5 Vikings positions that have worsened since the start of training camp

Backup Quarterback

After the 2021 NFL Draft, there was really no question that rookie Kellen Mond would be the backup quarterback for the Vikings this season. He was drafted in the third round, and he can make plays with his arm or legs, giving Minnesota an element they haven’t had in many moons.

Mond was okay in the Vikings’ OTAs earlier this year, having good moments mixed with bad, and it was assumed he’d progress as the summer wore on.

Unfortunately, he missed a big chunk of practice early on in training camp as he had to sit out after testing positive for COVID-19 protocols. Since returning, he has looked shaky at best in the two games he’s played so far in the preseason.

Jake Browning was the only quarterback on the roster for about a week when Mond, Kirk Cousins, and Nate Stanley all had to sit out because of the league’s current COVID-19 protocols. Browning made the most of the opportunity, and he looked pretty good in the team’s first scrimmage, hitting receivers down the field and building rapport with many of the starters.

He played so well that there was significant buzz that he could start the regular season as Minnesota’s top backup behind Cousins, forcing the team to keep three quarterbacks on the roster.

But since then, Browning has made appearances in two preseason games, and neither went particularly well. He threw an ugly pick-six against the Denver Broncos in the first matchup, and he made some poor decisions against the Indianapolis Colts last week, failing to move the Vikings offense down the field.

After evaluating the recent performance of these two, Minnesota must know their backup quarterback situation is far worse than they initially thought. They will still likely roll with Mond, and they could keep Browning around, but they will definitely pray that Cousins doesn’t get hurt or the season could be lost.