Vikings rookie Laquon Treadwell made his preseason debut Friday and gave fans a hint of what he has to offer.
Laquon Treadwell started his NFL career Friday night against the Bengals and made a strong first impression, catching four balls for 41 yards on five targets.
Treadwell’s first catch of the night came with time running down in the second quarter. The rookie found a nice open pocket in the Bengals’ defense and Shaun Hill hit him for an 18-yard gain.
This nice completion is just a hint of what what we should expect from Treadwell as he continues his development. He presents a nice target for Hill and snatches the ball crisply out of the air. The rookie turns quickly in hopes of continuing up the field but the defense is right there to bring him down.
Treadwell remarked later on his feelings as he experienced his first NFL action. The rookie enjoyed his initial taste of the league it’s safe to say. (via St. Paul Pioneer-Press):
"“It was fun,” Treadwell said. “I was out there having fun and doing what I love to do.”Treadwell insisted he wasn’t nervous.“Just anxious to get out on the field for the first time,” he said. “That was the first one, and I now I just got to look forward to the next one.”"
Nerves won’t ever be a problem for Laquon Treadwell I don’t imagine.
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The second half saw more of the same from Treadwell. Hill and Laquon hooked up for a 7-yard play early in the third and then on a later drive the kid caught a ten-yarder from third-string QB Joel Stave.
Later in the same drive, Stave tried to hook up with Treadwell again but missed him on a deep route down the right side.
Treadwell’s final catch of the night was a six-yarder from Stave to convert a fourth-and-three on the Cincinnati 38. The Vikings would finish that drive by scoring on a C.J. Ham ten-yard TD run.
Next: Bridgewater and Johnson reconnect
Treadwell saw no action with Teddy Bridgewater in but there’s still plenty of time for the rookie and his QB to start building their chemistry.
All-in-all, it was a solid first night of real professional football work for Treadwell. And there should be many more good nights to come.