Don’t count out Jerick McKinnon at running back for the Vikings in 2017
By Adam Carlson
Jerick McKinnon seemed to be in line for a bigger workload with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, then along came Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray…
There is no debate that the Minnesota Vikings backfield will look different in 2017. Since 2007, it has been the Adrian Peterson show at running back, but now it will be up to a trio of rushers to prove their worth for the team.
The most discussed of those options are second round draft pick Dalvin Cook and free agent acquisition Latavius Murray. However, the team still has the services of former third round draft pick and dynamic player Jerick McKinnon at their disposal.
Recently, McKinnon spoke about being overlooked in the Vikings backfield in an article on the Pioneer Press website and discussed the competition he will be facing:
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"“Don’t count me out,” McKinnon said. “That’s always my goal (to start). I’m competitive. I think it will be a good way to evaluate myself and see where I stack up against them.”"
Jerick McKinnon has been working hard to improve this offseason. With his body feeling good and his mind focused, he may be a much bigger factor in the running back rotation than many experts are predicting.
"“My body feels good,’’ McKinnon said. “I’m just ready to prove myself and show how much better I’ve got in the offseason.’’"
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It will be interesting to see how the running back battle pans out. With so many talented players available, there will be no shortage of quality at the position. If the Minnesota Vikings can use all three players to their best potential, the team could find themselves with a vastly improved run game during the 2017 season.