Last year’s training camp was rough for some Vikings. The JJ McCarthy debut season ended in August when he sustained a seasonal knee injury. Even a few weeks earlier, Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, another young and promising player, lost for the season because of a torn ACL suffering in the first training camp.
Promising Vikings Defender makes a long -awaited return
More than ten months after the incident, the corner is back on the practice field in Vikings Gear and is ready for the coming season.
There is a nice video of him that looks like the knee injury never happened.
Athletics Alec Lewis used social media to add a little remark To the video: “I did not mention it last week, but was great to see Mekhi Blackmon there again on Wednesday. I looked good. Was really liked to see him last year, injury came at a brutal time. It will be nice to follow in the fall.”
Blackmon’s injury was undoubtedly an important blow last year. He was expected to slide an important role in his second season and the CB trio built with the final Pro -Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. And free agent -newcomer Shaq Griffin. The club then added several defensive backs. Veterans Stephon Gilmore, Fabian Moreau and Bobby McCain all have a number of run in 2024.
The defender placed a solid debut season and played north of 400 defensive snaps, usually like an outdoor cornerback. He was 44 times the target and allowed 28 catches for 285 Yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Blackmon also registered eight pass -Break -Ups and, when focused, gave up a passer -rating of 87.8. For comparison, that is precisely the rating that his university teammate Caleb Williams had in his Rookie season.
Like most rookies, he had mixed a number of struggles, mainly against longer receivers such as Courtland Sutton and Tee Higgins. He is 5’11 ”, so those problems are not that surprising. Learning to timber time or prevent the Wideouts from coming first and foremost can be two options to better cope with those situations.
However, against the wide-outs of normal size, he showed why the Vikings Pick 102, the last choice of the third round in 2023, used to acquire the USC defender. During his first NFL year he earned a 71.8 degree of pff. That is a solid, slightly above average number.
Minnesota now has 11 cornerbacks under contract.
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Tavierre Thomas
- Dwight Mcglothern
- Ambry Thomas
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Reddy Steward
- Keenan Garber
- Zemaiah Vaughn
Murphy Jr. If the obvious starter, followed by Isaiah Rodgers, whose contract he has signed in the Free Office, should give him a lead. Jeff Okudah is experienced, but did not come close to achieving the expectations of a player with third Pick-Boom. Blackmon has to conquer a place in the rotation for him and prevent them from being assigned by depth boys such as Dwight Mcglothern, Ambry Thomas or Reddy Steward.
Cornerback is still seen by most as one place in defense that another body or two fogs. If Blackmon is healthy and can continue where he had left, those theories can contest.
Well performing this summer is crucial for the third -year player. He came in the competition as an older Rookie after he had spent time at the University to San Mateo and Colorado prior to his one year at USC. That is why he does not have too much more time to grow and he has to perform sooner instead of performing later.
Blackmon became 26 in March and could be a huge part of the defense of Brian Flores.
Editors note: information from Pff” Over the capAnd Sports reference helped with this article.
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