The Vikings’ opener against the Packers was a lot more than a wild comeback. It was a game where Minnesota’s coaching staff squeezed every ounce out of its roster, and the snap counts tell the story of who the Vikings trusted, who struggled, and who may be sliding into a bigger or smaller role heading into Week 2.
Dallas Turner came out of the season opener looking like one of the clearest winners. He was on the field for 56 of 68 defensive snaps, a notable jump from last season’s average of 41.3 per game.
The 23-year-old edge rusher looked settled in his new starting job and backed it up with production, piling up seven hits on Jordan Love and adding a sack. Pro Football Focus gave him a team-best 89.5 defensive grade, and Minnesota’s defense looks at its best when he’s out there.
A snap count around 50 per game or more would not be a surprise the rest of the way.
Jauan Jennings, on the other hand, did not make the kind of first impression the Vikings wanted. He played 31 of Minnesota’s 65 offensive snaps but finished with no catches and just one target.
After averaging 53 snaps per game with San Francisco last season, the reduced role already looked different for him. Even with less work, he didn’t deliver much, finishing with the second-worst offensive PFF grade on the team at 46.4 and the worst run-blocking grade at 36.1.
If the coaching staff wasn’t pleased, his usage could dip again against Chicago.
Jordan Addison’s night was just as frustrating. He was on the field for 54 of a possible 65 offensive snaps, a slight bump from his 51-snap average last season, but he never caught a pass and saw only two targets.
That kind of stat line is tough enough on its own, and it gets worse when paired with a PFF run-blocking grade of 49. Addison is still the WR2, but the noise around him will only get louder if he doesn’t turn things around quickly.
At tight end, the split was interesting. T.J.
Hockenson put up the prettier box score with four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown in 43 snaps, but Josh Oliver quietly made his case too. Oliver played one fewer snap, caught two passes for 22 yards, and posted the second-best offensive PFF grade on the team at 76.5.
He also earned the third-best run grade at 62.7. If Oliver keeps grading out better as a blocker, he could keep chipping away at Hockenson’s playing time.
The most concerning snap total belonged to Caleb Banks. Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft played only 16 of 68 defensive snaps against Green Bay, and the Vikings may have seen enough to know that even that was too much for now.
He didn’t record a stat, and his 37.8 run-defense grade was the worst on the team. For a player the Vikings hope becomes a defensive cornerstone, that’s a rough place to start.
Minnesota has plenty of work ahead before his snap count starts climbing.
Kyle Van Noy settled into his new assignment without issue. After averaging 35.3 defensive snaps per game with the Ravens last year, the 35-year-old edge rusher logged 25 of 69 defensive snaps in his Vikings debut.
He isn’t going to eat into the workload of Turner or Andrew Van Ginkel, but he handled his backup role the way the team wanted. At this stage of his career, that kind of transition from starter to rotational piece looks like a smart fit for both player and team.
In Other News...
Kevin OConnell May Be Making The Change Vikings Fans Needed
Kevin OConnell kept the focus squarely on wins after the Vikings comeback against the Packers, and that approach matters for a team that has spent enough time getting talked into the wrong priorities. Minnesotas head coach has long been known for his offensive background, but the message coming out of this one was less about style points and more about sticking with what can actually travel in a tight game. Even with the run game not always looking smooth early, the Vikings still handed it off 27 times, a sign OConnell was willing to stay patient rather than abandon the plan at the first sign of trouble.
For Vikings fans, that kind of steadiness is part of the appeal as the 2025 season takes shape around J.J. McCarthy. OConnell has already shown a willingness to adjust the offense for his quarterback, and the bigger question is whether he keeps leaning into the practical side of coaching instead of chasing appearances. If this is the version of OConnell Minnesota gets more often, the Vikings may be set up for a more grounded and sustainable stretch than the one fans have seen in the past. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Are Melting Down After Vikings Win For One Reason
The Vikings comeback against Green Bay had plenty of football reasons behind it, starting with a second-half rally after the Packers had pushed out to a 12-point lead. Minnesota kept hanging around, the Packers kept giving away ground with their own mistakes, and the game turned into the kind of late mess that can flip a divisional result in a hurry.
Even so, it was the fourth quarter sequence that had Packers fans grinding their teeth after the final whistle. Several penalties from Shawn Hochulis crew helped set up Minnesotas go-ahead drive, adding another layer of frustration to a loss already defined by Green Bays late offensive line collapse and the self-inflicted errors that let the Vikings back in. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Head Into Bears Showdown With One Huge Problem
The Vikings head to Chicago for a Week 2 NFC North test with plenty already hanging over the matchup. They got through their opener with Carson Wentz at quarterback after Kyler Murray went down, but Murrays availability this week is still unresolved, leaving Minnesota to sort out its plan on the fly while trying to stay on schedule early in the season.
Chicago enters the divisional game with a real buzz after Caleb Williams delivered a strong Week 1 showing and helped move the betting market in the Bears direction. Minnesota now faces the kind of road game that can reveal a lot quickly, especially with the Bears favored and the Vikings still waiting on clarity at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]