Popular Vikings rookie expected to make 2024 debut vs. Colts on Sunday
By Adam Patrick
On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that defensive lineman Taki Taimani has already been ruled out for Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
With Taimani unavailable, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed that rookie defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez will "more than likely" be active this weekend for the first time this season.
Rodriguez was selected by Minnesota earlier this year in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M Commerce, a Division I FCS school that is also where former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson spent his college career.
Minnesota Vikings hoping rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez can help out against a talented Indianapolis Colts backfield
In his official NFL debut, Rodriguez will have the task of helping Minnesota attempt to slow down Colts All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor.
After struggling a bit during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, Taylor is back to playing at a similar level to his 2021 season when he rushed for over 1,800 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.
Heading into Week 9 against the Vikings, the veteran running back is averaging 90.8 rushing yards per contest, 4.9 yards per rushing attempt, and 5.5 yards per touch. His per game rushing average currently ranks fourth among all NFL running backs, behind only Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry.
It will be a tough test for Minnesota, but luckily, they've actually been one of the best teams in the league at defending the run this season. Heading into Sunday, the Vikings rank third in the NFL rushing yards allowed per attempt and expected points contributed by the rushing defense.
With Indianapolis starting 39-year-old Joe Flacco at quarterback on Sunday, they're probably going to lean on their rushing attack to take some of the pressure off of the veteran signal-caller's shoulders. So, Rodriguez and Minnesota should be expecting a true battle in the trenches when they face the Colts this weekend inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
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