Heads turned when Minnesota Vikings starting off cornerback Cameron Dantzler was lacking from a several vital spots in Monday night’s activity at Philadelphia. People questioned if the 24-yr-outdated was benched for efficiency.
The Vikings struggled defensively towards the Eagles — specially in the 1st Fifty percent — and Dantzler appeared to be burned on a 53-lawn touchdown reception by Quez Watkins. In the conclusion, Philadelphia took down Minnesota 24-7 and secured legit contendership standing in the NFC.
Perfectly, Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Dontatell confirmed on Thursday that Dantzler was not benched for efficiency and intermixing other young corners is portion of the prepare for the 2022 Vikings. Donatell advised reporters, “We’ll make substitutions distinct than that. You may possibly see a distinct younger participant in specific weeks that we just want to take a appear at mainly because our younger gamers are heading to be in there no issue what. They have to participate in all through the time.”
Donatell also mentioned about Dantzler for 7 days 3 and further than, “But he’ll be back again in there all set to go this week.”
And this checks out as Dantzler is just one of the most successful players on the Vikings via two months. In fact, according to Pro Football Emphasis, Dantzler is the 3rd-finest participant on the Vikings roster driving Justin Jefferson and Brian O’Neill heading into Week 3, registering a 72.2 quality. The Vikings never have a plethora of stellar corners, so opting for Akayleb Evans, who was the younger CB mentioned by Donatell, would be a bit strange.
Much too, Dantzler is no stranger to effectiveness-associated benching. It took him about a thirty day period to exit Mike Zimmer’s doghouse in 2021, and to this working day, no person is familiar with why Dantzler lived there past September. But when he acquired enjoying time in 2021, he was outwardly better than Bashaud Breeland, who was filling Dantzler’s task at the time.
Dantzler also experienced a sequence in the Eagles reduction exactly where he was the Vikings protection. He shown a knack for tackling and stymied a Philadelphia drive — on a night time when Eagles drives were not often stifled, especially in Quarters 1 and 2.
General, the quick reply from the Vikings defensive bossman is “nope.” Dantzler was not maliciously benched — like previous yr appeared — nor was his absence from the industry thanks to lousy participate in.
The Vikings host the Detroit Lions on Sunday, a staff with a instantly explosive offense.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs each individual Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates again to 1996. Mentioned responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Product, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doorways (the band).