Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are three things to watch in the Vikings-Cowboys game on Sunday:
The Vikings will have one of their toughest tests of the season on Sunday night.
The Dallas Cowboys head to U.S. Bank Stadium for Week 8. Minnesota could use this win, as the team is in a tough stretch of its 2021 slate. Here are three things to watch for the upcoming matchup:
The Vikings’ plan is for rookie Kene Nwangwu to have an important special teams role on Sunday.
When the Vikings drafted him, Kene Nwangwu had the potential to serve a vital role on special teams.
Things don’t always go according to plan. Nwangwu suffered an injury in the preseason opener against the Broncos. Minnesota activated the rookie running back off IR on Oct. 19.
Now, Vikings fans can finally see the enticing draft prospect play in the regular season. Minnesota special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken said on Thursday that the plan is for Nwangwu to take kickoff return duties in Week 8. Here’s the full quote:
“Right now, we’re planning on Kene,” Ficken said. “We’ve got some other guys backed up … [like] K.J. Osborn. We’ve got a good group of guys that can go ahead and handle those duties.”
Ryan Ficken says the plan is for Kene Nwangwu to handle kickoff return duties pic.twitter.com/omJfesR32K
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 28, 2021
When the Vikings activated Nwangwu off IR, the team released Ameer Abdullah in a corresponding roster move. Ideally, Nwangwu will be a similar-but-better player than Abdullah. Abdullah, in the latter stages of his NFL career, landed with another NFL team already.
“He’s got great speed, and we’ll try to utilize that on some of the special teams and go from there.” Zimmer said.
Vikings RB Kene Nwangwu enticed Minnesota fans with his speed during training camp. During the preseason, however, Nwangwu suffered a setback.
The Vikings rookie running back sustained a knee injury in the preseason opener. Minnesota then placed Nwangwu on IR. Last week, the Vikings finally activated Nwangwu off the reserve/injured list.
Mike Zimmer talked about Nwangwu’s potential fit with the team going forward:
“We thought he would possibly be the kickoff returner,” Zimmer said. “So we tried to give him some looks there. He’s got great speed, and we’ll try to utilize that on some of the special teams and go from there.”
Coach Zimmer on @KWang3_'s return pic.twitter.com/ui7TO6mf1v
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 25, 2021
Nwangwu could be an option for the offense, too. The Vikings released Ameer Abdullah in the process of bringing Nwangwu back. Abdullah’s absence leaves a hole in the Vikings’ offense. Nwangwu possibly has a similar skillset to Abdullah due to his break-away speed and the ability in the return.
Will that translate into Nwangwu being a vital player on this 2021 team? Only time will tell.
Here are some Vikings rookies who could be looking at significant roles in the rest of 2021:
The Vikings’ 2021 draft class has not been crucial to the team this season.
Whether it’s injuries or just a failure to launch, the Minnesota rookies have, for the most part, not been starting games and making vital plays. However, with the Vikings coming out of a bye week, all that could change.
Here are some Vikings rookies who could be looking at big roles in the rest of 2021:
The Vikings activated RB Kene Nwangwu off the reserve/injured list Tuesday.
Minnesota’s 2021 draft class has not seen a lot of the field this season.
Vikings first-round pick Christian Darrisaw earned his first career start on Sunday after dealing with a groin injury this year. WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been good on special teams. But other than a handful of players, no rookies have made a huge impact yet.
That could change soon. Minnesota activated RB Kene Nwangwu, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, off IR this week. Nwangwu enticed Vikings fans with his breakaway speed in training camp. He should have a role on special teams. He also adds something as a receiving threat at running back.
The Vikings released RB Ameer Abdullah, making room for Nwangwu on the active roster. Abdullah and Nwangwu are similar players stylistically, so this move makes sense. Abdullah can offer something to a different NFL team still — as a reserve running back or a return man.
The Vikings get two players back at practice this week.
Minnesota is set to get two special teams players back from practice this week.
Vikings WR Dan Chisena and RB Kene Nwangwu are both expected to be back, the team announced on Wednesday.
Nwangwu was tabbed as a promising prospect, and that was on full display amid training camp when he showcased his speed. Chisena, also very speedy, has been a gunner on the Vikings’ punt unit.
