Three Vikings Who Are Rising Stars Entering The Final Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings have yet to win a preseason game. Minnesota lost their first outing in Seattle, followed by a 24-16 defeat at home against the Tennessee Titans.
Minnesota will try to right the ship when they host the Arizona Cardinals in the final preseason game this weekend.
So which Vikings are rising to stardom? Here are three players who are on an upward trajectory.
Rookie Linebacker
Ivan Pace Jr. has been the most discussed player during the Vikings training camp. The 22-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent in April and has quickly impressed both the coaching staff and fans.
In the preseason opener against the Seahawks, Pace made four solo tackles. His performance prompted praise from head coach Kevin O'Connell.
"Gold stars all the way around for Ivan," O'Connell said last week. "You're not just trying to compete to make our team. Let's see where you can go and possibly help us win football games from the jump."
The former Cincinnati Bearcat continued to communicate the play calls on defense on Saturday, a clear display of confidence from the coaching staff.
Possible RB2
If Ivan Pace has been the most-discussed player during the Vikings preseason, running back Ty Chandler is a close number two.
For the second year in a row, Chandler is working hard to make a name for himself on Minnesota's roster.
This isn't the first time the 25-year-old has impressed in the preseason. Chandler led the club in rushing yards in all three preseason games last year, including a 50-yard outing against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the regular season, Chandler had six carries and recorded 20 yards.
The 2022 fifth-round pick led Minnesota in rushing in the first exhibition game this season in Seattle and did it again last weekend.
With Kene Nwangwu out with an injury most of training camp, Chandler has a great chance at being named RB2 behind Alexander Mattison.
Vikings Rookie Receiver
Rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison is quickly becoming a big name for the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota drafted Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. He had over 3,100 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns during his college career, making stops at Pitt and USC.
Addison led the ACC in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2021 and was named a Consensus All-American.
During the first preseason game against the Seahawks, the rookie made a fantastic catch that was ruled incomplete. The catch showcased his ability to be a real playmaker in the NFL.
Despite dealing with a concussion earlier this month, Addison returned to the field this week for joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals.
Addison should be wide receiver two once the regular season begins on September 10th.
Final Thoughts
The Minnesota Vikings have lost their last nine preseason games, the longest such streak in the NFL. It's a pointless stat. These games mean nothing and don't tell the tale of regular-season success. However, it would be awesome if the Vikings could grab a win heading into 'real' football action.
I don't expect many first-string or second-string players to see the field much this weekend against Arizona. But there will be guys fighting for roster spots, which can make for entertaining football.
One player I'm hoping to see is recently signed quarterback Jordan Ta'amu. Ta'amu has been dominant in both the USFL and the XFL. He won the XFL Offensive Player of the Year Award last year with the DC Defenders. It'll be interesting to see if he can make a case for QB three over Jaren Hall.
I expect Minnesota to win against a Cardinals team with extremely low expectations this year.
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