Minnesota Vikings debut for Kene Nwangwu could come soon
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings have been without the services of their talented rookie running back but could have him back on the field soon.
It’s a good time to be a running back for the Minnesota Vikings. Dalvin Cook is universally praised for being one of the best in the league at the position and Alexander Mattison is coming off a career day against the Seahawks in Week 3.
Having those two on the team is definitely a major boost for the purple and gold, but Minnesota could have the debut of their rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Iowa State come sooner than many may think.
Kene Nwangwu was a player the Vikings coaching staff pounded the table for. His speed and athleticism quickly made him a favorite to play on special teams but he could quickly earn playing time on offense if Cook is forced to miss more time.
Recently, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press shared on Twitter that the players who were placed on three-game injured reserve are now eligible to return.
It sounds like #Vikings rookie RB Kene Nwangwu could return to practice as soon as Wednesday. He's missed the required 3 games on IR with hyperextended left knee. Once a player is designated for return off IR, a team has 21 days to activate him. Nwangwu did work on side last week
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 28, 2021
The fact he has already been working on the sidelines with the Vikings is a good sign that he might be ready to join the team soon. Of course, Minnesota doesn’t need to rush Nwangwu into the lineup with Mattison and Ameer Abdullah healthy. Plus, Dalvin Cook’s ankle shouldn’t keep him out of action for too long since he was questionable last week leading up to the game against the Seahawks.
A running back stable to Cook, Mattison, Abdullah, and Nwangwu may just be one of the most dynamic and versatile groups in the NFL. They each offer skills unique to themselves and can be valuable pieces of an offense if given the opportunity.
It will be interesting to see when the Minnesota Vikings activate Kene Nwangwu and what their role will be for him once he joins the active roster. Hopefully, he can be a spark on both special teams and offense to help the squad reach the playoffs this season.