5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys in Week 10

Hughes will get more involved on defense

Last week, Trae Waynes took the challenge of defending one of the best receivers in football, Tyreek Hill. Needless to say, it did not go well. While Hill had a monster day with six catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, a lot of it came in the coverage of Waynes, who also allowed a long catch that set up a game-tying field goal late in the game.

Many cornerbacks get torched trying to cover a receiver like Tyreek Hill, but lesser receivers have also had their way with Waynes as he’s allowed the eighth-most receiving yards in the NFL (482). With Waynes an impending free agent at the end of the season, his time in a Vikings jersey is probably limited, which means a change could be in order.

The biggest beneficiary of a change would be Mike Hughes, who is getting closer to regaining his form before his multi-ligament knee injury suffered in October of 2018. The former first-round pick currently ranks eighth in the NFL allowing 0.74 yards per coverage snap and should be in line for more playing time as he continues to get comfortable in Mike Zimmer’s system.

Even if Hughes isn’t officially promoted to the starting lineup, we could see more of him anyway as Waynes missed practice on Thursday with an ankle injury. Either way, Hughes should begin to see more run in the coming weeks and that could begin on Sunday night.