4 gigantic questions that will be answered in Vikings training camp
By Nik Edlund
Who will be Minnesota’s punt returner?
The Vikings don’t have many questions when it comes to the top of their depth chart. They have starters entrenched on just about every position on offense, with maybe one guard spot up for grabs.
On the defensive side of the ball, it’s a very similar story for Minnesota, with most of the starting spots being spoken for.
Special teams are mostly this way too for the Vikings, except for one position, and that is punt returner. Minnesota wasn’t able to come to terms with Dede Westbrook earlier this year and the team quickly moved on from him when he rejected their offer.
While that move was justified, it left a void at punt returner, and now the Vikings will have to figure out who they will rely on to help better their field position in 2022.
The Vikings tried various players out at punt returner during their mini camp and OTAs this past spring, with guys like K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette getting the majority of the work.
Minnesota has also toyed with Kene Nwangwu back there and they could give some opportunities to rookies Ty Chandler and Thomas Hennigan this summer. The Vikings could even see if the old veteran Albert Wilson can show a little wiggle and earn himself a spot on this team.
This job should come down to Osborn or Smith-Marsette, but this will be decided in training camp, and we probably won’t find who has landed the role until we get into the dog days of August.