Fans finally got their first look at the 2023 Minnesota Vikings in live game action this past Thursday. And it was, for the most part, the quintessential “Preseason Week 1” experience.
None of the superstars (Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins, etc.) took the field. There was some sloppy play and miscommunication. And a few plays here and there that would make even the most cynical fan raise an eyebrow. But, as always, every takeaway can be dragged down by the caveat that it wasn’t even against the 1s or it’s just preseason. Still, that doesn’t invalidate what many of us saw with our football-loving eyeballs.
Some guys just pass the eye test. Regardless of the competition or the play of teammates around them, they just have the juice to pop off the screen and inject some life into the normally boring preseason action.
Ty Chandler was consistently that guy for me on Thursday.
The Vikings find themselves in a major transition at running back. After years of Dalvin Cook as a true “bell cow” runner and three-down back, Minnesota is figuring out how their new running back rotation is going to try and replace Cook’s level of production. And while veteran back Alexander Mattison got a healthy payday this offseason to lead the charge, all signs point to more of a running back committee than we’ve seen in years.
Therefore, a young player like Chandler has a golden opportunity to assert himself. And Kevin O’Connell was impressed with the way he seized that opportunity Thursday night. “I thought Ty Chandler jumped out,” he said in his postgame interview. “Any time he had the ball in his hands, (he was) very rarely tackled by the first defender that was in space.”
Chandler had 15 touches in the first half, 41 yards on 11 rushing attempts, and 29 yards on four catches. He only averaged 3.7 yards per carry, but made the most of the limited space blocked up for him by the second-team offensive line on just about every play. He showed burst and shiftiness as a runner in traffic, and proved to be a nice outlet for Nick Mullens in the passing game. Chandler is a natural receiver and has a knack for making the first man miss in space.
And this is a continuing trend from last year. Chandler didn’t get much regular-season action in 2022 but showed out in the preseason. Now with real playing time on the line, it was important to see that he could continue this trajectory.
Below is a cutup of every touch and meaningful block Chandler had on Thursday. While I’m no running backs coach, I’m hard-pressed to find too many instances where he left yardage on the field. And, perhaps most importantly, he was also clean in pass protection.
And that’s a big part of the equation for Chandler. Coming out of college, there was no question he had burst in open space and could be productive as a receiver, but there had been concerns about his pass pro by some onlookers in training camp. Some suggested that had perhaps slowed his ascension up the depth chart. However, he proved that he could be capable in that department — at least for one night in Seattle against the Seahawks’ second team.
And the runway is clearing for Chandler. Presumptive starter Mattison is working his way back cautiously from his lower leg scare a few weeks ago, and Kene Nwangwu continues to sit out with injury concerns. Chandler has a chance to rotate in, possibly even with the first team, as the Vikings’ training staff monitors Mattison’s workload. In the meantime, Chandler could cement himself as the clear-cut second-team runner if he continues to shine while Nwangwu is sidelined.
Clearly the Vikings believe Mattison will be the leader in the backfield, but Chandler could carve a role with a few more strong outings this preseason. As both a third-down specialist and change-of-pace runner, Ty Chandler has the upside to be an exciting player for the VIkings in 2023. We’ll all be watching with this against Tennessee this Saturday, with special attention every time No. 32 touches the ball.
Let’s see if the sophomore runner can keep making the most of his touches and ride this hot streak into the regular season.
