3 Vikings Players to Watch vs. Lions – Week 3 

It wasn’t a very superior outing for my Week 2 Vikings gamers to enjoy, as Dalvin Prepare dinner unsuccessful to have a significant impression on the game. Harrison Phillips and Dalvin Tomlinson battled in vain on the defensive line.

In the meantime, Lewis Cine only played one particular defensive snap despite Harrison Smith leaving the area with a concussion. The Vikings resolved to carry in Josh Mettelus to replace Smith as a substitute. Regardless of whether that was since Cine was just returning from damage and was currently being eased into matters remains to be seen.

Jalen Reagor experienced the greatest day of the five, returning to his previous patch in Philadelphia. Getting only just arrived in Minnesota by way of trade from the Eagles, Reagor is getting eased into the Vikings offense. It was punt return duties only from the Packers, but he received concerned in the offense on Monday night time participating in in 10 offensive snaps. His initially touch of the football came from a jet sweep that went for 17 yards — a perform I would hope the Vikings to repeat after that sort of achievement. He also had two targets in the passing match, catching one for seven yards.

Onward to this week and my 3 Vikings players to check out vs. Lions.

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins experienced 1 of those people games that triggers him to have a controversial status. It was a awful functionality.

You can position to Irv Smith’s dropped capture, Justin Jefferson at fault for the initially interception, the bad defensive display screen in the to start with 50 %, and a lousy working day at the office environment for the coaching workers, but the actuality is Cousins is professional and gifted sufficient to be the male to provide the spark for his staff and have them in adversity.

That did not occur.

Instead, we saw the Cousins who receives rattled and unravels less than stress. Regretably, that seems to arise on primetime television so typically, which the moment once more led to the social media vultures leaping at the likelihood to poke enjoyment at him.

Cousins will look to bounce back again towards the Lions. Don’t be astonished to see an explosive start from the Vikings offense as they attempt to make an early assertion of intent. Jefferson also experienced a rocky night from the Eagles and will be eager to bounce back with a huge video game. Together with the need to have for additional involvement for Adam Thielen, assume Kevin O’Connell to have some large plays dialed up for individuals two early to check out and get his offense likely.

Brian O’Neill

It promises to be a hard video game for the Vikings offensive line on Sunday. A single detail noticeable from the Lions protection this time is that they deliver the warmth. There is a large amount to like about their defense, even if the studies really don’t demonstrate it suitable now.

They are bodily, aggressive, and get just after the quarterback. As the veteran chief of the offensive line and the man lined up opposite Aidan Hutchinson for most of the game, the Vikings have to have Brian O’Neill to guide from the entrance and have a massive activity.

There is some good news on the personal injury report, where by Hutchinson and John Cominsky (who has amazed with his move-hurry from the inside) equally logged Did Not Observe on the initial two times of apply with thigh and wrist injuries, respectively. Immediately after a breakout 3-sack general performance past 7 days, if Hutchinson is not in a position to participate in, that would be a substantial boost for the Vikings. There have been stories of him doing the job the bags “a minimal,” and I hope him to fit up on Sunday.

Cameron Dantzler

Jared Goff may not be the most exciting quarterback in the NFL, but with his weapons, the Lions have just one of the most powerful offenses in the league. Headlined by Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift but with a good deal of capable backups, St. Brown vs. the Vikings secondary is a key trigger for problem.

Relationship back again to a breakout match in Week 13 of final period at US Lender Stadium, St. Brown has long gone on a operate of eight video games with at least eight catches — catapulting his title into the conversation of top rated-tier huge receivers. He ended that match in Minnesota by catching the winning touchdown where Cameron Dantzler Sr. was caught too deep in the stop zone and was not able to come up and make a enjoy on St. Brown just before he made the rating.

Dantzler manufactured a slip-up on Monday night time that led to a 53-property touchdown for Eagles receiver Quez Watkins. The oversight subsequently noticed Dantzler benched for rookie Akayleb Evans. He will be back as the starting off cornerback on Sunday, with defensive coordinator Ed Donatell stating the blunder had been corrected and professing self-confidence in the third-yr cornerback. The Vikings will will need him self-confident and at his finest. No matter if he has to include St. Brown, DJ Chark, or Josh Reynolds, it won’t be an quick process.

One player he will not have to address is Jameson Williams, the participant that the Lions traded up for in the 1st spherical of this year’s draft with the Vikings. Williams is on wounded reserve, not but recovered from an ACL tear whilst participating in for Alabama in college. So he will not be haunting the Vikings for that selection. Not yet, anyway.

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