Vikings expected to get a significant defender back for Week 6

Rookie cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. is expected to suit up for the Minnesota Vikings when they head out on the road this weekend to take on the Miami Dolphins.

If the Minnesota Vikings are going to get a win in Week 6, they’re likely going to have to figure out a way to contain the blazing-fast Miami Dolphins wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Well, just in time for this matchup, Vikings rookie cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. appears to finally be healthy enough to play.

Booth has been dealing with a quad injury and it’s caused him to miss four of Minnesota’s first five games this season. The last time we saw the rookie cornerback on the field was back in Week 1 during the Vikings’ big win over the Green Bay Packers.

All signs are pointing to Booth playing against the Dolphins on Sunday though, especially since he wasn’t even listed on Minnesota’s first injury report of the week that was shared on Wednesday.

How can Andrew Booth Jr. help the Minnesota Vikings defeat the Miami Dolphins?

When it comes to the Vikings’ weaknesses this year, their secondary has been one of the most problematic areas of their roster.

After five games, Minnesota currently ranks 22nd in the NFL in passing yards allowed and 28th in yards allowed per pass attempt. PFF also has the Vikings currently as the fifth-worst team in the league in terms of their pass coverage grade.

Now, Minnesota will likely face a rookie quarterback this week in Miami as Skylar Thompson is expected to start under center for the Dolphins. But Hill and Waddle are just as good after the catch as they are at getting open deep downfield, so Thompson basically just has to get the ball in their hands to have a chance at making a big play.

Heading into Week 6, Minnesota’s Cameron Dantzler is PFF’s 15th-best graded corner in the NFL, but Patrick Peterson only has the 52nd-best grade among cornerbacks in the league, and Chandon Sullivan has the 69th-best grade.

The return of Booth, who was selected in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, will hopefully help the Vikings’ chances of slowing down Hill and Waddle on Sunday. If not, Minnesota could be in for a long day of chasing around Miami’s dynamic wide receiver duo.