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:
CB Mike Hughes
Hughes seems like one of the favorites to win a starting cornerback spot out wide.
Losing a spot out wide isn’t dire for Hughes, who could still be the team’s nickel corner. Despite the Vikings deploying the nickel package quite often, Hughes would still probably earn more playing time as one of the two cornerbacks out wide.
He’ll have to compete with the likes of Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd and the next name on this list…
CB Holton Hill
Similar to Hughes, Hill has been a competent reserve for the Vikings in the past. Also similar to Hughes, Hill seems like one of the more probable candidates to start at corner for the Vikings.
Hill has been good when he’s been on the field and will bring more experience than Gladney and Dantzler. That said, if the rookies are quick studies, Hill could be in trouble.
DT Armon Watts
With Pierce opting out, the nose tackle position on the Vikings defense is now wide open, and Watts seems like a candidate for that spot.
He earned more playing time in 2019 after an injury to Linval Joseph, Minnesota’s mainstay defensive tackle who signed with the Chargers this offseason.
Watts still would be a big-bodied defensive tackle but he has the capability of bringing pressure and making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
He’ll need a good training camp in order to beat out Jaleel Johnson and maybe even Shamar Stephen, who the team could possibly move to the nose tackle spot.
WR Chad Beebe
Beebe has been a serviceable reserve wide receiver option for the Vikings at times, but with the depth in the Minnesota wide receiver room, he will need to have a good training camp.
He’ll compete for the wide receiver three spot with players such as Tajae Sharpe, Quartney Davis and Bisi Johnson, the last of whom earned a lot of playing time there in 2019.
If Beebe has a good camp he can possibly earn a big role in the Vikings offense. If not, he could end up pretty low on the depth chart or even cut.
LB Ben Gedeon
Gedeon earned playing time as the third linebacker on the Vikings defense in 2019.
However, with Eric Wilson coming back, and Troy Dye entering the mix, Gedeon could see less playing time than he did in the past.
He’ll need to beat out Dye, and show that he is as capable of a linebacker as Wilson in order to stay in his current role.
RB Ameer Abdullah
Abdullah was re-signed this offseason. He might be low on the running back depth chart, but he’s shown promise as a return man, a role that is relatively up in the air for the Vikings.
Minnesota’s veteran punt returner Marcus Sherels has a 50-50 chance of retiring this offseason, according to the Pioneer Press. Sherels is not under contract with the team and is currently a free agent.
So the punt returner position is open and kick returner is also not clearly defined as of now. However, Rick Spielman said earlier this offseason that rookie wideout K.J. Osborn has a legitimate chance of winning the return jobs.
If Abdullah loses out on the return jobs and assuming his place on the running back depth chart is fairly low, he could be in trouble.
