3 winners from Minnesota Vikings organized team activities
The Minnesota Vikings didn't have star power at their organized team activities (OTAs) with Justin Jefferson and Danielle Hunter sitting out as they look for new contracts, but that doesn't mean there weren't any winners from recent practices.
While starting spots won't be decided for another several months, several players made an impression early and hope that momentum continues into mandatory minicap June 13-14 and then training camp and the preseason.
Alexander Mattison
The Vikings' backfield is a mystery largely because of the status of Dalvin Cook but it appears that if the two sides don't reach an 11th-hour agreement, Mattison is ready to take over the backfield.
Mattison's return was a surprise considering that it was assumed he would be looking for a starting job. But after signing a two-year, $7 million contract with the Vikings it appears that the Vikings are relying on him to become the bell cow.
Kevin O'Connell took notice of the veteran running back and made sure to point out his progress when speaking to the media on Tuesday.
"It's been really good to see Alex Madison take a few more reps and really show that three-down kind of ownership that he's been capable of for a long time," O'Connell said.
Mattison's rise has been a sudden one after logging a career-low 74 carries last year and just 3.8 yards per carry. But if he can improve on his pass-catching ability and provide efficiency on the ground, he should be able to lead the backfield this season.
K.J. Obsorn
Just like with Mattison, Osborn will have some big shoes to fill with the departure of Adam Thielen. With Justin Jefferson absent from OTAs while he waits for a new contract and first-round pick Jordan Addison out with an undisclosed injury, Osborn has served as the No. 1 receiver during practice.
“K.J. has been a real standout all spring,” O’Connell said. “He’s moving around, he’s playing multiple spots [and] taking on a leadership role, which I expected him to do in that room. It’s just been a really cool process to see not only his ownership of what his role was previously, but you can see it when he breaks the huddle he knows what to do. He knows how to apply all the different techniques and fundamentals that [wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell] and [assistant receivers coach Tony Sorrentino] talk about and then his ability to be consistent no matter where we put him – run or pass – is huge.”
Osborn's production was solid last season (60 catches, 650 yards, 5 TD) but it was often inconsistent, logging three or fewer catches in 10 games. While Osborn cited that it was due to the Vikings' scheme earlier this season and his predecessor declared that he could be a No. 1 receiver earlier this season, Osborn will need to show it when the games count as he enters the final year of his contract.
Josh Metellus
A lot of the hype surrounding the safety spot has surrounded Lewis Cine's recovery from a broken leg but it sounds like Metellus could have a big role in Brian Flores's defense.
According to The Athletic's Alec Lewis, Metellus has lined up throughout the defense, playing safety, nickel corner and even getting opportunities as a pass-rusher.
It's important to remember that Anthony Barr getting reps at pass-rusher was an unofficial tradition of OTAs during his tenure in Minnesota, but Metellus's usage may have some merit. The 25-year-old has been a key contributor on special teams for the Vikings for the past several years and Flores emphasized versatility when speaking about the types of players he wants on his defense.
"I'm big on versatility [and] being able to play multiple spots," Flores said during his introductory press conference in February. "In order to do that, we have to get them coached up in those multiple spots. ... We'll cast a wide net as far as the things we want to be capable of defensively. ... We can get into a myriad of things that we could potentially do. But I think right now, we'll cast a wide net and then we'll see."
Metellus's role in OTAs combined with Flores's comments should mean good things for the Vikings' defense as Flores looks to deploy a more aggressive scheme while replacing Ed Donatell.
