Minnesota Vikings get great injury news after Friday’s preseason finale that could impact the 53-man roster
The best story on the Minnesota Vikings has been UDFA safety Jacob Thomas, but he suffered an injury against
The Minnesota Vikings received a scare during Friday night’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos when undrafted free agent safety Jacob Thomas left with an ankle injury in the first quarter.
According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Thomas suffered a grade 1 ankle sprain. That’s a relatively positive outcome considering how quickly he exited the game, and it keeps his roster chances very much alive heading into final cuts.
Thomas put together a stellar preseason
Thomas had a fantastic preseason for the Vikings, playing 83 total snaps and posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 92.7. He added one pass defended, one interception, and five tackles across his preseason action. Those numbers alone tell a compelling story, but the film told an even better one.
Thomas was doing everything you want to see from a safety prospect. He showcased the ability to read and dissect offenses quickly and efficiently while also finding ways to make plays with his athleticism. That athleticism was not considered a strength coming out of James Madison, which makes his preseason production all the more impressive. At safety, having the mental fortitude and being able to process what’s happening in front of you is more important than pure athletic traits. Thomas demonstrated both.
What the diagnosis means for his roster chances
The fact that Thomas was diagnosed with a grade 1 ankle sprain after an MRI does a lot of good things for his potential on the 53-man roster. A grade 1 sprain is the least severe classification, and it typically comes with a shorter recovery timeline around 1-3 weeks.
Thomas has done plenty to earn a spot. If he doesn’t make the roster, it’s likely because the Vikings have placed him on injured reserve for the first four games of the season to let that ankle fully heal. That route would keep him in the organization while giving Minnesota the flexibility to bring him back when he’s healthy.
Even so, there is a non-zero chance that the ankle injury could end up being the deciding factor in whether Thomas makes the initial 53. That would be a shame given everything he put on tape this preseason. A player who graded out at 92.7 on PFF and showed the processing ability Thomas displayed deserves every opportunity to compete for a role in the secondary.
The Vikings will need to make their final roster decisions soon, and Thomas’s status will be one of the more fascinating situations to monitor over the next few days.
