Tag: Brandon Powell

Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell returns from injury against Packers

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell left the game vs. Green Bay late in the second quarter after taking a big hit over the middle

Not much has gone wrong for the Minnesota Vikings in the first half against the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been efficient, spreading the ball around and throwing for three touchdowns early.

Darnold has hit eight different receivers in the first half, including two catches by running back Aaron Jones, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and tight end Johnny Mundt. His three touchdowns have gone to Jordan Addison, Jefferson, and tight end Josh Oliver.

The Vikings’ only early setback was wide receiver Brandon Powell’s injury late in the second quarter. Powell was injured on an incomplete pass over the middle, where he was hit by Packers safety Evan Williams and appeared to take helmet-to-helmet contact.

The injury to Powell forced the Vikings to put wide receiver Jalen Nailor back to receive a punt later in the quarter that was muffed and led to the Packers only score of the first half.

The good news for the Vikings was that Powell was cleared during halftime and could return to the game to be a part of the special teams unit.

Vikings RB Ty Chandler is listed as the top KR on the depth chart

After a shocking cut, the Vikings appear to know who their new kick returner will be in 2024.

After a shocking cut by the Vikings, former running back and kick returner Kene Nwangwu is no longer with Minnesota. While Nwangwu didn’t show much as a runner, he was a valuable part of the Vikings’ special teams, and Minnesota is now searching for a new returner.

According to the Vikings’ official depth chart, it would appear that running back Ty Chandler would be the top kicker returner. Wide receiver Brandon Powell is listed behind Chandler as the second option.

Chandler has four career kick returners for 97 yards.

The Vikings currently have just two running backs on their roster, which is abnormal. Most teams have three or four running backs on their roster, and it’s almost a certainty Minnesota will add at least one more running back. If not, it’s unlikely Chandler would stay as kick returner, being the second option to Aaron Jones.

Powell and Jalen Nailor are expected to handle the punt return duties.

Brandon Powell falling behind in Vikings’ WR3 battle after preseason debut

After a good game from Jalen Nailor and Triston Jackson in the Minnesota Vikings 2024 preseason debut, Brandon Powell is falling behind.

The Minnesota Vikings have a couple of hotly contested and highly important training camp battles that could determine just how well the 2024 season goes. Obviously, there’s the battle at quarterback between veteran Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy. Darnold is still on schedule to start the season, but McCarthy could play earlier than many think — especially if Saturday’s preseason debut is any indication.

The other big position battle on the Vikings squad is the battle for the third wide receiver spot behind presumed starters, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Coming into camp, it was widely assumed that veteran Brandon Powell had the upper hand in the competition against the likes of Jalen Nailor and Trishton Jackson.

However, that may not happen after the team’s first preseason game. Both Nailor and Jackson had strong performances on the night. More importantly, both wide receivers seemed to have an obvious rapport with both quarterbacks. On the other hand, Powell failed to make any real impact at all. Worse, he didn’t seem to be on the same page with the offense.

Jackson led the way for the Vikings receivers against the Las Vegas Raiders, seeing five targets on the night and turning them into four catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Nailor wasn’t far behind Jackson, with four targets, three receptions, and 63 yards.

In contrast, Powell only played eight snaps on the night, failing to get a target or reception.

Obviously, it’s important not to draw too many conclusions from a preseason game — particularly the first one. However, when you combine Powell’s absence in the game with the reports out of training camp that Nailor has been impressive, it paints a picture of Powell falling down the depth chart.

Pro Football Network proposes Vikings sign Hunter Renfrow

The Minnesota Vikings are solid at the top two wide receiver spots, but could use help at WR3. Pro Football Network suggests Hunter Renfrow.

Justin Jefferson just became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history and is firmly entrenched as the Minnesota Vikings top wide receiver — and arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Opposite him, Jordan Addison had an impressive rookie season and is looking to take a leap in his second season.

But beyond those two, there are some significant questions. As it stands today, the Vikings don’t have a clear-cut option as the third wide receiver in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. Brandon Powell and free agent acquisition Trent Sherfield figure to be the top options, but could there be better options out there? According to Lorenzo Reyna of Pro Football Network, the answer is yes: Hunter Renfrow.

In his piece detailing one free agent signing every team should make ahead of training camp, Reyna points out the precarious situation Minnesota is heading into camp with and thinks Renfrow provides the solution.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the 1-2 punch, but Minnesota could use a No. 3.

Hunter Renfrow remains unsigned. Perhaps he can be the new Adam Thielen here, especially with J.J. McCarthy as the future under center.

