4 most disappointing Vikings in Week 3 win over the Seahawks
By Nik Edlund
D.J. Wonnum – DE
D.J. Wonnum earned the starting defensive end job opposite Danielle Hunter this summer, and while that was a nice story, he needs to start producing like a starting pass rusher. Through three games, Wonnum has been nonexistent with just six tackles on the year, no tackles for a loss, no quarterback hits, and no sacks.
He played 34 defensive snaps for the Vikings in Sunday’s game and didn’t get close to pressuring Wilson. He’s currently rocking a 42.6 overall grade from PFF and is definitely someone who needs to step up their play.
Wonnum did run hot and cold as a rookie and that is maybe just the type of player he is. Perhaps he’ll bust out next week against the Browns with a multi-sack game, and then go silent again for a few weeks.
Who knows if that is truly the case with Wonnum, but if he doesn’t start to consistently pressure quarterbacks or have more of a presence defending the run, he should get replaced. The team has plenty of options with rookie Patrick Jones, veteran Stephen Weatherly, and they could even toy with putting Sheldon Richardson on the outside.
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They could also go back to starting Everson Griffen, though the team seems quite content with his role as a pass-rushing specialist.