After losing Rondale Moore to injury, it seems the Vikings are hoping that a young player rises to the punt return challenge.
After not taking any punt return reps in the first preseason game, the third-round receiver was the first player back to return when the Patriots punted in the first quarter. He fair caught the ball. As a kick returner, Felton has seemingly been the first choice all offseason. That might not continue to be the case after he fumbled on a short return in the first quarter. With under a minute remaining, Felton caught a deflected pass up in the air for a first down. Later in the drive, he made a sliding 20-yard reception across the middle for another first down that put the Vikings in field-goal position.
Alec Lewis·
Nailor ended practice on the sideline. O’Connell said Nailor had jammed his left hand, and the Vikings wanted to remain smart with their already-troubling depth situation. It’s not just that superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson is still rehabbing from a minor hamstring strain. It’s not just that elite wide receiver Jordan Addison will miss the first three games due to a suspension. The Vikings also lost Rondale Moore to a season-ending knee injury. Receivers @[Lucky Jackson](895) and @[Thayer Thomas](1947) earned first-team reps in the absence of Jefferson and Nailor on Thursday, but the Nailor situation underscores the need for at least one more experienced receiver, at minimum.
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