Vikings vs Bengals preseason week 1: 5 things to watch for

Watch for Joel Stave

For those who don’t watch much college football until it’s time to research the NFL Draft prospects, the name Joel Stave probably means absolutely nothing. However, he could end up being the team’s third quarterback this season if Taylor Heinicke needs to take an extended absence due to a leg injury.

Stave’s relatively unknown nature could make him fun to watch on Friday. Since the Minnesota Vikings typically keep three quarterback on their roster, Stave has a chance to stick with the team even if he doesn’t make the main roster, as the practice squad can be a great spot to stash a quarterback.

But is Stave worth stashing? At this point, there’s no way of knowing. He has a winning track record during his time with the Wisconsin Badgers and has shown the ability to throw a strong, tight pass. However, inconsistency and pocket presence have been issues for him in the past and he’ll need to show improvement on those areas before he’s worth holding onto this year.

Of course, he’ll be behind Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill in the pecking order, but fans of the Minnesota Vikings could get a hard, long look at Stave if the team gives him the second half of the first preseason game to test his worth.

Next: Tread lightly