4 Vikings who should immediately be promoted
By Adam Carlson
Sheldon Richardson, defensive line
The defensive line has been a crazy shuffle this season. While Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson are finally back in the lineup together, Danielle Hunter is on IR and Everson Griffen’s return is something that shouldn’t be rushed until he is mentally in a good place.
Minnesota has Sheldon Richardson ready for action at any time. He can fill in as a defensive end or defensive tackle and provide help as a backup or rotational player to plug up the middle or attempt to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The Vikings are being creative in how they use him by getting him on the field for 51.87 percent of defensive snaps to this point of the season. Most of those were filling in for Dalvin Tomlinson during his injury but he’s playing well enough to get rotated in on a regular basis wherever possible.
Richardson already has three passes defended and has amassed nine quarterback hits, and four tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks. Good things tend to happen with him on the field, so that’s when making sure he gets more time can only be a positive thing.