5 Vikings players facing a make-or-break training camp in 2021

Ameer Abdullah – RB

There is no disputing Dalvin Cook’s importance to the Vikings and their pursuit of a playoff return in 2021. The running back is one of the best in the business and remains the focal point offensively despite the emergence of Justin Jefferson as another elite wide receiver for the organization to depend on.

Taking the load off Cook during the season to preserve his health is always a smart avenue to go down. More so this year with a 17-game campaign.

Alexander Mattison appears locked in as the second option. There is also some hope for Ameer Abdullah to make strides, although he won’t have things all his own way for the No. 3 position on Minnesota’s depth chart.

There is a little bit of pressure on Abdullah this summer, thanks to the arrival of Kene Nwangwu, a fourth-round pick in 2021 that comes with some eye-catching athleticism.

This will increase the sense of urgency where Abdullah is concerned. Having a talented rookie breathing down your neck will do that to a veteran and how he performs both at camp and during the carries that come his way in the preseason will be of critical importance.

Abdullah has the skills and is a dual-threat weapon coming out of the backfield. It would be a shock if he wasn’t on the roster heading into Week 1, but that doesn’t mean the Nebraska product won’t need to make his presence felt.