Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
If the Minnesota Vikings are to go home with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, these five players must play well.
Based on the history of Mike Zimmer’s tenure, 2021 should be a playoff year for the Minnesota Vikings. But the COVID-19 vaccination status of some notable players, headlined by quarterback Kirk Cousins, has drawn the ire of the head coach who wants to win games and save his job. The risk of not having his starting quarterback available on short notice is not ideal to that pursuit.
The Vikings open their season the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. It will be something of a homecoming for Zimmer, as he was the Bengals defensive coordinator for six seasons (2008-2013) before landing in Minnesota.
The Bengals were not as bad as their 4-11-1 record indicated last year. They had some close losses, and quarterback Joe Burrow missed the final six games due to a knee injury. Burrow will be ready for the season opener.
If the Vikings are going to come home with a 1-0 record on Sunday, these five players will have to play well.
5 Vikings who must play well vs. the Bengals in Week 1
5. DE Danielle Hunter
Hunter missed all of last season due to a neck injury, and the Vikings definitely missed him. Any speculation about trading him was put to rest with a restructured contract this offseason. But he is entering a prove-it year, as the Vikings can see if he’s healthy and able to recapture his place among the NFL’s best defensive ends before committing for 2022.
The Bengals have reshaped their offensive line this offseason, with former Viking Riley Reiff stepping in at right tackle. The individual matchup between Reiff and Hunter will be interesting to watch as it happens, and Hunter has to win it regularly.