Vikings DB Room Suffers Another Loss

Photo Credit: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings hosted their opening day of training camp this past Wednesday, Jul 24. This practice would include all returning and rookie players getting together and working to make the official 53-man roster. However, for the Vikings, this practice took a turn for the worse when they reached the 7-on-7 session in practice. 

Mehki Blackmon, the second-year cornerback from Southern California, suffered a torn ACL during the session. This injury comes at a tough time for the team, as the defensive back group is considerably young and coming off a pretty poor season statistically. 

Blackmon himself suited up in 15 of the 17 games last season, even starting in three, providing a good contribution and a hopeful look into the future for the team. Totaled up 41 total tackles, eight pass deflections, and an interception. He was third on the team for the pass deflections and interceptions. This production put Blackmon in a position to compete for a spot in the nickel defense alongside probable starters Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaquil Griffin. 

Shot By: Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune

The passing defense could have been a stronger suit for the Vikings this past year. Ranking as the ninth worst in the league, just 14 yards shy of giving up four-thousand yards on the season. The defense was also responsible for 11 interceptions, putting them in the bottom half of the league in this category as well. 

Those 11 interceptions were only half the amount of the leading defenses in the category, the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears.

Shot By: Nick Wosika, Icon Sportswire

The Vikings suffered another loss to the DB room earlier in the month when Khyree Jackson was killed in a car accident along with two other athletes. Jackson was drafted this year in the fourth round from the University of Oregon, where he was an all-Pac-12 first-team selection. 

Jackson was drafted to see the field similarly that Blackmon did in his first year. Except, Jackson was expected to compete for more of a starting role than a nickel package replacement.  With his size and speed, he looked to be a good fit for a secondary looking to improve this upcoming season. 

These two losses to the defense will be a challenge for defensive coordinator Brian Flores as he works to find depth for the position. 

The Vikings signed free agent Duke Shelley earlier this week for a veteran presence. Shelley will join Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr. as the primary depth behind Murphy and Griffin going into the season.