With Stephon Gilmore injured, Kevin O'Connell addresses the potential of adding a cornerback
Injuries have done a number to the Minnesota Vikings this season. They have seen a number of injuries across both sides of the ball but the back seven of the defense is being hit right now. Inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is on injured reserve and both edge rusher Pat Jones II and cornerback Stephon […]
Injuries have done a number to the Minnesota Vikings this season.
They have seen a number of injuries across both sides of the ball but the back seven of the defense is being hit right now. Inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is on injured reserve and both edge rusher Pat Jones II and cornerback Stephon Gilmore got banged up on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Luckily for the Vikings, Jones returned to the game and played 60% of the snaps. Gilmore was on the other end of the spectrum,
Kevin O'Connell addresses potential cornerback need
During his Monday press conference, O'Connell was asked about the potential of adding a cornerback to the room with the injury to Gilmore and he was nonchalant about it.
"I think we'll kind of cross that bridge as we go here, knowing that, we've got "Nudie" on the practice squad, I should say Dwight McGlothern. We've got him at any point in time that we've had clearly confidence in, not only in the present, but think he's going to be a hell, a heck of a player moving into the future, and so we'll see if it's him, or if there's possibly another name or a player out there that we think gives us a chance to possibly come in here and have a chance to have an impact. But I don't know at this time if it's going to be a roster spot worthy. I don't believe it's going to be a roster spot kind of conversation where the short-term IR will be would be a conversation. So, you know, more than likely we'll work through that here in the next couple days."
The idea of bringing in another cornerback is something I have opined about on multiple occasions, including this past Saturday when the Washington Commanders waived 2023 first round pick Emmanuel Forbes. Ultimately, the Los Angeles Rams claimed him off of waivers, something I thought would be a poor move by the Vikings considering his fully guaranteed rookie contract.
There aren't a lot of cornerbacks on the market right now and it turned out to be an inopportune time for the Vikings to waive 2022 fourth-round pick Akayleb Evans, who was claimed by the Carolina Panthers.
The Vikings did make a change to running more man coverage with Gilmore out, something that defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to but hasn't done much over the last two years.
The Vikings could make a move, but it certainly feels like they will stay in house for one instead.
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