Tag: trishton jackson

Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner makes NFL analyst’s All-Preseason team

Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner made NFL analyst Jacob Camenker’s All-Preseason team, with four others earning honorable mention

Preseason football is important for everyone on the roster, to varying degrees. For established veterans, it’s important to get back into the flow of things after an offseason of inactivity. For players fighting for a roster spot, it’s important to get the reps and show coaching staffs – both their own and the 31 other teams’ – that they belong in this league.

For rookies, like Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner, it’s their first chance to see professional action and to show why they were drafted.

While Turner didn’t see much action during this year’s preseason, he made an impression when he was out there. So much so that he’s been named to one NFL analyst’s All-Preseason team. Jacob Camenker of The Sporting News released his First-Team All-Preseason team Monday, and Turner is one of his two choices at EDGE.

Speed was the name of the game for Turner this preseason. He used his athletic ability to beat Saints offensive tackle Andrus Peat in the team’s first game and got a key sack in the red zone. That gave fans and the league just a glimpse of the talent that made the Vikings trade back up into the first round to grab Turner.

If Turner can continue to develop and maintain that speed, he should be a dangerous weapon in a Brian Flores-led defense. Turner only saw 31 snaps this preseason, but it was more than enough to show that his first-round selection was warranted.

Along with Turner, the Vikings earned four honorable mentions on Camenker’s All-Preseason team: Quarterback Jaren Hall, wide receiver Trishton Jackson, defensive tackle Taki Taimani, and kicker Will Reichard all received nods for their summer performances.

Several Vikings among league leaders in various stats from 2024 preseason

With the 2024 NFL preseason over, the Minnesota Vikings had a number of players among the statistical leaders, including QB Jaren Hall.

Preseason football is less about raw stats and more about getting reps in in anticipation of the coming season and looking good while doing it. That said, it’s always nice when those two things coincide. That is the case for several Minnesota Vikings players this year, as the team has several preseason stats leaders.

The plan and hope is that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold can start all 17 games and play well in doing so. However, Jaren Hall showed during the preseason that he has developed since his brief starting stint last season. In limited action, Hall was among the preseason leaders in passer rating, finishing third overall at 112.5, just behind Jaguars backup Mac Jones and Broncos starter Bo Nix, who led the league at 116.7.

Though he may not have won the battle for WR3 against Jalen Nailor, Vikings wide receiver Trishton Jackson showed he deserves a role in the offense this preseason. A favorite target of anyone taking the snap, Jackson tied for third in receiving yards. But Jackson wasn’t just wracking up yards, he was also putting the ball in the end zone. Jackson led all receivers and tight ends this preseason with three scores.

The final statistical leader for the Vikings was new kicker Will Reichard. The sixth-round pick from Alabama finished his college career as the NCAA’s FBS all-time leading scorer. He picked up right where he left off, coming in second this preseason with 29 points, just two behind leader Cairo Santos. Reichard also booted a 57-yard field goal this preseason to show off his range.

Former MSU football WR catches preseason TD pass

Former Spartan and in-state WR catches a TD pass for the Vikings on Saturday:

Trishton Jackson, a West Bloomfield native, started his college career with Michigan State, playing for the Spartans in 2016 and 2017, recording over 200 receiving yards. Jackson made the move to transfer, finishing his career at Syracuse, but the in-state talent is still known as a Spartan.

Now, Jackson is trying to make the Minnesota Vikings roster in training camp, and he made a good impression on Saturday with a nice TD grab:

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WATCH: Trishton Jackson shows off footwork against Browns in preseason

Last week against the Raiders, the story was J.J. McCarthy and his performance, but someone else also had a good week in Trishton Jackson.

Last week against the Raiders, the story was J.J. McCarthy and his performance, but someone else also had a good week in Trishton Jackson. Jackson picked up where he left off against the Raiders and found the endzone on the team’s first drive.

He didn’t just score though, he ran a great route and capped it off with a toe-tap touchdown.

