7 takeaways from the Vikings Week 3 win over the Raiders
By Adam Patrick
New punt returner needed
For the first time since 2011, the Vikings began the season without Marcus Sherels as their punt returner. The results of his departure have been mixed at best.
Second-year wide receiver Chad Beebe has been Minnesota’s punt returner during the team’s first three games this season and he might not have the job much longer.
On Sunday, Beebe muffed a punt return in the third quarter and if not for Kris Boyd recovering the football, it could have resulted in the Raiders decreasing the Vikings’ 14-point lead. For Beebe, it was his third muffed punt return in Minnesota’s last two games as he had two last week against the Packers.
Luckily for the Vikings, none of these muffs have resulted in their opponent putting points on the board. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t something Minnesota shouldn’t be worried about.
Beebe may be a good option as the Vikings’ third receiver, but he’s shown that he’s not cut out to be the team’s punt returner.
Minnesota needs to find someone else to do the job before Week 4 because their next opponent, the Chicago Bears, are a team that will capitalize on a muffed punt return and likely turn it into points.
The Vikings have the luxury of being able to find a solution to this problem before it grows into an actual dilemma. So finding someone new to return punts is something Minnesota should be doing sooner than later.