Preseason Game 1 - Broncos @ Vikings

The Vikings completed their two days of joint practices with the Denver Broncos and prepare now for the first of three preseason games on Saturday. It doesn’t sound like the Vikings’ veteran starters will play too much, so it will be a big game for players on the roster bubble and those trying to push for playing time.

Given that, let’s look at the 10 players most worth watching during Saturday’s exhibition.

1. Ihmir Smith-Marsette

The rookie wide receiver from Iowa had a great practice last Saturday at the stadium and seemed to grow more comfortable with his status on the team, joking around with Justin Jefferson on the field.

But then at the start of the week, coach Mike Zimmer wanted to make sure Smith-Marsette didn’t get too comfortable. He made it perfectly clear that Smith-Marsette hasn’t done enough yet to make the roster and that, while he’s done well as a receiver, he has a lot to improve on special teams.

Now, Smith-Marsette has a chance to answer the challenge from his coach. He’ll probably get to return some kicks and punts, plus will get a lot of snaps in other aspects of special teams. Those will go a long way in determining how safe is spot on the team is.

“It’s still somewhat fresh to him, a little bit,” special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken said of that phase of the game. “Still a little bit new, but he’s doing a great job just trying to embrace the role and everything we throw at him. He’s been very positive, and he’s willing to do it. And he wants to do it. And he wants to help this team in any way he can. That’s all I can ask for right now (from) a young guy or a wide receiver, or any position, that’s never played (special teams). If they’re just willing to come out here and help the team and get better every day.”

2. Josh Metellus

Conversely, Metellus is the kind of player who has made an impact on special teams, but probably needs to improve at his natural position, safety. When Harrison Smith got the day off during training camp, the Vikings elevated Myles Dorn to the vacant starting spot instead of Metellus.

So Saturday is a good opportunity for him to make plays on defense. He’ll probably open with the second-team defense but since Smith and Xavier Woods aren’t expected to play much, Metellus will get a lot of snaps.

3. Jake Browning

The quarterback made the most of his time with added responsibility while Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, and Nate Stanley were all on the COVID-19/Reserve list. Browning solidified himself as the team’s No. 2 quarterback entering exhibition games.

But if he’s going to convince the Vikings to keep three quarterbacks, he needs to be significantly better than Mond. So far, he’s got a substantial advantage over the rookie, but the games go a long way in the Vikings’ evaluation of quarterbacks.

With a strong showing in the preseason, Browning will become the team’s no-doubt backup quarterback.

4. Kene Nwangwu

These snaps in the preseason are extra valuable to a guy like Nwangwu, who hopes to make the team primarily as a special teams player. He’s been super fun to watch in training camp given his off-the-charts speed, which has caught the attention of fellow running back Dalvin Cook, who joked that he refuses to race Nwangwu to find out who’s faster.

“I’ve seen him grow,” Cook said. “I’ve seen him take the hardest practices from our coach, (Kennedy Polamalu). If you know our coach, he’s tough. And Kene is one of those players where he just wants to learn. Whatever it takes, he just wants to learn. And I’ve been seeing him grow so much. And the thing I see from Kene, he just hasn’t had as many reps playing the position as running back. In college he was a backup, so now he’s getting those reps. You see him getting better and better and seeing things more, I see the confidence growing. When he comes back to the sideline, he knows he hit a good run, so it’s like you see him growing as a runner. I think he can be as good as he wants to be. He’s fast, he’s explosive. When he gets in the open field, you ain’t catching him, so the sky’s the limit for him, and I’m going to be here to teach him everything I know.”

5. DJ Wonnum

When the Vikings released their first depth chart earlier this week, Wonnum was listed as the backup defensive end behind Stephen Weatherly. But with a strong preseason, there’s still a chance that Wonnum can overtake that starting job opposite Hunter.

Weatherly has been fine this training camp, but certainly hasn’t run away with the role, either. The Vikings clearly like what they have in Wonnum as they’ve tried moving him around the field, debuting him at linebacker two weeks ago. But Wonnum’s best shot at playing time this season is at defensive end. His sack of Aaron Rodgers was the high moment of his rookie season, but with an influx of talent at the position, Wonnum needs a good showing the next three weeks to secure playing time.