Diggs leads the way at wideout, and other Vikings snap count observations

Fifth-round pick Stefon Diggs made his first career start in yesterday's win over the Chiefs and played an even bigger role than he did in his debut.

Diggs played 41 of the 73 offensive snaps in the loss to the Broncos in Week 4, fewer than Mike Wallace and Adam Thielen. Yesterday, Diggs played 57 of the 70 snaps, which was the most among Vikings skill position players.

The rookie made the most of that work with seven catches and 129 receiving yards. Both led all players. His 216 receiving yards the past two games is the second-most for a Vikings rookie in his first two games behind only Jim Brim, who was a replacement player during the 1987 strike.

Diggs got the start at split end because Charles Johnson missed his second straight game with a rib injury. And he perhaps got more work because Wallace, who injured his knee in Denver, wasn't quite at full strength.

Wallace played 54 snaps yesterday. Jarius Wright played 31. Thielen played 10. And Cordarrelle Patterson played seven and did not catch a pass.

It will be interesting to see how Diggs is utilized once Johnson returns.

Here are some other observations after seeing the official snap counts:

— Speaking of rookies, second-round pick Eric Kendricks played 61 of 62 snaps in his first game as an every-down middle linebacker. He played 47.7 percent of the snaps before the Gerald Hodges trade. He had a game-high 10 tackles and added a sack, his second in as many games. Strong-side linebacker Anthony Barr played every snap. Weak-side linebacker Chad Greenway played 24. Audie Cole got one. Edmond Robinson, who was active for the first time yesterday, did not play on defense.

— OK, one more observation from the draft class: Top pick Trae Waynes played 11 snaps as coach Mike Zimmer rotated Waynes and starter Terence Newman during the middle of the game. Newman, who also got his ankle taped up at one point, still played 50 snaps. Right corner Xavier Rhodes played every snap and nickel cornerback Captain Munnerlyn played 38.

— Running back Matt Asiata played a season-high 20 snaps, many of them coming in the late stages of the game. Starting back Adrian Peterson, who played 46 snaps, got "dinged up" in the fourth quarter, according to Zimmer. That Asiata is a better pass protector and was actually having more success running the ball may also have been factors. Jerick McKinnon, meanwhile, again had virtually no role on offense, playing just four snaps.

— The Vikings used a fair amount of multiple-TE sets. Kyle Rudolph got 56 snaps and scored his second touchdown. Rhett Ellison, who tweaked his knee in practice last week, played 39 snaps. Rookie MyCole Pruitt got 12.

— Safety Andrew Sendejo returned from a knee injury to play all 62 snaps next to Harrison Smith. Antone Exum and Robert Blanton got none.