Shamar Stephen – Syndication Server

93 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 93

The No. 93 holds a lot of history, including Hall of Famer John Randle, but who else has worn the number for the Vikings?

It’s the final countdown…

Well, sort of.

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 93 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

Jonathan Bullard currently holds the number for the Vikings and has worn it since last season. Edge rusher Patrick Jones II also wore the number briefly before switching to No. 91. However, the number is headlined by John Randle, a Hall of Famer who wore the number for 11 seasons.

With 93 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 93 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

5 defensive tackles Chargers could consider signing

A look at five defensive tackles the Chargers should consider amid season-ending injuries to Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia.

The Chargers are down to three defensive tackles on the active roster following the season-ending injuries to Austin Johnson and, most recently, Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia.

Head coach Brandon Staley confirmed Monday that the team will promote Joe Gaziano from the practice squad and add two more players to fill the position group.

Tyeler Davison was signed off the Browns’ practice squad on Tuesday morning, which means they could look to sign one more.

Who else could Los Angeles add to the room?

Let’s take a look at five interior defenders that would make sense.

7 Broncos free agents are still unsigned

The list of Broncos free agents still unsigned includes Alexander Johnson, Bobby Massie, Diontae Spencer and Shamar Stephen.

The Denver Broncos re-signed 11 of their in-house free agents this offseason, including running back Melvin Gordon, outside linebacker Malik Reed and defensive lineman DeShawn Williams.

The Broncos didn’t re-sign all of their in-house free agents, though — 10 signed with other teams and seven remain unsigned. Here’s a quick look at the team’s unsigned free agents who remain available.

Former Vikings DT Shamar Stephen agrees to terms with Broncos

Former Minnesota Vikings DT Shamar Stephen has moved on, signing with the Denver Broncos in 2021 NFL free agency.

The Vikings utilized Shamar Stephen as a nose tackle last season, but it would have been harder for him to win a starting spot with Minnesota in 2021.

So it makes sense that Stephen is moving on. The former Minnesota defensive tackle is signing with the Broncos in free agency, according to The Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran.

This offseason, the Vikings signed DT Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. He’s presumably the starting three-technique defensive tackle with nose tackle Michael Pierce in the lineup. With Stephen on a costly contract and more of a depth option at this point, Minnesota released him this offseason.

Besides Tomlinson and Pierce, the Vikings currently have Armon Watts, James Lynch and Hercules Mata’afa as possibilities on the interior of the defensive line in 2021.

Stephen is headed to a 3-4 defensive scheme. He will most likely be the nose tackle, but he did play three-technique for the Vikings in 2019, so maybe he can be a run-stopping option at defensive end in certain situations.

Vikings draft DL Jordan Davis in B/R 2021 mock draft

The Vikings could use an upgrade on the interior of their offensive line. Could they address it in the 1st round of the 2021 draft?

The 2020 NFL season hasn’t started yet, but here we are talking about the 2021 NFL Draft.

That’s how the content cycle in the NFL works and we just go along with it.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller posted a 2021 mock draft prior to the 2020 season. With the 21st pick, Miller has the Vikings selecting Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis.

Here’s what Miller wrote about the pick:

Jordan Davis is the top interior defensive lineman in the 2021 class and among the most exciting underclassmen in the nation. The Georgia defense is loaded with talent, but it all revolves around Davis in the middle.

His tape as a sophomore last season was full of dominant flashes. If he takes the next step in 2020, his 6’6″, 310-pound frame could make him a Javon Kinlaw-type prospect and a top-10-graded player.

The Vikings are already loaded at defensive end with Danielle Hunter and Yannick Ngakoue. The depth chart gets a little soft, though, at the interior defensive line spot with Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen.

While the team will likely have Michael Pierce back in 2021, there’s still a spot next to him the team could upgrade. Maybe that could be addressed in the first round of next year’s draft and if it is, maybe it could be Davis.

Vikings Co-DC Adam Zimmer addresses nose tackle competition

Who do you think will be the Vikings’ starter at nose tackle?

Earlier this offseason, the Vikings landed a free agent who could have played nose tackle this year.

Minnesota signed Michael Pierce, but then Pierce opted out of the 2020 NFL season. Pierce said he had really bad asthma ,among other respiratory issues, and that it was a high-risk opt-out, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

The Vikings then traded for defensive tackle P.J. Hall, who then failed his physical and reverted back to the Raiders. Hall may have been a three-technique option for the Vikings, but either way, the team is left with less depth due to not having him.

