A big reason why the Vikings claimed running back De’Angelo Henderson earlier this week is because of his ability to catch the ball.
“He was a guy that catches the ball well out of the backfield, good acceleration, quick feet,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Friday. “He’s got a stocky body. Short, but he’s got a stocky body. We felt like he would be a good fit for some of the things that we’re looking to do.”
Henderson, a two-year pro, hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to showcase that in his career just yet. In two seasons with the Broncos and Jets, he had just two catches for 36 yards.
However, at Coastal Carolina from 2013-16, he amassed 97 catches for 921 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior in 2015, he caught 40 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns.
He’ll be competing for a roster spot along with Ameer Abdullah and Mike Boone to back up Dalvin Cook and more than likely rookie Alexander Mattison.
