6 Minnesota Vikings Who NEED to Step Up at Training Camp

6 Minnesota Vikings Who NEED to Step Up at Training Camp

[Music] What’s going on, Jeromes? Nine practices in nine times uh into Minnesota Vikings training camp 2025. About to hit the dog days of training camp before we get to the preseason games, before we get to joint practices with the Patriots. Night practice on Monday. And there there’s been risers and there’s some guys that need to rise. All right. So, of course, we talked about the highlights. Uh Jordan Addison have having himself a great camp. Dwight Nudy Mcloth, JJ McCarthy up and down mainly up on Saturdays. The Jeff Akuda, the resurrection of Jordan Mason’s looking fantastic. All all that stuff, right? So, all those things have been happening, but couple players that we had some expectations for that need to rise on up. So, here are six players who need to step up. Number one, quarterback Sam How, right? And maybe it’s something about number eight in the in the red no contact jersey, but Howell had initially started uh training camp in OTAAS as clearly the number two guy, but given away a little bit to Brett ripping ass, right? And how not really taking care of the football, you know, doing doing his normal things. And you’re thinking, okay, that maybe Kevin McConnell and these weapons could have a calming influence, but I don’t know. I don’t know. And it’s a spot where uh Ripen has been taking some more second team reps. And frankly, you can make a valid case that Max Bromer, the rookie UDFA from the Gophers, has been the second best quarterback in camp for the Vikings behind, of course, JJ McCarthy. So, I mean, could there be a world where Brosmer wins the number two job? I mean, it wouldn’t be insane. Could he be our undrafted version of Brock Birdie? I don’t know. Don’t know. But either way, it it’s something that we’re not on Defcon 1 or even two yet, but it’s something to monitor. Like maybe we’re on Defcon 4. This something to watch. Just be ready. Be ready that maybe the Vikings quarterback 2 this season isn’t even currently on the roster. And also, this goes for Brett Ripenass as well, right? Number two, wide receiver Rond Del Moor. So Rondelle was a complete free roll. You free roll the dice. uh the pride of Purdue. Uh second round pick by Arizona. Tore up his knee with the Falcons last year after being traded from the Cardinals. And Rondell, he he’s got he’s got moves, he’s got agility, he’s got return ability, he’s got all that stuff just hasn’t quite popped. It hasn’t quite stood out yet. Now, it’s funny, of course, uh in individual drills, you know, wide receivers versus quarterbacks. I mean, everyone runs every route, but it’s funny to see them throwing the the end zone fade to 57 Rond Del Moira. All right, but in terms of the receiver room, I mean, Jefferson obviously is 1-1, even though he’s up on blocks right now. Addison’s been dominating. Naylor’s had some great moments, and you could probably make a good case that the the number three receiver in camp so far has been sort of a tie between Lucky Jackson, Deshawn Jones, and The Thomas. You honestly could say that. So, Dante Fleming in there as well. So, I I don’t know. Like Rondell, it could be a spot where his spot is secure. Don’t really know. It’s been a bit of a gong show. Uh returning punts and kicks that they’re basically just throwing everyone out there. Ty Felton’s been in that mix, too. But yeah, Rondell, like we want to see more. And of course, yes, he is a year removed from that ACL. And like I said, like he he came in with zero expectations. It’s a no- risk, high reward spot. Just haven’t seen the reward as of yet. All right. Also in the same vein, wide receiver Ty Felton. Now, third round pick, yes. And he didn’t expect him to come in and be an immediate contributor, but you know, down the line, yes. And Felton sort of been under under the radar, uneven, just hasn’t really had any moments that really stood out. They do have him returning punts and kicks just like with everyone else. Also, the new face mask looks good. Looks good, man. But I’m not ready to say that the Vikings are going to cut him and get him through waiverss to the practice squad cuz I don’t know if he get through waivers, right? But it’s not unprecedented for third third round picks to be not make the initial 53. It has happened before. Now, not ready to go that far, but it is also something worth monitoring because I mean Deshawn Jones has a great camp. Lucky Jackson has been getting some reps with the ones as well. The Thomas has made some nice plays. So I it’s not a guarantee that guys like Rond Del Moore will make the 53 and Felton I mean there’s some question marks surely. Um yeah es especially since uh yeah probably going to be safe with Addison probably facing a suspension. So there you go. Uh next linebacker Brian Osw. So first off Kobe King has been running with the second team defense with Eric Wilson behind Pace and Catchman offball linebacker. Also, the fact that Dallas Turner, AVG, been moonlining a little bit at offball. Plus, Mattelis is basically a linebacker, too. So, OMA in year four in a contract year, it’s not it’s not good. Plus, he did throw the first punch of training camp. And if you throw a punch, first off, why you punching a helmet? Second of all, why punching the helmet of the guy the team just paid 88 million for? Also, why you knocking down and doing dirty Aaron Jones? Uh, a team favor, a team leader. I don’t know. So, Auma, I I think he’s going to be gone. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, next up, number five. So, tight end Gavin Bartholomew. Now, this one may seem weird because he’s on the pup list and, you know, what’s he going to do? But also, he had the slight inside track for tight end three. You know, a job that was wide open, pun intended, behind Hawinson and Oliver, but you know, guys like Ben Usk, guys like Giovan Enrichi really stepped up. And I feel I feel feel like there’s some separation there. Now, Bartholomew, uh, I mean, with his lower back injury, there there’s not really much that you can do. Uh, and also at this point, I’m not sure how much ground he can make up, uh, with the remaining training camp practices as well as preseason games. But I I guess you never know. I I think as of right now, shooting from the hip. Could the they try to get Bartholomew on season ending IR, just keep keep his right squad on him and go from there? It’s possible. I think Uricc wins the tight end three job as of right now and you know maybe Reichi makes the practice squad or maybe vice versa. Uh because I I think that even though Nesbet’s been the mix, I think Uric is clearly shined. Um and also URC and Reachi. Uh like we said after Hawinson got dinged up with that groin on Saturday, they’re both getting some first team reps. So I think Bartholomew he did have the inside track because he was the draft pick but got some ground to make up. Lastly, Will the Thrill, right? I’m more confident in Will writing the ship because he’s missed field goals in three practices this week. Uh four kicks total. I I I think that he’s going to be fine, right? But also it does raise your eyebrow a bit, right? And as we said yesterday in training camp, uh guys can look good, guys can look bad, but also you you don’t know exactly what they’re working through. Like maybe today we’re working on, you know, trying to get the ball only to where the receiver can get it. Sometimes there’s hits and misses. Sometimes they’re doing this, sometimes the defense is working on different coverages that may not sync up with what the offense is doing, etc. There’s lots of reasons, but if you’re just kicking, just kick, you know what I mean? So, not the, well, we’re going to try and hit the left upright. Oh, we’re wide left today. No, it’s not really the case, right? So, it’s something to raise an eyebrow and maybe the Vikings end up adding a kicker to the 90man roster. Maybe they pick up John Parker Romo again from from the Patriots this time. Could be, could be, but I don’t know. It’s something that hopefully this ceases to be an issue and you kicking in joint practice, kicking in the three preseason season games is going to be good for him because that’s actual game action. So, we’ll see what he can do. All right, but that’s it. There’s six six players who need to step up in the rest of Vikings training camp. Let us know your thoughts, our thoughts, comment section. You guys are the best. You know what to do. Skull production value.

Vikings Who NEED to Step Up at Training Camp

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