5 Vikings offensive players on the bubble entering training camp

Ameer Abdullah – RB

Ameer Abdullah is the Vikings fourth running back and that always puts a guy right on the bubble. Abdullah was kept on Minnesota’s roster season ago because he became the team’s primary return man and he was also a great gunner on kickoffs and punts.

This year, there will be much more competition for those spots and, once again, he will be on the roster bubble during training camp.

Abdullah isn’t going to climb the Vikings running back depth chart. Dalvin Cook is No. 1 with Alexander Mattison at No. 2, and Boone at No. 3. This isn’t going to change. Where he needs to put his focus is on his return skills, as he tries to beat out rookie K.J. Osborn.

Minnesota drafted Osborn to be the team’s primary kick and punt returner. The kid has experience doing this in college and he has great speed and vision. They used a fifth-round pick on him which shows they believe he can be a special teams stallion and earn the job this season.

If Osborn fulfills that wish, Abdullah could find himself on the outside looking in. The veteran running back will have to improve his ball security and hustle his butt off on every punt and kickoff rep. If he does this then it’s possible, though unlikely, he beats out the fifth-round pick for a roster spot.