Usually, we see those types of routes and catches from Justin Jefferson, which is a big reason why he earned the contract he did this offseason. Trishton Jackson, though, is shining through training camp and now through the two preseason games. The competition for WR3 remains between Jailen Nailor and Brandon Powell, but Jackson is doing everything he can to make things interesting.

Even if he doesn’t earn that role, he very much should make the 53-man roster at this point. It Is still early, too; maybe he adds a second one to repeat what he did last week?

WATCH: Nick Mullens connects with Trishton Jackson downfield

Quarterback Nick Mullens connected with wide receiver Trishton Jackson on a deep pass in the team’s joint practice with the Cleveland Browns

The Minnesota Vikings were dealt a massive blow on Wednesday with the news that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy would miss the entirety of his rookie season after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus. This injury leaves Sam Darnold as the undisputed starting quarterback and a lot of uncertainty behind him.

Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall are suddenly battling for the backup quarterback duties, and Mullens appears to be taking full advantage of his new-found position. Where the two were previously fighting for a roster spot, it’s now possible that both make the roster, and 2024 could be another carousel season at the position.

If it is, it looks like Mullens has developed a connection with at least one of his wide receivers: Trishton Jackson. Jackson himself is embroiled in a position battle, his for the third wide receiver spot behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. While Jalen Nailor may have a lead in the battle, Jackson is making sure that the staff doesn’t have an easy decision by making big plays in practice, like the one below.

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.

WATCH: J.J. McCarthy connects deep downfield for a touchdown

J.J. McCarthy had some flashes of brilliance in the first half against the Raiders, but he has found his groove in the second half. 

J.J. McCarthy had some flashes of brilliance in the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he has found his groove in the second half.

McCarthy showed that he could push the ball downfield and pass to the left side of it by unleashing an arching pass to Trishton Jackson. What made the play even better? Having Justin Jefferson on the call.

The veteran wide receiver was on the call for the entire third quarter, and that was when the pass made its way to the endzone.

The play went for 46 yards and was both McCarthy and Jackson’s first touchdowns in their NFL career. McCarthy would connect on the next drive for his second one and has shown that he can adjust the learning curve the NFL is presenting to him.

Jefferson, of course, had to boast shortly after the score on the broadcast that the Vikings have “the best wide receiver room in the NFL.”

WATCH: J.J. McCarthy hits a deep bomb against the first-team defense

Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy hit receiver Trishton Jackson for a 50-yard bomb against the first-team defense in training camp.

Two of the biggest storylines for the Minnesota Vikings heading into training camp were the development of their first-round quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, and their look for someone to step up as the third wide receiver in the offense.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are firmly planted as the top two options, but there’s a big need for someone to step up in that supplementary role — especially in the wake of T.J. Hockenson’s knee injury and the likelihood he’ll be unavailable to start the season.

By the looks of things coming out of the first week of camp, both of those storylines may have fairly positive starts. McCarthy has been showing good progress as a rookie, and both Jalen Nailor and Trishton Jackson have stepped up and made some good plays to start camp off on the right foot.

Today, we got the best of both worlds, as McCarthy hit Jackson for a 50-yard-bomb against the first team defense — a defense that has reportedly “chosen violence” early on and has been giving both McCarthy and presumed starter Sam Darnold fits in the early portions of camp.

We see reports like this come out every year, so it’s important to take these things with a grain of salt. But it’s encouraging to see McCarthy and Jackson hooking up for plays like this against the starting defense, given the question marks surrounding both situations coming into the 2024 season.

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.

10 players sign future contracts with Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings signed 10 player from the practice squad to futures contracts, keeping them with the franchise during the offseason.

The Minnesota Vikings began shaping their 2024 roster on Monday afternoon by signing 10 players to futures contracts.

A futures contract is one that a player signs when they aren’t signed to a team’s active roster when the season is over. It is for the league minimum depending on how many service years the player has. The players don’t impact the salary cap until the new league year starts on March 13th.

Each year, teams usually sign in the ballpark of 10 players to futures contracts. They are usually players that have been on their practice squads throughout the year but every so often, teams will sign a player from another practice squad.

The Vikings signed 10 players to futures contracts on Monday afternoon with all of them having been on the practice squad.