With Minnesota being back to square one at nose tackle, Vikings co-defensive coordinator Adam Zimmer recently discussed the position.

According to Tomasson, Zimmer first brought up Shamar Stephen when talking about the nose tackle.

“Shamar Stephen’s done it before, and he’s as good a nose as there is. He’s really good in the run game. He’s an extremely smart player,” Zimmer said, via Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune.

Zimmer mentioned Armon Watts and Jaleel Johnson in addition to Stephen, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.

A position that appeared to be fixed in free agency is now a competition. It will be fun to see what develops.

Vikings Co-DC Andre Patterson defends Shamar Stephen’s level of play

Vikings co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson came to the defense of Minnesota defensive tackle Shamar Stephen while talking with reporters.

Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen has caught heat from some Minnesota fans for his level of play.

Stephen had 21 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in 15 starts this past season. Vikings co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson thinks that Stephen has been good in a way that stats can’t always catch.

Here’s Patterson’s explanation, per Sam Ekstrom of Zone Coverage:

“I think Eric Kendricks will tell you that part of the reason he went to the Pro Bowl is because of those two big bodies sitting in front of him, OK? They allow him to run from sideline to sideline and be free. Their No. 1 job in their life is to not let anybody touch Eric (Kendricks). And I get it. People write stuff about Shamar Stephen and I get it because everybody just looks at stats, but if you watch film and you ask Eric Kendricks if he had to pick anybody to go to the game with, that he’d make sure that guy was there, I guarantee he’d tell you it’s 93, because 93 is not going to let anybody get to the second level and block Eric (Kendricks). They’re doing what we coach them to do.”

Patterson went on to explain that he doesn’t ask the three-technique player to get in the backfield, but rather, keep the linebackers free and flatten out the line of scrimmage.

To be fair, Pro Football Focus looks at film and they gave Stephen a rating of just 61.2 for this past season. There’s also the issue of Stephen now having to be the line experienced starter on the interior of the defensive line this season, assuming the Vikings don’t go out and sign anybody.

Hopefully he can still allow players such as Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks to get free, in order for the defense to find success.

Three possible scenarios for the Vikings defensive tackles next season

With Vikings DT Michael Pierce reportedly opting out of the 2020 season, here are some possible scenarios for the Vikings interior defensive line.

Minnesota defensive tackle Michael Pierce, arguably the biggest free agent signing for the Vikings this offseason, will reportedly opt out of the 2020 season.

That leaves a hole that Pierce was going to presumably fill after Linval Joseph left in free agency.

So the nose tackle spot on the Vikings defense is now open. Pierce is a big loss for 2020, but Minnesota still has some options on the interior of the defensive line.

Operating on the assumption that the NFL season is to take place in 2020, here are some personnel pairings that Minnesota can go with at defensive tackle now that Pierce reportedly isn’t playing:

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Three Vikings starters who could lose their spots in 2020

Here are some of the Vikings’ mainstay starters who might be in trouble in 2020.

The Vikings had a lot of veterans leave this offseason, but a lot of younger players have taken their place.

Some of those younger players could come in and start at a position left open from free agency.

But what about the younger players who have returning starters at their position? Well, some of those starters could be moved to the bench if a younger player thrives in their role.

Here are some Vikings starters from 2019, who might be in trouble by the time the 2020 season starts.

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NFL.com predicts Dakota Dozier, Shamar Stephen start for the Vikings

Do you think Dakota Dozier will start at guard for the Vikings? Do you think Shamar Stephen will start at defensive tackle? NFL.com does

Between veterans leaving in the offseason and incumbent starters possible losing their spots, the Vikings have plenty of openings in the starting lineup for 2020.

NFL.com attempted to predict what the Vikings lineup will be for 2020. The outlet made some interesting choices, with guard Dakota Dozier and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen cracking the lineup.

Dozier was a reserve in 2019, and while Stephen was a starter last season, many have predicted that he could lost his spot in the lineup for 2020.

Draftee James Lynch, and reserves Armon Watts and Hercules Mata’afa are some of Stephen’s competition. It will be interesting to see who plays alongside Michael Pierce on the interior of the defensive line.

As for Dozier, he is competing for an open spot after former starter Josh Kline was cut by the Vikings this offseason. Kline has yet to sign with a team. Some people think it might be Dru Samia’s time to shine at that position. Samia is entering his second NFL season.