his ability to be a full-time starter should Cook miss time this year. Look out for Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu, who are both similar to Cook in their running styles. Chandler is someone to keep in the back of your mind when watching the game. He had five carries for 50 yards in Vegas.
Outside Linebackers
The Vikings meaningfully upgraded their second edge rusher position this offseason by adding Za’Darius Smith to pair with Danielle Hunter. While they figure to be one of the best edge-rushing duos in the NFL, their health is still a significant concern. With Hunter missing most of the last two seasons with injuries and Smith coming off a year where he played just one regular season game, the backup positions become that much more critical.
Patrick Jones II and D.J. Wonnum look like they will be the primary backups at outside linebacker this season, and all eyes will be on how they perform against the 49ers this week. Jones had a good start to preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he recorded four pressures. He also performed well in the joint practices against the Niners and should see a lot of playtime against them.
Wonnum hasn’t had the best start to his first two seasons. The original plan was to have him learn from Hunter. But with Hunter’s two consecutive season-ending injuries, Wonnum has been forced into a more significant role. Hopefully, he can also take the jump this season and become a consistent pass rusher.
Wideouts Not Named Thielen, Osborn, and Jefferson
This Vikings wide receiver room is stacked. Justin Jefferson looks like he’s getting better every year. While K.J. Osborn has taken a step up, Adam Thielen has remained a constant threat despite being on the wrong side of 30. The main thing fans should be watching for is the lesser-known members of the group who have also been impressive so far.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette caught the attention of fans in the final game of last season, where he torched the Chicago Bears for 103 yards. Jalen Nailor has also excited fans with his twitchy speed and ability to stretch the field and expand the passing game vertically. While Trishton Jackson and Myron Mitchell have both had a solid camp.
Free-agent addition Albert Wilson also impressed in the preseason, catching two touchdown passes from Mond. Forgotten man Bisi Johnson has just recently returned from a torn ACL and is looking to contend for a roster spot.
None of these names carry the star power of Osborn, Jefferson, and Thielen. But they could have meaningful roles because the Vikings will run more 11 personnel this season. It should be interesting to see who, if anyone, separates themselves on Saturday.