Minnesota could use both of these players when it takes on Seattle. Nwangwu’s role won’t be as important now that running back Ameer Abdullah is signed to the active roster. Abdullah and Nwangwu offer something similar stylistically, with them both being running backs who can make an impact as receiving options.
Nwangwu’s role remains to be seen, but WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been good as a kick returner, so he has ample competition.
Minnesota moved to 1-2 with the victory over the Seahawks. Minnesota has a tough matchup with Cleveland in Week 4 this week. It might help to have these players back, though it remains to be seen whether they will actually be ready by Sunday.
Vikings RB Kene Nwangwu could be back soon.
Vikings RB Kene Nwangwu was expected to compete as a kick returner in 2021, but a hyperextended left knee has derailed his rookie season.
However, Nwangwu could be back as soon as Wednesday, as first pointed out by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Once a player is designated for return off IR, the team needs to active him in the next 21 days.
At this point, Nwangwu could also be a good depth player at running back. He offers something in the receiving game. Minnesota signed Ameer Abdullah recently, so that role isn’t as dire now, but Nwangwu is a very speedy back who could factor in.
RB Dalvin Cook did miss the Week 3 game against the Seahawks. If Cook ends up missing more time, expect RB Alexander Mattison to take more carries. Expect Nwangwu to possibly fill in at times — on offense and special teams.
Nwangwu was a fourth round draft pick this year.
Vikings RB Kene Nwangwu is expected to be ready for the team’s regular season opener.
Vikings fans who attended training camp this year probably saw Kene Nwangwu darting across the field at points. Unfortunately, Nwangwu’s speed didn’t really get to be showcased in the Vikings preseason opener.
The Minnesota rookie running back suffered an injury on the team’s opening kickoff, forcing him to leave the game. According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, that injury turned out to be a hyperextended left knee.
There is good news, though: Nwangwu is expected to be ready for the team’s regular season opener against the Bengals on Sept. 12.
Also per Tomasson, Nwangwu is being evaluated on a week-by-week basis. He will miss the preseason matchup against the Colts, but it’s not clear whether he will be available against the Chiefs, which is the final game on the Vikings’ preseason schedule.
In Nwangwu’s absence, undrafted free agent A.J. Rose stepped up last week. He finished the Broncos game with 100 rushing yards on 25 carries. Now, it looks like he will have another chance at impressing the coaching staff on Saturday against Indianapolis.
Here is what former Vikings LB Ben Leber thinks of the two rookies.
Minnesota has done a great job of drafting running backs and wideouts recently.
The Vikings have taken running backs Jerick McKinnon, Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, all of whom have panned out into at least decent players.
Sure, Minnesota whiffed on Laquon Treadwell, but the team also has nabbed stellar wideouts Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson.
This year, the Vikings took another running back and another wide receiver. Minnesota landed RB Kene Nwangwu in the fourth round and followed that up with WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the fifth.
Ben Leber, a former Vikings linebacker and NFL current analyst, thinks the two rookies have quite a bit in common:
“They both come from college cultures that they were never the true focal point. And I think you’re finding guys that are OK with the grind and are OK playing the role,” Leber said, per Vikings.com. “I don’t think that you’re going to see [Nwangwu] try to come in and be shocked by the fact that, ‘Hey, Dalvin’s the guy.'”
Nwangwu is thought of to be more of a special teams player. He was a stellar kick returner for Iowa State in college. But maybe he can be more than that.
Smith-Marsette enters a very different position group. Due to the workload of Cook and Mattison, the third running back might not have a massive role in the offense. The third wide receiver, however, will be on the field quite a bit.
Besides Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, the Vikings don’t have positional strength at wideout, leaving a big role up for grabs. So Smith-Marsette and Nwangwu might be similar in that they’re OK with the grind, but Nwangwu might have to put in more of an effort to see the field a ton.
The Minnesota Vikings need to improve on special teams next season. Here is how the team could line up:
Minnesota struggled on special teams in a lot of different ways this past season.
The Vikings had punts blocked. They didn’t have a great net average on punts, either. The team had bad snaps on field goals and costly misses from its kicker. Minnesota even had muffed punts and fumbles on returns. The team also couldn’t get anything going on punt returns in terms of average yardage.
All that is to say that there is room to improve on special teams for 2021. The Vikings brought in some enticing special teams players this offseason, at least some of whom will likely hold down key roles for next season.
Here is an early prediction for how the team could line up on special teams:
