5 Vikings to Watch: Preseason Week 4 vs. the Bills
By Nik Edlund
Jeff Badet – WR
Jeff Badet is a player the Vikings would probably like to keep, but he just needs to show them something first. Badet has god-given speed. He’s an absolute burner and he is a big play waiting to happen. That’s the problem though, it hasn’t happened yet.
So far this preseason, Minnesota has seen breakout performances from Bisi Johnson and Brandon Zylstra. But the rest of the lower portion of the Vikings’ receiving corps has been fairly quiet. It’s time for one of these guys near the bottom of Minnesota’s depth chart to do something in a preseason game.
Badet’s speed is an asset on special teams. He did get some kick return attempts against the Seahawks in Week 2 and that ability gives him an advantage over some of the other receivers on the depth chart who bring nothing in that department.
The Vikings only kept five receivers a season ago and that is not good news for Badet. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are a given, and Chad Beebe and Bisi Johnson also seem like locks. Zylstra is probably in the No. 5 spot at this point, but Badet could potentially surpass him on Minnesota’s depth chart with a big performance against the Bills this week.
Related Story. 5 recent players who spent time with the Vikings and Bills. light
If he can use that speed and get behind a corner and score a long touchdown, that could be enough to convince the Vikings to keep him around. If he’s quiet yet again on Thursday, Badet is probably either going to be released or end up on Minnesota’s practice squad.