The Minnesota Vikings hosted the San Francisco 49ers for two joint practices at TCO Performance Center this week. These events allow a team to practice against another squad for the only time all year and create a more controlled, competitive environment for the coaches.
These practices add another tool for coaches to evaluate and select players for the 53-man roster. Wide receiver is among the fiercest battles on the Vikings roster this year. No one knows if the Vikings will carry five, six, or even seven receivers. But head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s former team, the Los Angeles Rams, carried six on their 2020 and 2021 rosters heading into the season.
Among the locks to make the team are Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn. Ihmir Smith-Marsette is a pretty safe bet and seems on track to be the fourth receiver. But the battle for WR5 and WR6 is fierce. Sixth-round rookie Jalen Nailor and Myron Mitchell have splashed in camp. They made some nice plays in Wednesday’s practice, furthering their cases for making the roster. However, Trishton Jackson was overlooked heading into camp and could push for a spot of his own.
Jackson is a 6’1″, 191 lb. receiver who is no stranger to clawing his way onto an NFL roster. As an undrafted rookie from Syracuse, Jackson made the Rams’ final 53-man roster in 2020. Although he didn’t see the field, Jackson stuck around all year and into the LA’s 2021 camp before becoming a casualty on the final cutdown day. Two days later, the Vikings signed him to their practice squad.
Jackson has impressed throughout camp. He made a spectacular catch early when he out-jumped two defenders to come down with the ball, which the Vikings highlighted on their official Twitter account. During the team’s night practice on Aug. 8, Jackson added a touchdown reception from Kellen Mond. When the Vikings played the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Jackson kept his training camp momentum going. Despite some uneven performances from the two quarterbacks, Jackson still could catch two passes for 27 yards, which was third on the team, behind only Smith-Marsette and Mitchell.
Minnesota’s receivers ran one-on-one drills during Wednesday’s practice with San Francisco’s defensive backs. The drill favors the offense, as the receiver’s route is pre-determined, and the defensive back has to react without relying on help they would otherwise have in games. But it is still an excellent way to see how receivers run and break their routes.
Jackson was one of many Vikings to splash during the drill. He ran a 10-yard slant on one play, putting 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir on skates. Lenoir fell and left Jackson wide open for one of the more impressive routes on the day.
Familiarity with the Rams’ offense and his training camp performance should put Jackson on the inside track to make the roster. It could push him past a flashy speedster like Nailor and Mitchell, who is in his second year in Minnesota. But, at 24, he’s still young enough to have upside, which could make him more desirable than a known commodity like Albert Wilson, 30.
Jackson also has to battle with two players who have been with the Vikings for a while. The first is Bisi Johnson, a fourth-year receiver who missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL. While he may never be the most electrifying player on the field, Kirk Cousins trusts Johnson, who appears to be fully recovered from his injury. Still, the team could carry six wideouts, so there is a world where Johnson and Jackson both make the team.
Dan Chisena presents a different challenge for Jackson. He made the Vikings’ roster as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Since then, he’s been the fastest active Viking as a gunner on special teams but a non-factor at receiver. His experience on special teams could justify taking up a roster spot at receiver, just like how Marcus Sherels played minimal snaps at cornerback while serving as a dependable special teamer. Despite his speed, Chisena doesn’t always make the tackle, as shown on the Vikings’ first punt against the Raiders.
If the new coaching staff believes they can find another gunner elsewhere on the roster, cutting Chisena makes sense. His skills at wideout have improved, as he caught a fourth-down pass last week to keep a drive going. But he isn’t as polished in the nuances of playing receiver like Jackson is.
If the staff is hellbent on keeping Chisena for his special teams prowess, it could either push the team to cut more capable wideouts or convince them to carry seven receivers. I don’t see an offensive-minded head coach carrying receivers on the roster who can’t potentially play offensive snaps.
Still, I believe Jackson has done more than enough to make the team. His footwork and route-running are sharp, and he’s making plays when the cameras are on — and when they’re off, too. Another strong preseason game could cement his status on the active roster for the 2022 season.
