3 best rookie performances for the Vikings in the 2022 preseason opener
By Luke Parrish
Ty Chandler – RB
The hype around Ty Chandler after he was drafted by the Vikings was quickly rewarded as he took the field for the first time. His experience as a receiving back made him a viable backup option in the backfield to ease some of the pressure off of Alexander Mattison.
However, after one game – and probably a bit of an overreaction – Chandler may have done enough to warrant a complete dismissal of Mattison. He ran the ball well, performed on special teams, and looked like a fun complementary piece to Dalvin Cook.
Kene Nwangwu also looked excellent in his second preseason stint which should really increase the urgency on Mattison’s behalf. For Chandler specifically, he was incredible. He carried the ball five times for 50 yards while also adding a 56-yard kickoff return in the second half.
Chandler looked explosive with the ball in his hands which was nice to see. There are some concerns with his processing speed and decisiveness as a runner but he looked much better in those regards on Sunday.
The duo of Chandler and Nwangwu appears to be a very fun pair to fill in for Dalvin Cook and both have some exciting potential on special teams. There is a very real scenario in which the Vikings keep Chandler on the roster while Alexander Mattison, who continues to struggle with vision, gets the boot.