3 most disappointing Vikings from their win over the Lions in Week 17
By Nik Edlund
D.J. Wonnum – DE
Vikings rookie defensive end D.J. Wonnum had a big opportunity to end his first year in the league with a bang. With Ifeadi Odenigbo and Jalyn Holmes both inactive on Sunday, Wonnum got the start and he was Minnesota’s best pass rusher on the field against the Lions.
The start was a great chance for Wonnum to finally surpass Yannick Ngkaoue as the Vikings 2020 sack leader. Ngakoue finished his six-game tenure in Minnesota with five sacks and Wonnum was going up against a banged-up Detroit offensive line, so the rookie getting a couple of sacks didn’t seem insurmountable. Unfortunately, Wonnum couldn’t cash in on the opportunity he was given.
He finished the day with just three tackles as he didn’t generate much pressure at all and there were times when Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford seemed to have hours to look down the field and find the open man.
Wonnum couldn’t get around Detroit’s offensive line and he just wasn’t able to provide much heat on Stafford throughout the day.
While Wonnum’s rookie season is still impressive and he gives the Vikings a nice piece to continue to mold for the future, seeing him end the season with at least one more sack, would’ve been extremely encouraging.