Next Two Preseason Games Will Determine Desmond Bishop’s Fate

October 9, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) makes a catch with coverage by Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) in the game at the Georgia Dome. The Packers beat the Falcons 25-14. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Leslie Frazier is very seldom blunt when it comes to assessments of players. Most of the time you have to read between the lines of the coach’s remarks to get any sense of where guys stand. But it’s different right now with Desmond Bishop. Frazier is making no bones about it when it comes to the Vikings linebacker. Bishop’s job is on the line and Bishop knows it.

“This is going to determine whether or not he makes our team,” Frazier said when asked about Bishop. “So much of this is about how he plays over the next two weeks. Or if he’s not available because of his injury. I can’t say it any simpler than that. It’s a big two weeks for him. He needs to show us he can help our football team in order to make our team.”

Does that leave any gray area? No. Desmond Bishop has to recover from his groin injury and get on the field. He has to show the skills the Vikings hoped he would flash when they signed him as a free agent before camp. Otherwise they will go with Marvin Mitchell and/or rookie Gerald Hodges at weak-side linebacker.

This isn’t how we envisioned things working out for Bishop. When the Vikes signed him the hope was he would push Erin Henderson at MLB or at least lock down the WLB spot. Instead he is fighting to even make the team. We’ll see how he fares against Buffalo this Friday.

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