Stefon Diggs
The NFL’s Divisional Round occurs this weekend, and a handful of ex-Vikings players are participating.
Moreover, Nathaniel Hackett, DeMeco Ryans, Todd Bowles, Kevin O’Connell, and Raheem Morris are all coordinators coaching this weekend who have either interviewed with the Vikings or plan to soon. Other unofficial names like Brian Daboll, Eric Bieniemy, and Byron Leftwich could also toss their names in the hat for Vikings head coach before too long.
These are the noteworthy players in action this weekend who played for the Vikings.
This fullback played for the Vikings during 2019, spending 3.5 summer months in Minnesota. He didn’t sniff any regular season action, released before the season started and finding his way to the Titans. But Minnesota signed him as an undrafted free agent in the beginning. Blasingame is employed at the same spot as C.J. Ham, who doesn’t really need a backup, so Blasigngame wound up in Tennessee — and never left.
Compton was a starting offensive lineman for the Vikings during the 2018 season – a rather underwhelming OL campaign for Minnesota. He was the team’s left guard – a position currently filled by Ezra Cleveland – in 2018 as the Vikings finished 8-7-1, missing out on the playoffs because of Daniel Carlson’s missed kicks in Week 2. Compton spent just one season in Minnesota, leaving for the New York Jets in 2019. Compton is from Rosemount.
By far the most illustrious name on the list, Diggs’ career thrived during his Vikings tenure and after with the Bills. In Buffalo, Diggs is targeted more than a shooting gallery, truly blossoming into household-name stardom when arriving in Buffalo. His partnership with Josh Allen is something to behold. Last year, the Bills were one game away from the Super Bowl. This weekend’s tryst with the Chiefs will decide if the 2021 Bills are better than the 2020 Bills.
Oh, and Minnesota landed Justin Jefferson because of the Diggs trade – along with Camryn Bynum, Kenny Willekes, and Janarius Robinson.
Hughes was set free from the Vikings because he could not remain healthy. From 2018 to 2020, Hughes missed 50% of football games. The Vikings could not rely on that instability, trading Hughes to Chiefs last summer for a 6th-Round pick. In Kansas City, Hughes has played in all 17 games this season, participating in 45% of all defensive snaps. The former 1st-Round pick from 2018 has a 79.6 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2021 with the Chiefs – which is fantastic. Go figure.
Hughes’ teammate is McKinnon, a speedster who played for the Vikings from 2014 to 2017. He was an integral part of Minnesota’s offense inside the storybook 2017 sprint to the NFC Championship.
And last week, McKinnon hosted a breakout party, torching the lowly Pittsburgh Steelers for 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. McKinnon will be 30 in May – usually gridiron hospice for running backs – but he’s receiving one last hurrah with 2019 Super Bowl champions.
It is unclear if McKinnon will again get the bulk of touches this weekend versus the Bills. He should, though – his performance last weekend was spectacular.
Waynes was one of the defenders who left during the mass free-agent exodus of 2020 in Minnesota. You remember those months – the unforeseen death of the Vikings defense. With men like Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen, and Mackensie Alexander all included in Mike Zimmer’s scheme, Minnesota defense was worldbeaters. In 2020 and 2021, they stunk.
The Vikings employed Waynes from 2015 to 2019. He missed 2020 due to injury and played five games this season for the Bengals. He should see playing time against the Titans.
Riley Reiff (Cincinnati Bengals) and MyCole Pruitt (Tennessee Titans) also spent time in Minnesota, but both men are currently on injured reserve and are unlikely to play in the Divisional Round of the postseason.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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