5 potential options if any Vikings receivers miss time in 2020
By Dustin Baker
What options do the Minnesota Vikings have if receivers miss games in 2020?
On Monday, four Minnesota Vikings players were the first from the team’s 2020 roster to be placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Justin Jefferson, Blake Brandel, Brian Cole II, and Tyler Higby were the unfortunate ones and all four are rookies.
The Vikings aren’t necessarily thin at the wide receiver position this year as they will have multiple young players battling for roster spots. Second-year wideout Bisi Johnson and free-agent signee Tajae Sharpe figure to be frontrunners for spots on Minnesota’s 2020 depth chart.
However, the Vikings appear to be putting their eggs in Jefferson’s basket as the replacement for recent castoff, Stefon Diggs. Ideally, Jefferson would not miss any playing time during his rookie campaign. But with uncertainty everywhere about the COVID-19 virus, no one knows what to expect.
If Jefferson misses extended time due to the virus or if Adam Thielen ended up on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in the future, Minnesota would probably spy other options in the open market.
The cliché and sexy names won’t be on this list of players we are about to discuss. After all, Josh Gordon remains suspended and Antonio Brown essentially retires and unretires on a weekly basis. It is unrealistic to surmise that either man is a rational option at this point in time.
Instead, let’s take a look at five levelheaded options the Vikings could explore if more of their pass-catchers end up on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this year.