Mike Hughes proves doubters wrong with Week 1 performance

The Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback stepped up when the team needed him the most during their Week 1 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s not the first-round draft selection many predicted the Minnesota Vikings would make last April, but it’s already proving to be the right one just a game into the team’s 2018 season.

Due to some other injuries in the secondary on Sunday, Vikings rookie Mike Hughes was on the field for more than 75 percent of the team’s defensive snaps against the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, Xavier Rhodes was the only Minnesota cornerback to have more time on the field than Hughes this week.

The rookie held his own for the most part on Sunday, but there was one play that clearly stood out from the rest.

Midway through the third quarter with the Vikings leading the 49ers 10-3, San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took a snap on 3rd and 8 and quickly threw to the right side of the field to avoid the pressure that Minnesota was sending.

But instead of a 49ers receiver hauling in Garoppolo’s pass, the ball dropped right into the hands of Hughes, who then proceeded to take it 28 yards the other way for a touchdown.

It was the first of, hopefully, many scores for the young Vikings corner. It was also the first time in team history that a Minnesota rookie returned an interception for a touchdown in a Week 1 matchup.

Hughes’ pick six proved to be just as vital as any of the Vikings’ three touchdowns on Sunday too as Minnesota ended up only defeating San Francisco by eight points.

After the game, Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer was asked about his rookie’s performance against the 49ers.

"“We expect him to go out there and do that. I mean that’s why we drafted him. Everybody was complaining about taking that corner, I’m glad we had him today.”"

Yes, the Vikings could have selected a young interior offensive lineman during last April’s draft and filled another one of their needs. But Minnesota clearly felt they could not use their first-round pick on someone else and leave Hughes up on the board.

One week into the 2018 season, that decision by Zimmer and the Vikings is proving to be the right one.