Renfrow to the Vikings isn’t a new idea; he’s been a popular suggestion for the Vikings to help bolster the wide receiver corps since the NFL’s free agency period began. The fact that the Vikings haven’t pulled the trigger yet could indicate that they’re more comfortable with the situation at the position than fans and the media might believe.

Whether that’s true or not, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Renfrow would, at the very least, provide the team with some much-needed depth at the position. The competition would likely bring out the best in whoever winds up winning the battle and claiming the WR3 crown.

Do the Minnesota Vikings have a problem at WR3?

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are firmly planted as the Minnesota Vikings’ top two wide receivers, but do they have a reliable WR3?

The Minnesota Vikings just secured superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a long-term deal. Jefferson has been arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL since he came into the league, and has put up incredible numbers for the Vikings. Opposite him, they have Jordan Addison, who had one of the better rookie seasons in recent memory, tallying 900+ yards and finishing third in the league in touchdowns.

They’re a duo that has the potential to be one of the best tandems in the entire NFL. But what about the rest of the wide receiver room? Do the Vikings have a problem at the WR3 spot? If the early indications from The Athletic’s Vikings beat reporter Alec Lewis are to be believed, all signs point to yes.

It may seem a bit dramatic to worry about WR3 on a team that has Justin Jefferson and a burgeoning young receiver in Addison, but when you really look at it, the Vikings are likely going to need someone else to step up and provide some production. Who, and do they have anyone else in the room who can be relied upon to take the leap?

Jefferson will be the main focus of defensive game plans every week of the season. The defensive coordinator’s first priority will be to try to slow him down. They will know that the Vikings are adjusting to a new quarterback—whether that be Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy—and that quarterback is likely going to lean heavily on Jefferson. That should open up opportunities for Addison, but who else on the team can step up?

The obvious answer would be T.J. Hockenson at the tight end spot, but he’ll likely miss the first six weeks of the season as he recovers from the knee injury he suffered against Detroit toward the end of the 2023 season.

Adding Aaron Jones and his receiving abilities out of the backfield will help mitigate the need for a dependable WR3, but it won’t fully negate it. So what does the situation look like right now? It would not be great if Lewis were to be believed.

According to Lewis, who recently published quick minicamp notes on all 90 players currently on the Vikings roster for The Athletic, it would seem like Brandon Powell has the inside track to be the team’s WR3, but Lewis questions if he’s a true WR3, and if he does take that spot, will he also be on the team’s punt and kick return teams? And if not, who takes that spot?

Beyond Powell, there are a lot of question marks. Lewis points to Jalen Nailor and Trishton Jackson as being “intriguing” options and the “equivalent of a AAAA baseball prospect” in the case of Jackson. However, he’s quick to point out that both of them have significant injury concerns and have struggled to stay healthy in their careers.

Former Bills, Dolphins, and 49ers wide receiver Trent Sherfield was brought in by the Vikings in the off-season to provide the team with a different type of receiver than what they currently have.

Both Jefferson and Addison win with quickness and savvy route-running, whereas Sherfield can provide the team with a big-bodied receiver for those 50/50 balls. But Lewis points out that Sherfield isn’t “fleet of foot” and “it’s hard to see him sliding into the No.3 receiver role”.

Behind Sherfield, there are a bunch of players (Lucky Jackson, Malik Knowles, Ty James, Thayer Thomas, and Jeshaun Jones) who are fighting for back-end roster spots or spots on the practice squad. Which leaves Minnesota with the question: Who steps up as the third wide receiver in the offense? Who can be that reliable third option if Jefferson and Addison are shut down?

We’re likely going to have to wait until at least pre-season before we have our answer, but the answer may wind up being former Packers and Bears tight end Robert Tonyan, who was brought in this offseason and will likely be the team’s top tight end while Hockenson is unavailable. And that could present the Vikings offense with a big problem.

Breaking down Nick Mullens’ game-ending INT, why didn’t he throw to Brandon Powell?

Tyler Forness breaks down the final interception from Nick Mullens and explains why he didn’t throw it to a wide open Brandon Powell

Sometimes when you see an interception thrown my the quarterback, especially one that is a backup like Minnesota Vikings QB Nick Mullens, it’s easy to place the blame on the quarterback. They are the one who makes the decision and throw that results in the interception.

However, it’s not always that simple. Yes, their pass resulted in an interception, but was it bad process? How did the result happen? The full answer lies in the process that Mullens used, especially when you see someone like Brandon Powell wide open with his arms up.

First, let’s talk about the formation. They start in a 3×2 set with Ham motioning in as an extra pass protector. Justin Jefferson is in the inside slot with Brandon Powell between him and K.J. Osborn. Having Jefferson in the slot will give him a free release and that’s key here.

