Vikings Seemingly Throwing Rookies Into the Fire in Week 1

With the days ticking until the Minnesota Vikings open the season against the Chicago Bears, it feels like all the issues that caused a 14-2 start to evaporate with back-to-back losses to close last season have been resolved. But for all the money they used to build a strong support system around J.J. McCarthy, they’ll still need a solid contribution to their rookie class.

This year’s class includes four picks from April’s draft and seven undrafted free agents who made the team during training camp. But even with a heavy veteran presence on the team, rookies Tai Felton and Myles Price will be thrown into the fire immediately after they were listed as the starting kick and punt returners on the team’s depth chart ahead of Monday’s game in Chicago.

Vikings Taking a Major Gamble with Tai Felton and Myles Price in the Return Game

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted that the decision is not a surprise, as Felton and Price took kicks and punts at the end of an open practice period two weeks ago. The two rookies also saw extensive action in those roles during the preseason and gave head coach Kevin O’Connell plenty of confidence heading into the opener against the Bears.

“I think we feel pretty good about Tai Felton and Myles, and just the variety of guys, either on our roster and or practice squad, that can step up and play those roles when required,” O’Connell told reporters on Monday. “But I think that’s been a point of emphasis, not only just the returners, but I think it’s the other 10 guys that are on the field with them as well that I feel very good about.”

There is some reason for optimism with Price and Felton in those two roles. Felton returned three kicks for 57 yards (19 yards per return) during the preseason, while Price ripped off an 81-yard kick return in the second half of the Vikings’ second preseason game against the New England Patriots. Price also was impressive, defeating fellow UDFA Silas Bolden by returning three punts for 36 yards but also bobbling a punt during the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Even if O’Connell’s comments are warranted, relying this heavily on two rookies is a massive gamble going into the opener. With both players making their NFL debuts in primetime, the swirling winds at Soldier Field could turn up the difficulty and perhaps create a game-altering play that gives the Bears prime field position.

After finishing last season ranked 31st in the league with 24.4 yards per kick return and dead last with 6.8 yards per punt return, there’s nowhere to go but up. But it also puts both rookies in a tough spot in a big NFC North showdown on Monday night.

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