Vikings Already Making Jeff Okudah Backup Plans for Week 2

The Minnesota Vikings put a lot of time and effort into bulking up their defense this offseason, but the cornerback room was an area that felt neglected. While Minnesota bolstered its defensive line with the addition of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings never made a major addition despite starters Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin's foray into free agency.

The one they did make may be their best one. Jeff Okudah was on his last legs after the No. 3 overall pick battled injuries in stints with the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans. But he was able to impress during training camp and win a starting job, even convincing the team to trade 2023 draft pick Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts.

But Okudah’s redemption story lasted just one game after suffering a concussion in Monday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears and the Vikings have already begun making contingency plans in case the 26-year-old is out for an extended amount of time.

Vikings' Dwight McGlothern Is Next Man Up with Jeff Okudah in Concussion Protocol

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores addressed Okudah’s injury and revealed Minnesota’s backup plan if he can’t get out of concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. While there’s a chance Okudah could wind up playing, Flores said that second-year corner Dwight McGlothern would be the next man up if Okudah couldn’t play on Sunday.

“Obviously, he had a really good training camp, and he’s somebody we feel good about,” Flores said about Okudah. “So in those situations, you know, he would go, but like you mentioned, [Okudah is] in the protocol, and we’ll just take that day by day and see how all that shakes out. But you know, [McGlothern] would be the first guy that comes to mind and got a lot of confidence in him.”

Plugging McGlothern into the starting lineup would be a bold gamble on the Vikings' depth. A UDFA out of Arkansas last season, McGlothern played well enough during the preseason to earn a spot on the team and played in five games. While he played just five defensive snaps, he successfully defended both targets that came in his direction.

While he posted an 88.4 overall grade and 87.3 grade in coverage last preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, he didn’t have the same performance this year with a 63.1 overall grade and 60.1 coverage grade on 104 snaps. McGlothern would be the next man up between Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr., and it would be the most extensive regular-season action of his career if he gets the start on Sunday.

Going against a Falcons team that saw Michael Penix Jr. throw for 298 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing McGlothern into the fire is an interesting strategy. It’s especially true since they’ll already be down linebacker Blake Cashman after he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday night. But the Vikings have clearly put their faith in him, and it could pay off on Sunday night.

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