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Vikings’ Dalvin Tomlinson wants to ‘step up’ and make first career Pro Bowl

chris tomasson, pioneer press
·4 min read

Dalvin Tomlinson went into last season with the goal of making his first career Pro Bowl. That didn’t happen, so the Vikings defensive lineman once again has set that as a goal.

“I didn’t make it last year, so I feel like I got to step up a little bit more to make it now,’’ Tomlinson said Monday.

After signing a two-year, $20 million contract in March 2021, Tomlinson last season was rated by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s 16th-best interior defensive lineman. Had the Vikings had better than an 8-9 record, that would have helped Tomlinson’s Pro Bowl chances.

Tomlinson is entering his sixth NFL season. He spent his first four with the New York Giants after being a second-round pick out of Alabama.

“I feel like that’s a goal for every player in the NFL, and that would be amazing,’’ Tomlinson said of hoping to make the Pro Bowl this season.

Tomlinson last year started at three-technique defensive tackle in Minnesota’s 4-3 defense. This season, he will start at defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.

VIKINGS CUT WILSON, TAYLOR

It was a short stay in Minnesota for Albert Wilson.

The Vikings released the veteran wide receiver, who was signed June 1. They also waived defensive lineman Jullian Taylor with an injury designation.

The Vikings needed to make at least one roster move Monday after acquiring quarterback Nick Mullens from San Francisco for a seventh-round draft pick. They must make at least four more moves by 3 p.m. Tuesday to get down to an NFL-required 80-man roster limit.

Wilson has played seven NFL seasons, with Kansas City and Miami. He had touchdowns of 2 and 20 yards on his only two receptions in the Aug. 14 preseason opener at Las Vegas. He did not have a catch in Saturday’s preseason game against San Francisco.

Taylor did not play in either preseason game due to injury. If he clears waivers, he will revert to injured reserve on Tuesday.

The Vikings began Monday with 85 players, so the moves on Mullens, Wilson and Taylor left them with 84 on the roster. After they get down to 80 by Tuesday, the final cutdown to 53 must be done by 3 p.m. on Aug. 30.

SMITH BACK AT PRACTICE

Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr., who suffered a right thumb injury Aug. 1 in practice that required surgery Aug. 2, returned to practice Monday on a limited basis.

Smith wore a wrap on his thumb. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who said Smith looks to be in “great shape” with his conditioning, expects Smith to be ready for the Sept. 11 opener against Green Bay.

“He’ll continue to progress into real football, but he’s made great strides,’’ O’Connell said.

Not practicing Monday were cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (ankle), nose tackle Harrison Phillips (ankle), running back Ty Chandler (ankle), wide receiver Dan Chisena (lower leg) and cornerback Kris Boyd (undisclosed). Also returning to practice on a limited basis after missing time were offensive lineman Chris Reed (elbow) and cornerback Parry Nickerson (lower leg).

“He’ll be a bit more than day-to-day,’’ O’Connell said of Booth, who aggravated a right ankle injury in the second quarter against the 49ers and was lost for the game. “We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week, but the hope is, no matter what, he should be greenlit for the Green Bay game.”

O’Connell said that Phillips, who sat out against the 49ers along with most other starters, is “day-to-day” with a “real minor ankle” injury. O’Connell also said that rookie Lewis Cine, who iced his knee but practiced Monday, has a “little contusion” that is not an issue.

DONATELL BACK TO DENVER

Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will be back in Denver for Minnesota’s preseason finale Saturday against the Broncos.

Donatell has had three stints with the Broncos, serving as secondary coach from 1995-99 and 2009-10 and as defensive coordinator the past three seasons. He was on Denver teams that won Super Bowls after the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

“A lot of fond memories,” Donatell said. “I’ve been there 10 total years, two Super Bowls, worked with a bunch of great people. I love the place. … It’s a business trip for us, but those relationships (from his Denver days) are really important.”

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