Vikings Bubble Watch: Veteran Michael Jenkins is battling for his job

WR Michael Jenkins, CB Marcus Sherels and QB Sage Rosenfels are all fighting for spots on the Vikings' roster as the final cut-down nears.

By Joe Oberle

Aug 23, 2012 at 2:34 pm ET • 2 min read

The Vikings spent part of the offseason cutting loose several of their high-priced veterans, so many of the position battles are between first- and second-year players. That means there's little shock value for longtime fans. Intent on finding the best young players to move ahead with, the Vikings are remaking their roster, and there are a few vets who still could be headed to the chopping bock.

Michael Jenkins (WR, 9th year, second-leading Vikings receiver in 2011) -- Jenkins is being challenged by a youth movement. He was a starter last season until he injured his knee, and he recently restructured his contract (taking a significant pay cut) to strengthen his position in 2012. But the Vikings drafted two wideouts (Jarius Wright and Greg Childs) and signed speedy WR Jerome Simpson in free agency. Jenkins' situation was improved by the season-ending knee injuries to Childs, but last year’s younger backups, Devin Aromashodu, Stephen Burton and Manny Arceneaux are putting pressure on the 30-year-old Jenkins.
Marcus Sherels (CB/PR, 2nd year, former Minnesota Golden Gopher) -- Coach Leslie Frazier said recently that if the coaches made a decision now, Marcus Sherels would win the punt-return job. But Sherels has had competition throughout camp, and CB Josh Robinson, who returned last week from an injured hamstring, is challenging him at cornerback as well as punt returner. Injuries hurt the secondary last season, and there might be room for both players (as the third-round pick Robinson will surely make the team). But the secondary depth has improved (with the veteran signings of CBs Chris Carr and Zack Bowman), and if the team needs depth elsewhere, Sherels could be the odd man out.
Sage Rosenfels (QB, 12th year, has only 12 starts in as many seasons) -- The Vikings know the value of a veteran quarterback -- Brett Favre in 2009, to name one -- and they also know how an aging QB can delay the development of a young quarterback (Donovan McNabb, 2011). QB Sage Rosenfels is clearly the Vikings’ ace-in-the-hole at the position. He knows the offense, has come in off the bench elsewhere and succeeded and he is a known commodity -- having spent time with GM Rick Spielman in Miami. But the Vikings have a fourth quarterback in rookie McLeod Bethel-Thompson, and he has a stronger arm and a larger upside. The Vikings know the dangers of exposing a young quarterback to waivers (Tyler Thigpen, 2007), and if Bethel-Thompson can show more than he did in the first preseason game, the Vikings will have to think long and hard about keeping the veteran.