2022 Minnesota Vikings season previews: Wide Receivers

The 2022 season is less than a month away and it’s time to get excited Vikings fans.

In a similar vein to how fans felt when Mike Zimmer took over for Leslie Frazier, the excitement is palpable for the beginning of the Kevin O’Connell era.

While the team prepares for the season, we are doing the same at the Vikings Wire. We will be producing previews breaking down both each position and the team as a whole.

Today, we continue with our preview series by talking about the wide receivers.

Quarterback Preview
Running Back Preview

Starter: Justin Jefferson

Aug 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

What else can you say about Justin Jefferson other than he’s absolutely incredible.

When watching him, it’s easy to be completely mesmerized by his easy and fluid movements, dazzling cornerbacks with absolute ease. His explosion in and out of cuts enamored fans and analysts alike, creating incredible separation that looks like a video game. On top of that, Jefferson maneuvers the defense like an adult playing a pickup football game in the park with a bunch of 10-year-olds: effortlessly and easy.

Jefferson holds the most receiving yards in the first two seasons of a career in NFL history and came just 16 yards away from breaking Randy Moss’ franchise record for receiving yards (1,632).

In Kevin O’Connell’s offense, Jefferson is set up to shine. The Rams used Cooper Kupp on a lot of choice and dig routes. Even during the Super Bowl after Odell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL, O’Connell and Sean McVay still found ways to get him open consistently.

Jefferson is in for a huge season.

Starter: Adam Thielen

Sep 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The days of arguing if Thielen was the best wide receiver on the team are over but that’s no slight on him whatsoever.

Thielen has done a great job evolving his game throughout the years. His speed and work ethic helped him to develop into a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.

As he continues to develop, his precision route running will help him transition into a full-time slot in a similar way that Larry Fitzgerald did.

Where Thielen is at right now is a really good WR2 that can take advantage of the weaker cornerback opposite Jefferson. His style fits really well into what the Vikings will be doing and K.J. Osborn is right behind him to step into that outside receiver role once he moves into the slot.

Starter: K.J. Osborn

Dec 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (11) defends during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Osborn has the potential to be the breakout star of this offense.

Drafted in the fifth round of 2020 as a punt returner, Osborn wasn’t even viewed as a player who would impact the offensive side of the ball.

After a massive summer honing his craft, Osborn defied and exceeded expectations by not only earning the WR3 job but playing lights out.

He made an impact immediately. In week two against the Arizona Cardinals, Osborn took the second play of the game

This season, O’Connell will be utilizing him and Thielen as complements to Jefferson. All three have the ability to play each position which makes scheming that much more fun and unfair for the defense.

Backup: Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Aug 27, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (15) returns a kick against the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The second-year product out of Iowa has shown some real flashes.

While he isn’t cut out to be a punt returner, Smith-Marsette has shown some development as a wide receiver. Excelling in stretching the field, Smith-Marsette has developed his underneath skills and has earned the number four receiver job.

He will be used mainly as a rotational receiver, but Smith-Marsette has the potential to become more than that. If the Vikings feel comfortable moving on from Thielen within the next two seasons, Smith-Marsette will be ready to step up.

Backup: Jalen Nailor

Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) drops the ball during a kick off return against the Las Vegas Raiders during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

When a coach pounds the table for a prospect, it means something.

Wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell did just that for Michigan State WR Nailor.

A true burner, Nailor was a huge part of the Spartans big play offense last season. With the speed to go over the top, Nailor can stretch the field which will help Jefferson, Thielen and Osborn work underneath and in the intermediate levels of the field much easier.

Backup: Trishton Jackson

Aug 18, 2020; Thousand Oaks California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Trishton Jackson (83). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The former Los Angeles Ram with O’Connell has had a great camp thus far.

Having shown that he is a complete receiver with upside, Jackson has likely earned a spot on this roster. In fact, he arguably had the best catch of training camp.

His spot on the roster likely hinges on how the staff feels about Dan Chisena and if his abilities as a punt gunner are worth one of the receiver spots.

Backup: Dan Chisena

Jul 30, 2021; Eagan, MN, United States; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dan Chisena (85) battles for a pass against defensive back Tye Smith (5) during drills at training camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Chisena has had quite the tenure with the Vikings.

After signing as a UDFA in 2020, he went from WR to S and back to WR in the midst of a week. While he hasn’t played the wide receiver position much at all, he is one of the starting punt gunners on special teams.

The tough part about keeping Chisena is that you potentially weaken a wide receiver corps that will be utilizing 11 personnel more than ever before. Pair that with his tackling abilities on special teams being suspect at best and the likelihood of him making the team decreases exponentially.

Backup: Myron Mitchell

Aug 27, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Myron Mitchell (87) catches a pass as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marlon Character (39) defends during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Mitchell had a really nice game against the Raiders. He caught both of his targets for 37 yards and amassed an impressive grade of 85.2. Unfortunately, he didn’t catch either of his two targets on Saturday and his grade got cut more than in half, dropping to 42.3

Mitchell, who was on the Vikings practice squad last season before being elevated on December 20th. Mitchell’s likelihood to make the team is slim but he should be one of the first adds to the practice squad.

Backup: Olabisi Johnson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 24: Olabisi Johnson #81 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball in the end zone on a two point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Johnson was ruled out of bounds on the play. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Johnson is the toughest of the room to make a decision on.

After two relatively good seasons as a seventh-round pick, he sits on the fringes of the roster because of an ACL tear suffered in training camp a year ago.

While he is arguably worthy of a roster spot, the selection of Nailor and

Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire