3 Minnesota Vikings who were a nice surprise in 2021

The Minnesota Vikings got contributions from some surprise pieces during the 2021 season that should get people excited about the future.

The 2021 season may have been an overall disappointment for the Minnesota Vikings, but that does not mean they ended the year without some positives to take away.

Injuries happen to every team every year in the NFL, and you often hear the mantra “next man up” uttered by coaches and players when the inevitable hits. This has been even more of a mindset for teams over the last two years with the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out players at any moment.

These situations give players lower on the depth chart the chance to make their impact felt, however, and often leave teams and fans alike left quite impressed by their performances.

Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is one example of this when he filled in for starter Lamar Jackson late in the 2021 season.

Whether it be due to injury/illness, solid performances in practice/preseason, or a combination of both, these Vikings players took their opportunities and ran with them in 2021, exciting the fan base when optimism took a dip.