Many players during the Mike Zimmer era had a hard time making the lineup as rookies in the Minnesota Vikings team. Zimmer was known to teach his rookies, letting them watch on the sidelines; very few players made the team.
Kevin O’Connell’s approach as the new head coach may be a little different, as the season started with predictions that at least three new rookies would kick off the season. The previous season’s trades in the NFL Draft ended with three selections.
This season’s main draft picks were Lewis Cine, the former Georgia safety, Andrew Booth, the former Clemson cornerback, and Ed Ingram, the former LSU guard. While Cine was set to begin the season’s lineup, Ingram and Booth had a good chance of edging out their competition.
The Impact of Rookies in the Field
This season the Vikings had put their hopes in the rookie class to make the most impact on the field.
While the team is talented on both sides, major areas on the field need improvement while drafting.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings general manager, added about ten drafted players and other few undrafted rookie free agents in his 2022 roaster.
Only three players were set to make the most impact on the field in his list.
Rookies went to work 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/biHHMpiICj
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 14, 2022
G, Ed Ingram
Ingram made the top of the list as the offensive guard and was the overall 59h pick in the round; his position as offense puts him in a very impactful position. As much as the Vikings have a powerful quarterback in Kirk Cousin, a failed offense puts the team in a precarious position.
Ingram is talented enough to patch up the team’s right guard troubles; signing him would have been the team’s last effort and hope. Davis and Reed received their share of attention in the spring while practicing, but as luck would have it, Ingram would be better for it.
Vikings rookie Ed Ingram made moving Jordan Davis look easy 😳 (via @Nate_Tice) pic.twitter.com/Qyyw9CQ6Kh
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) September 23, 2022
OLB, Luiji Vilain
A team can never have too many pass rushers, and Luiji Vilain is a testament to this. Ed Donatell, the Vikings defensive coordinator, would be wise to add Luiji, the undrafted rookie agent, into his roaster.
As the former Wake Forest Prodigy, Luiji is set to be the season’s biggest steal, with athleticism, power, and motor skills to back him.
He can rotate in the team while pushing the already present pass-rusher ZA’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter.
Big night for Ottawa! 🇨🇦🙌
Luiji Vilain has signed a priority free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings. 🏈
📸: @Luiji_V pic.twitter.com/bhiJR6juBX
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) May 1, 2022
S, Lewis Cine
No other rookie player’s future was set in stone quite like Cine; he was the first player taken off the draft board. O’Connell, the head coach, was eating out of his hand, complimenting his game at practice and encouraging him to take a leadership role among other rookies.
In the defense, he was groomed to be the ‘it’ guy who would play with Harry Smith in the safety position.
He was poised to be a game changer by extracting invaluable knowledge from Smith while creating an unbeatable due in the backend defense.
New Vikings S Lewis Cine is here — with the No. 6 jersey. pic.twitter.com/ECAIs44OvD
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 29, 2022
Vikings Rookies Are Back
This NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings have had their fair share of tough luck, and the rookie class was not spared. Lewis Cine, set to be the most promising of the rookie class, was benched for the rest of the season owing to a leg fracture that could permanently alter the course of his playing career.
Booth, on the other hand, missed the last four games after his quad injury. Ty Chandler also got an injury just two weeks ago; this injury landed him in an emergency when his thumb broke in the field. However, all is not lost, as reports show that some rookie payers are back to practice and ready to play on the field.
Booth is a very important rookie player and has been permanently removed from the injury report just last week and thereby upgraded into DNP, although in a limited capacity. He might have opted out of the previous game against the Bears, but this is to prepare for his comeback.
CB Akayleb and WR Jalen Nailor return to the field on Wednesday on limited capacity; Nailor has been recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him to the bench during the play against Chicago. Nailor, who made his first career move on Ryan Wright’s fake punt on Week Four of the season, was seen in full participation the next day.
RT if your ROY tied an NFL rookie record for most 100+ receiving yard games.#PepsiROY @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/G9m7WmX6yN
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 14, 2021
Final Thoughts
This season, rookies have been hurt a lot more; Tagovailoa’s concussion injury prompted a change in the protocols. Things are edging out nicely for the team and the rookies, especially with only Edge Wonnum, who missed last week’s practice.
Overall, it’s looking quite good for this rookie class of Minnesota Vikings as they are getting healthier and healthier as the season progresses into its sixth week.
We are yet to see what the Vikings’ rookie players have in store for us this season.
The top rookies in coverage from NFL Week 6🔒 pic.twitter.com/K2LOHKFL5O
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 18, 2022
Credits on Featured Image: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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