The Minnesota Vikings demolished the Houston Texans final Sunday, utterly stifling DeMeco Ryans’ Tremendous Bowl-contending group by a score of 34-7.
The Vikings sit alone in first place at 3-0, with the Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers only a sport again getting into Week 4.
Alongside the way in which to the trouncing of the Texans, two unsung Vikings defenders discovered their solution to the sector and — you guessed it — made a mark, albeit in defensive “rubbish time.”
The Vikings lead the NFL in sacks (16) by three video games, and actually, have extra sacks than any group by three video games since 2006.
And wouldn’t it? The depth defensive gamers are cashing in on the enjoyable, too. Redmond recorded a 4th Quarter sack final weekend on Texans QB2 Davis Mills. He performed simply 16 sacks however made probably the most of these alternatives within the rout of Houston.
Redmond performed 4 video games in 2024 with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades, tabulating 4.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 18 complete tackles. That stat line was evidently sufficient to show heads within the Vikings’ entrance workplace, and Redmond parlayed the trial right into a roster spot for the 2024 season.
By means of three video games, he delivered when known as upon, notching a sack on Mills.
The ex-Renegade joined the Carolina Panthers’ roster as an undrafted free agent 19 months in the past — proper across the time Ivan Tempo Jr. signed with the Vikings — the place he stayed for 4 months. Carolina stated goodbye in August 2023, and Redmond finally tried the UFL on for measurement. The experiment labored, particularly together with his present presence on Minnesota’s 53-man roster.
Ward is extra recognized to Vikings followers than Redmond, as normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah scooped Ward out of the 2023 NFL Draft within the 4th Spherical. His principal “downside” early in his NFL profession is the Vikings’ security depth. Put frankly, Minnesota doesn’t want Ward’s defensive presence — not with safeties Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and Camryn Bynum headlining the unit.
Nevertheless, like Redmond, Ward made probably the most of his enjoying time, recording a quarterback hit on Mills, together with two tackles within the Week 4 win.
Ward performed considerably on particular groups as a rookie in 2023 — 306 performs — with 35 defensive snaps. That was sufficient to make a reputation for himself amongst coaches, and his sizzle transferred to the summer time when he comfortably made the Vikings’ 53-man roster. The USC alumnus can be the subsequent man up if accidents beset Smith, Metellus, or Bynum.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple group, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.
Little-Identified Vikings Gamers Are Standing Out, Too.
Jalen Redmond (DT)
Jay Ward (S)
