For the first time in awhile, the Minnesota Vikings will need to find someone new to be their punt returner after Marcus Sherels decided to sign with the New Orleans Saints.
It has been eight seasons since the Minnesota Vikings had a full-time punt returner not named Marcus Sherels.
Since 2011, Sherels has returned 231 punts for 2,447 yards (10.6 per return) and five touchdowns. Each of these totals are easily at the top of the list when it comes to the Vikings’ all-time punt return records.
However, Sherels has decided to see if the grass is a little greener outside of Minnesota and he has signed with the New Orleans Saints. With this unfortunate news, the Vikings must now find someone new to return punts for them in 2019.
Considering he’s a native of Rochester, Minnesota, Sherels not returning to the Vikings this year was a bit surprising. But apparently, Minnesota didn’t even make him an offer to come back according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson on Thursday.
The Vikings parting ways with their longtime punt returner probably has a lot to do with the team now having a new coach in Marwan Maalouf leading their special teams. Mike Priefer is now with the Cleveland Browns and he was Minnesota’s special teams coach during Sherels’ entire tenure as the the Vikings’ punt returner (2011 to 2018).
When Minnesota and Maalouf attempt to figure out who will be returning punts for the team in 2019, who are some of the options they could have to choose from?