Dallas Turner doesn’t need a long introduction anymore. After spending two seasons waiting behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, the Vikings edge rusher finally has the runway to show why Minnesota kept investing in him. And after Week 1, he’s already making that case loudly.
Turner’s first real splash came against Green Bay, where he spent the afternoon wrecking plays and living in the Packers’ backfield. He finished with one sack, one forced fumble, seven QB hits, and nine pressures, a line that tells only part of the story. The bigger picture was how often Green Bay had no answer for his speed off the edge.
The tape backed that up too. Even when the Packers tried to load up on him, Turner kept finding ways to create problems. One clip from the game showed him drawing a double team and still getting through untouched.
That performance matters even more now with Chicago coming to Soldier Field in Week 2. If the Vikings are going to slow down a Bears offense that erupted for 59 points and 552 yards in Week 1, Turner may be the player who tilts the game.
Chicago looked sharp with Ben Johnson and third-year quarterback Caleb Williams leading the way, and that pairing has already made the Bears the favorite over Minnesota and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings’ defense as a whole has a difficult assignment ahead. But Turner, more than most, could be the one carrying the biggest burden.
Williams has already shown he can be a tough solve for Minnesota. In four career games against the Vikings, he has averaged 233.5 passing yards, one passing TD, and 2.3 sacks taken, according to StatMuse. One of those sacks came from Turner in November, during a 17-19 loss that stung Minnesota.
That’s the kind of pressure point the Vikings need again. Williams’ ability to escape has frustrated Flores’ defense before, even when the rush has been there. The problem has often been finishing the play.
Turner now has the chance to change that. He looked more comfortable stepping in for Greenard than he ever did in Van Ginkel’s role, and that was a big reason Minnesota was willing to make him the full-time starter this spring. Against Chicago, he’ll need to turn that promise into production again.
If Turner can consistently get Williams on the ground, the Vikings have a real shot at disrupting a Bears passing attack that looked dangerous from the jump.
In Other News...
Vikings Face One Decision That Could Swing Everything Against Chicago
The biggest question hanging over the Vikings-Bears matchup is whether Chicago will have Kyler Murray available after the concussion issue that has clouded the week. If he cannot go, Carson Wentz would be the next man up, and that changes the feel of a divisional game that already carries plenty of edge. Minnesota enters with the kind of run defense that can force an offense to be patient, while Chicago is dealing with its own concerns up front and in the backfield.
For Brian Flores, the challenge is making life difficult for Caleb Williams no matter who is under center on the other side. The Vikings will also be watching how Jordan Addison fits into a matchup that could turn on a few key plays, while Chicagos defense leans on Jaylon Johnson to help keep things tight. In a rivalry like this, one quarterback decision can ripple through everything else, and Minnesota knows how quickly that can tilt the game one way or the other. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings QB What-If Just Got A Lot More Painful
The Vikings 2024 draft plan looks a lot different in hindsight, and not in a way that should make anyone in Minnesota feel better. ESPN insider Kevin Seifert reported the team tried to trade up to No. 3 to take Drake Maye, but could not get a deal done with the Patriots, leaving them to stay put and draft J.J. McCarthy at No. 10.
Since then, Minnesota has already moved on to Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz on the depth chart, while Maye has gone to New England and immediately turned the Patriots into a problem for the rest of the league. After leading them to the Super Bowl and coming close to MVP-level recognition in his first full season as a starter, he is exactly the kind of quarterback what-if that can linger around a franchise for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Flores Faces A Tough Caleb Williams Decision For Bears Week 2
The Bears came out of Week 1 with a rushing performance that still has the Vikings paying attention, and the injury report adds another layer to the matchup. DAndre Swift and Kyle Monangai were both listed as limited during the week, while right tackle Darnell Wright moved from absence to limited participation, a small step forward after missing practice time.
For Brian Flores and Minnesotas defense, those statuses matter because Chicagos ground game could shape how much pressure the Vikings can bring elsewhere on the field. Even with the limited tags, the Bears still have enough uncertainty around their backfield and front line to make Week 2 a more complicated test than a simple follow-up to opening weekend. [Read more 🡒]