These Four Vikings Need To Put Something Good On Tape To Continue Their Careers In Minnesota With Fewer Games Left
Players have limited opportunity to put excellent tape out there with four games remaining in the regular season and the Vikings’ postseason fate still up in the air. Every team has a few guys playing for their futures with their current organization during this time of year. The Vikings undoubtedly have a fair number of players that are either trying to earn their jobs in Minnesota or, at the very least, are hoping to show potential enough that a different team will take a chance on them. Let’s take a look at the Vikings, who are in the running to make the playoffs next season and still have time to improve.
Vikings under investigation
Lewis Cine
Lewis Cine, a 2022 first-round selection out of Georgia, could not have had a worse start to his career. It is expected that safeties with a high draft position like Cine will be able to make an early impression. To say that he hasn’t succeeded would be an understatement. As a rookie, Cine was picked to start alongside Harrison Smith, but incumbent Camryn Bynum defeated him. After that, Cine broke his leg during a kickoff tackle, thus terminating his season.
For Cine, the second year has been even worse than the first. Bynum, who has actually developed into a possible All-Pro this season, defeated him once more. In addition, Josh Metellus, a veteran special teams player, outran him during training. The fact that Cine isn’t even being used on special teams is perhaps the most concerning aspect of his season. It might be unjust to even imply that Cine has a chance to alter his bust status at this time. Nevertheless, even with two fully guaranteed years remaining on his contract, he will very certainly be cut after the season if he is unable to demonstrate in these final few games that he can have some sort of influence.
K.J. Osborn
Before the Vikings selected Jordan Addison in the first round, it was generally anticipated that K.J. Osborn would be paired with Justin Jefferson to replace the late Adam Thielen. Since his rookie season, Osborn had made significant progress and was beginning to move ahead of Thielen in the standings. Osborn hasn’t been able to continue that momentum in 2023 as a free agent who could become available this summer.
Dean Lowry
As a 3-4 defensive end, Lowry was a mainstay for many years in Green Bay. It was anticipated that he would enter and provide the same support to fellow end Harrison Phillips. In Minnesota, that simply hasn’t been the case this season. Lowry had made nine total tackles and zero sacks through Week 7. He is ranked among the NFL’s worst defensive linemen by PFF as well. After suffering a pectoral injury, he was placed on short-term inactive reserve. Over the past two weeks, he ought to be able to return and have another opportunity to play in games.
Since a large portion of the two-year contract he received this offseason was guaranteed, Lowry has some inherent power. But still, his
Jordan Hicks
Similar to Osborn, Hicks also has a contract that is about to expire. His presence here is more related to Ivan Pace’s rise than it is to his performance this year. Prior to his latest shin injury, which necessitated a brief stay on injured reserve, Hicks had been calling up defense. The defense has advanced since Pace replaced Hicks following his injury. In addition, they just blanked the Raiders, a team for which Pace was nominated for Defensive Player of the Week.
But it doesn’t mean Hicks couldn’t work well beside Pace. But the front management probably views Hicks as expendable given Pace’s recent performance. This offseason, the Vikings will prioritize a Jefferson extension and quarterback due to their limited cap room. Hicks will probably have to accept a pay decrease if he hopes to return to Minnesota the following season on another brief contract. Pace will probably have to take over as play-caller, which will probably require some adjustment on Hicks’ part. With so few games left in the season, he won’t have many chances to demonstrate what it could entail. Hicks should be able to miss the required amount of games in order to give himself that chance.
