PurplePTSD: Vikings Fans Have Their Say In RG Competition

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-06-03

Perhaps the main area of uncertainty on the Vikings offense rests at RG. Currently, the team has at least four options: Chris Reed, Jesse Davis, Wyatt Davis, and Ed Ingram. It’s this reality that prompted a Purple PTSD poll about who will snag the starting spot in Week 1.

Take a look at the percentages:

Now, we should acknowledge that this poll represents a very small fraction of people who follow Minnesota. Even still, it’s notable that some Vikings fans are leaning toward Reed at RG.

The challenge for Ingram is that he’s a rookie who would need to flip sides. He played LG in college, and PFF doesn’t have him playing snaps at any other position on the OL. It isn’t automatic that a player can simply switch to the other side. Doing so requires different footwork. It’s likelier he serves as a backup at LG.

Jesse Davis is the one who makes the most money of the four, suggesting that he ought to be considered a frontrunner. To my mind, it’s mostly between him and Reed. The fact that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah gave him a $3 million deal – and with a void year in 2023 to lessen the current cap hit – suggests the team thinks highly of him. He played for Miami last season as a tackle. His Pro Football Reference page suggests he has previous experience at RG; it’s plausible that kicking inside will help him.

The RG spot is an important one for the Vikings. Whoever plays there will need to work closely with Garrett Bradbury and Brian O’Neill. Ideally, this will be someone who offers some strong pass protection while having the athleticism to open lanes for the Minnesota running attack.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.