The Minnesota Vikings found a way to not just break their losing streak in the preseason but also started a winning streak of their own with a 27-12 win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings controlled the game after the first quarter, as they outscored the Browns 20-5. It was a solid game all around for the Vikings as they got their second preseason win under head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Who were the best and worst players on Saturday? The latest rendition of studs and duds highlights them.
Stud: S Lewis Cine
It's been a rough go for Cine who has only played in 10 defensive snaps in his career. Some of that concerns the compound fracture in his leg from week four of his rookie year. The rest of it is due to the play on the field.
What he did against the Browns in getting 10 tackles, a sack, an interception, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup was both impressive and needed for his stock and confidence. Will he be able to take advantage of this performance and thrive? That remains to be seen but it's a great step forward.
Dud: WR Trent Sherfield
Sherfield is a talented player but when you make multiple drops while your contemporaries are catching touchdowns, it could spell the end of your tenure. It also doesn't help that multiple players are getting major opportunities as punt gunners because that is what Sherfield is best at. Not a great showing for Sherfield.
Stud: QB Jaren Hall
After a brutal game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Hall needed a good performance against the Browns. A rebound game was very important for his future with the Vikigns and he did just that.
Hall didn't just make arguably the throw of the preseason thus far in a 71-yard touchdown pass to Jeshaun Jones, he looked more confident and decisive with his decision-making than he did against the Raiders. That could catapult him to the 53-man roster .
Dud: S Bobby McCain
McCain was the player that the Vikings brought in when they lost both Mekhi Blackmon (torn ACL) and Shaquill Griffin (hamstring) to injuries. It felt weird at the time since McCain's position was mainly safety. He does have experience playing in the slot so it made a little bit of sense. Now, it hasn't worked out. McCain has struggled making tackles, covering and communicating on the back end. It was a worthwhile experiment but it hasn't worked out.
Stud: WR Trishton Jackson
Jackson is in a firm competition for WR3 with Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell. He's firmly behind those two but Jackson has been really impressive throughout training camp and the preseason.
One week after catching a 45-yard touchdown from J.J. McCarthy, he caught a 14-yard fade-stop route for his second touchdown of the preseason. While Jackson isn't the most athletic of the group, he does have plenty of nuance in getting open and it shows up in his route running. Jackson is likely to be involved during the season in the wide receiver rotation.
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