Inside The Vikings

Vikings Snap Counts vs. Saints: Jalen Nailor Returns, Ty Chandler Steps In

Nailor played for the first time since Week 2 and caught his first pass of the season.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Snap Counts vs. Saints: Jalen Nailor Returns, Ty Chandler Steps In
Vikings Snap Counts vs. Saints: Jalen Nailor Returns, Ty Chandler Steps In

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings just keep winning.

Sunday's victory over the Saints, which was sparked by an incredible first-half performance, was the team's fifth consecutive win. They've done that despite starting a different quarterback in each of the last three weeks. Josh Dobbs was sensational for the second game in a row, ripping apart a good New Orleans defense for 21 points in the second quarter alone.

As has been the case all throughout this streak, the Vikings leaned on their depth to get it done. Already without Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and Cam Akers on the offensive side of the ball, they lost Alexander Mattison, Akayleb Evans, and Jordan Hicks to injury over the course of the game. With Hicks hitting injured reserve this week, it'll once again be about the next-man-up mentality. 

Let's take a look at Minnesota's offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 10 to see what we can learn.

Vikings offensive snap counts vs. Saints (out of 73)

  • QB Josh Dobbs: 73
  • RT Brian O'Neill: 73
  • RG Ed Ingram: 73
  • LT Christian Darrisaw: 73
  • LG Dalton Risner: 73
  • C Garrett Bradbury: 73
  • WR Jordan Addison: 71
  • WR Jalen Nailor: 67
  • WR Brandon Powell: 49
  • TE T.J. Hockenson: 46
  • RB Alexander Mattison: 33
  • RB Ty Chandler: 32
  • TE Josh Oliver: 32
  • TE Johnny Mundt: 16
  • FB C.J. Ham: 10
  • WR N'Keal Harry: 4
  • RB Kene Nwangwu: 3
  • WR Trishton Jackson: 2

Playing for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury back in Week 2, Nailor instantly jumped in as a full-time WR2 with Osborn out. He only caught one pass as Hockenson, Addison, and Powell saw most of the targets, but his speed showed up on tape.

It'll be interesting to see how things shake out at wide receiver once the Vikings get Justin Jefferson back. It'll obviously be Jefferson and Addison as the top two, with Osborn presumably still at WR3, but both Powell and Nailor have looked good in their opportunities. Harry and Jackson will again be pushed down the depth chart.

With Akers out for the season, Chandler joined Mattison in the backfield and scored the first touchdown of his career (he also had another one called back because of a penalty in the third quarter). Then Mattison picked up a concussion, which means Chandler is in line to lead the backfield this week. Kene Nwangwu, who got his first two carries of the season against the Saints, will likely be the RB2. Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride are also options via the practice squad.

This was the lowest snap rate of the season for Hockenson, who battled through bruised ribs to have an incredible first half.

Vikings defensive snap counts vs. Saints (out of 67)

  • S Camryn Bynum: 67
  • S Harrison Smith: 67
  • CB Byron Murphy Jr: 67
  • S Josh Metellus: 67
  • OLB D.J. Wonnum: 62
  • OLB Danielle Hunter: 61
  • LB Ivan Pace Jr: 56
  • DT Harrison Phillips: 55
  • CB Akayleb Evans: 39
  • OLB Pat Jones II: 38
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon: 36
  • DT Jonathan Bullard: 35
  • LB Jordan Hicks: 28
  • CB Andrew Booth Jr: 17
  • LB Troy Dye: 16
  • DT Khyiris Tonga: 9
  • DT Jaquelin Roy: 8
  • S Theo Jackson: 6
  • OLB Andre Carter II: 2
  • S Jay Ward: 1

With Hicks going down in the first half of this one, Pace assumed the green-dot role as the player who communicates the calls from Brian Flores. He'll have that responsibility against the Broncos while likely filling Hicks' every-down role. Dye appears to be second in line for snaps at inside linebacker, but keep an eye on Brian Asamoah II, Nick Vigil, and the recently-signed Anthony Barr.

The Vikings needed both Blackmon and Booth against the Saints due to Evans' injury, and both young corners played well. Blackmon, who recorded his first career interception, is presumably in line to start if Evans can't go.

Ward, the Vikings' No. 5 safety, got the first defensive snap of his career. Lewis Cine has been a healthy scratch each week.

Top 10 in special team snaps

  • Troy Dye: 23
  • Ivan Pace Jr: 22
  • Jay Ward: 20
  • NaJee Thompson: 19
  • Theo Jackson: 19
  • Johnny Mundt: 16
  • C.J. Ham: 16
  • Andre Carter II: 13
  • Kene Nwangwu: 13
  • Nick Vigil: 13

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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