These Vikings players will need to have good training camps in order to step into new roles or stay in their old ones:
In a turbulent offseason, the Vikings will have one of the more important training camps in recent memory.
The overhaul of the team’s roster has led to new players vying for opening roster spots. One of those new players, Michael Pierce, has opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
“I have really bad asthma among other respiratory issues, so it’s not one of those voluntary opt-outs. It’s a high-risk opt-out,” Pierce told Tomasson.
So that leaves plenty of intrigue as training camp progresses. Here are six Vikings players who will have to have good training camps in order to step into new roles or stay in their old ones:
Creating something of a fantasy football situation selecting from nearly 40 Wolverines who are currently on NFL rosters to form a team.
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According to ESPN, while not all of them are actively playing, Michigan has 40 players currently in the league, bolstered by the 2020 haul with ten draft picks — though it lists Charles Woodson as active, and we’re pretty sure that’s no longer the case.
So, as our colleague over at BuckeyesWire asked, what would an NFL team look like if comprised solely of the players who graduated from one school? Naturally, a Michigan contingent had our interest piqued.
Given that there are a variety of schemes, offensively and defensively, and some players perhaps played a different position in the NFL than they did at Michigan, we came up with our starting maize and blue team in the pro ranks, taking a look at what could be if all of those who wore a winged helmet joined forces to create a Wolverines super team.
Especially with the man leading the charge under center, we’d put this team up against anybody.
Offense
There’s an obvious player to start with, and lots of solid linemen. But otherwise, Michigan is lighter than in recent years with skill position players.
Regardless, with the top choice overall — a man that many pick in the first round of their fantasy drafts — the Wolverines NFL team could be formidable.
Quarterback – Tom Brady
Photo: Isaiah Hole
The most obvious selection of the bunch is the greatest of all time.
If you have Tom Brady as your quarterback, you’ve got a chance to win it all. He’s won more rings than anybody with six in his time with the New England Patriots.
While he wasn’t as beloved during his time in Ann Arbor as much as he is now, if you’re building an NFL team out of former Michigan players, the former team captain and over-achieving sixth rounder from the 2000 NFL Draft is like getting the No. 1 pick in your fantasy league — it’s just good business.
In his career, Brady has amassed 74,571 yards in 285 games, with 541 touchdowns to just 179 interceptions.
Brady is No. 2 on the NFL’s all-time passing yards leaders list, behind Drew Brees — but literally ahead of everyone else. He’s also just behind Brees at No. 2 in passing touchdowns, just six away from the top, however.
Gedeon has played in eight games this season, starting five.
The 2019 season is over for Vikings third-year linebacker Ben Gedeon.
The team placed Gedeon on the IR with a concussion. In a corresponding move, the Vikings have signed wide receiver Alexander Hollins from the practice squad to the active roster.
Gedeon has played in eight games this season, starting five. We can expect to see more of Eric Wilson in Gedeon’s absence.
Hollins has been on the team’s practice squad from Week 2-12 of the season. He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent last summer after finishing with 80 catches for 1,102 yards for Eastern Illinois last season.
Hollins’ signing is more of one for depth rather than necessity with Adam Thielen (hamstring) out against the Seahawks.
