Vikings-Titans Preseason Preview: 7 Players With Something to Prove

These players are looking to show they belong with solid performances against Tennessee.

The Vikings will take the field at U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time in eight months when they host the Titans for a preseason game on Saturday night. After two days of joint practices this week, the two teams now get to compete against each in a full-contact setting. Although this game is all about evaluation with roster cutdown day approaching, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell would undoubtedly love to win an August contest for the first time after starting 0-4.

Coming off of last week's preseason opener in Seattle, here are seven players with something to prove against the Titans this weekend.

QB Jaren Hall

The context of Hall's debut against the Seahawks made it a difficult one to evaluate. He was playing with third- and fourth-stringers and was under pressure on a high percentage of his dropbacks. Still, Hall will want to take a meaningful step forward in this game and improve upon his 6-of-14, 37-yard outing. Regardless of who he's playing with, the goal for Hall is to make some on-schedule plays within the pocket and only bail out of it when necessary.

CB Andrew Booth Jr.

Booth, who is seemingly buried as the fifth cornerback on the Vikings' depth chart, is another player who had a tough preseason opener; he got beaten off the line of scrimmage by Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo for a touchdown. He's coming off a solid practice on Thursday, one he ended by picking off Malik Willis and firing the football over the Titans' sideline in celebration (tensions were high due to plenty of trash talk and physicality). Booth will look to continue that momentum by playing well in this game. He should see plenty of early reps with Mekhi Blackmon and Akayleb Evans not expected to play due to injury.

S Lewis Cine

We have to talk about the Vikings' other top pick from last year, too. Cine, like Booth, dealt with injury issues as a rookie — he broke his leg in Week 4 — and hasn't climbed the depth chart the way he may have hoped to this year. The former first-rounder out of Georgia did some good things against Seattle, but there were some adventures with tackling and coverage as well. Cine has the athletic ability to make all kinds of plays, so this is about technique and the mental side of the game. He's someone to keep close tabs on during Saturday's action.

RG Ed Ingram

Ingram was the Vikings' only starting offensive lineman to play against the Seahawks, which tells you he still has a lot to prove after a difficult rookie season. Although Kevin O'Connell said Ingram graded out well in that game, Pro Football Focus disagreed. There also seemed to be a couple communication issues up front that involved the second-year LSU product. A strong performance from Ingram in this game could quiet the noise about a potential Dalton Risner signing.

RB DeWayne McBride

Ty Chandler was the Vikings' only running back to play well in the preseason opener. McBride, the rookie out of UAB, managed just 15 yards on his six carries and averaged a measly 16.7 yards on three kick returns (though to be fair, it was apparently his first time returning kicks in a game). Kene Nwangwu has a lingering injury, so there will be plenty of opportunity for McBride and fellow RB Abram Smith to impress in this game. The Vikings recently signed RB/KR Aaron Dykes, which only adds a little pressure for McBride in his second preseason action.

WRs Jalen Reagor and N'Keal Harry

I'm grouping these two together because they're former first-round pick busts who are looking to make the Vikings' roster and revive their NFL careers. Reagor has some intriguing speed and agility, while Harry's sheer size is a potential weapon. But Minnesota's wide receiver room is loaded: Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson. Can Reagor and/or Harry fit into that mix somehow, at least with a practice squad spot? This is another opportunity for them to make that case. Both players had solid preseason debuts with the Vikings.

Note: Obviously, every single player who takes the field in a preseason game has something to prove. The seven listed above just happen to be particularly notable.

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