The concept here is dual crossers from the strong side with a Y-cross from the far side with Johnny Mundt. It’s design is to put the safeties in conflict and in doing so, creates an opening for Jefferson at the top of the screen. Jefferson widens his route to create some extra space with the safety up top to make the throw a little easier for Mullens.

The progression has Powell, who runs into the flat as an outlet, essentially meaning that he’s an afterthought of the play. Mullens sees that Jefferson gets open and makes the correct read to get him the football. Unfortunately, the pass comes out of his hand like a wounded duck and it gets intercepted by Ifeatu Melifonwu.

The question that everybody had after the game was: Why didn’t Mullens throw the ball to Powell? The answer is simple.

Jefferson was open for a touchdown.

Yes, it stinks that pass got intercepted. Yes, the throw was bad but the process to make the decision to target Jefferson was smart. A good throw makes this a touchdown. Considering multiple factors, including you need a touchdown to win the game at the end, Mullens used the right process, he just can’t throw up a wounded duck. That is what you get with a backup quarterback at times and it’s beyond frustrating.

When the Vikings look to determine their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, process is going to be more of a deciding factor than strictly results, but you still have to make the throws.

In conclusion, it’s fine to be mad at the result because of a wonky throw that only happens once out of every 100 attempts, but throwing to Powell for him to only gain 10 yards when the touchdown was there isn’t something worth being mad at. In fact, it would have some fighting against Kevin O’Connell for being “too conservative” as a playcaller.

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ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky breaks down Vikings failed tush push

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky gives a detailed breakdown of the failed tush push that doomed the Vikings chances in overtime.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky broke down the details surrounding the failed tush push that doomed the Minnesota Vikings in their 27-24 overtime loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Orlovsky was a quarterback in the NFL for 13 years before becoming the analyst we know today. He knows a thing or two about the quarterback sneak, and the Bengals deserve their kudos for making the Vikings play for their below-average execution on this play.

Orlovsky outlined the pre-snap movements that triggered the Bengals to prepare for the sneak. The motion of Brandon Powell behind quarterback Nick Mullens and Mullens’ step back to prepare to vault forward were prime indicators for the Bengals’ defensive tackles to jump the snap and beat the Vikings’ interior to the spot, rendering the sneak useless.

Football is a game of inches. It’s a game of minor details that, if executed, can make or break a game or even a season. Minnesota had a chance to close this game out. They were only a few yards away from field goal range and taking firm control of their playoff future. Instead, they sit at 7-7, adding to the logjam of teams battling for the final two NFC wild-card spots.

WATCH all 30 Vikings touchdowns from 2023 season

Relive every one of the Vikings 30 touchdowns through 12 games.

The Minnesota Vikings sit at 6-6 heading into their bye week. In those 12 games, they have found a way to amass 30 touchdowns.

The defense has found their way into the end zone multiple times as well, with D.J. Wonnum and Jordan Hicks finding the end zone. Interestingly enough, the Vikings won both games where the defense scored.

The offense has found its way into the end zone 28 times with rookie Jordan Addison scoring seven of them. 23 of their touchdowns have come through the air and five of them have come on the ground with all five of those coming from week eight and beyond.

With the bye week here, relive every Vikings touchdown from the all-22 view.

Vikings snap count analysis: Powell clear WR3, Blackmon emerges at CB

Chris Spooner takes a look at a few interesting notes from the Minnesota Vikings’ snap counts from the Monday Night Football loss to the Chicago Bears.

The Minnesota Vikings have now dropped back-to-back games coming off their five-game win streak with another tough loss, this time at the hands of the Chicago Bears by a score of 12-10.

The Vikings defense did all it could to keep the team in the game, keeping Justin Fields and the Bears offense largely in check. Chicago failed to score a touchdown all night, and the defense was able to get not one, but two key turnovers late.

However, the offense was unable to capitalize and gave the Bears defense four turnovers of their own on the night to become the first team all year to lose a game while not allowing a touchdown to the opponent.

While the loss is disappointing, there were some interesting notes from the Vikings snap counts from the game. Here’s the breakdown.

4 Vikings storylines to watch in Week 12 vs. Bears

There will be many storylines to keep tabs on Monday night

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Chicago Bears in an important NFC North division battle on Monday night.

The game became even more important, as the Green Bay Packers gifted the Vikings a Detroit Lions loss by beating them 29-22 on Thanksgiving Day. It’s even more important after the Vikings lost to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. The Vikings currently sit two games down from the Lions and can climb within 1.5 games with a win on Monday night.

As we approach the game on Monday night, there are multiple ways we will preview the game. These four storylines will be worth keeping your eye on during Monday night football.