Rookie linebacker getting a shot with the Vikings’ first-team defense
By Adam Patrick
Former Michigan linebacker Ben Gedeon was given a chance to play with the Minnesota Vikings’ starting defense during Friday’s camp practice.
The search for a starting weak-side linebacker has been one of the more intriguing battles so far during this year’s training camp for the Minnesota Vikings. Of course this role belonged to Chad Greenway in 2016, but he has since retired after playing 10 seasons with the Vikings.
Before camp began this year, the fight for Greenway’s starting spot was thought to be between Minnesota linebackers Emmanuel Lamur and Edmond Robinson. However, a new player has been thrown into the mix as recent as Minnesota’s practice on Friday.
Ben Gedeon seeing first-team reps at weak-side linebacker. He's risen into competition with Lamur and Robinson
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) August 4, 2017
Rookie linebacker Ben Gedeon has been performing well during the Vikings’ training camp so far and now he is getting rewarded with the chance to compete for a spot on the team’s starting defense.
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Selected by Minnesota in the fourth-round of last spring’s draft, Gedoen spent the past four years playing for the University of Michigan. During his only season as a starter on Michigan’s defense in 2016, the linebacker finished with 94 total tackles (15 for a loss), 4.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.
His play last year was enough for Minnesota to take a chance on him in the draft and now Gedeon already has himself in the running to be a starter in his very first NFL season. Something not many saw coming, but also something that no one seems to be complaining about.
The Vikings have had rookie linebackers open the year on their starting defense in season’s past. Most recently with Anthony Barr in 2014 and Greenway back in 2007.
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Unlike Barr and Greenway though, Gedeon was not drafted by Minnesota in the first round. But the rookie linebacker may soon prove to the Vikings, and to the rest of the NFL, that he was worth being taken much higher than when he eventually came off the board.