The Vikings are halfway through their 2020 schedule at 3-5. Every day leading up to Monday night's game in Chicago, we'll break down how each position has fared so far.
Roster
Cornerbacks: Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd, Chris jones, Harrison Hand, Dylan Mabin, Mike Hughes (IR) and Holton Hill (roster exemption)
Safeties: Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, Josh Metellus and Curtis Riley
Preseason expectations
A dropoff was anticipated after the Vikings defense lost its top three cornerbacks, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, to free agency last offseason. But even Zimmer admitted he may have misjudged their ability to cover after being aggressive with his veteran safeties out of the gate. Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris have since been better deployed to assist the young corners. Nobody has been helped by a disappointing pass rush. Cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Holton Hill were expected to take next steps in their careers, but haven't stayed on the field. Cameron Dantzler, the third-round rookie, has been the surprise of the group, earning a starting role out of camp while flashing in coverage.
Where they are
The Vikings' 30th-ranked pass defense has seen 12 different defenders in the secondary between eight corners and four safeties. Some of those safeties have had to play cornerback. It's what coach Mike Zimmer called "status quo" for a young defense undercut by injuries and growing pains, even as they've started to patch things together for a couple NFC North wins. A rude awakening came in Week 1, when Aaron Rodgers dismantled a relatively healthy Vikings secondary in the 43-34 loss. The most recent win at Lambeau showed growth, not only from a young defense but a coaching staff that didn't isolate its young corners as often. They've rebounded despite losing the most experienced corners, Mike Hughes (neck) and Holton Hill (foot), to injuries in the first month of the season. Rookies Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler have shouldered heavier workloads than expected, with Dantzler missing time to rib and concussion issues. The third corner in Sunday's win over Detroit, Chris Jones, just joined the team on Oct. 26. Hughes was thought to be over the fractured vertebra in his neck that ended his 2019 season, but the issue resurfaced after the Week 2 loss in Indianapolis. He appeared in four games before landing on I.R. Hill hasn't played since Oct. 4 in Houston due to a foot injury.
