Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton, a third-round draft pick in April, has made a mark on special teams in training camp. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
4. Vikings need WRs to stand out
Wide receiver depth is becoming an issue for the Vikings, with Jordan Addison set to miss the first three games because of a suspension, Rondale Moore out for the season with a knee injury and Jalen Nailor nursing a hand injury after jamming it in joint practices this week. It means the Vikings need other receivers on their depth chart to assert themselves, and Saturday could be an important opportunity for players on the roster bubble.
Lucky Jackson has seemed in contention for a spot, and he caught three passes for 30 yards last week. It will be interesting to see if the Vikings use him as a punt returner after he spent some time fielding punts in practice this week. Price, who caught last week’s touchdown pass, also has an opportunity; he’s done some work as a punt returner as well and has caught coaches’ eyes during camp.
Last week Tai Felton had the best play of the day on special teams, forcing Jawhar Jordan’s fumble of Oscar Chapman’s punt, and the third-round pick caught both of the passes he was thrown, for a total of 14 yards. He’s still a project as a receiver who needs to add strength to play the position in the NFL. Jones, Dontae Fleming and Silas Bolden will also get work, and it will be interesting to see if the Vikings use Addison, who thrived in the joint practices but could get additional preseason playing time with his suspension still looming.
5. O’Connell mic’d up
As they did during the preseason finale in Philadelphia last year, the Vikings’ broadcast will have O’Connell on during the entire third quarter against the Patriots. The coach’s real-time reactions to plays as they happened (and his occasional insights about a play before it happened) were a highlight last year, and the segment provides a rare up-close look at a coach’s thought process. It’ll be worth paying attention to it, or catching it on a replay later.