Vikings' Brandon Powell: Fallen down WR depth chart
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Powell didn't have a reception or carry in Sunday's loss to Detroit. He played two snaps on offense and averaged 7.5 yards on two punt returns.
Powell began the season as the No. 3 receiver but has fallen to No. 5 on the depth chart. He's mostly a punt returner at this point.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Ready for London game
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that Powell (chest) will not carry an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Powell opened the week as a limited participant in practice due to a chest issue, but the No. 3 wide receiver is ready to rock for Sunday's international matchup against New York. He'll handle his usual role on offense behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison while also contributing in the return game.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Limited again
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Powell (chest) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Powell has logged back-to-back limited practice sessions due to a chest injury. He was briefly forced out of Minnesota's win over Green Bay in Week 4, but was able to return to the field. That bodes well for Powell's chances of gaining clearance to play Sunday against the Jets, as long as he's able to avoid any setbacks in Friday's practice.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Nursing chest injury
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Powell (chest) was limited during Wednesday's practice.
Powell briefly exited Sunday's win over the Packers after taking a hard hit to the midsection while attempting to make a catch. He was able to return to the game, but he appears to be dealing with the lingering effects of that hit. His practice participation over the next two days should provide clarity on his status for Week 5 against the Jets.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: One reception in win
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Powell had one reception for 13 yards on two targets in Sunday's win over Houston.
Powell played on 27 of the offense's 63 snaps as he worked as the No. 3 receiver with Jordan Addison sidelined. The former could remain as the third wideout if Addison remains out with an ankle injury. However, Powell has just four targets in two games in that role.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Held without a catch Week 1
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Powell was not targeted during Minnesota's 28-6 win over the Giants in Week 1.
Powell did return one punt for one yard, but that was the extent of his involvement on the stat sheet in a dominant showing by the Vikings. The Jets downed two punts and sent another three out of bounds, so Powell's involvement as Minnesota's primary punt returner could grow Week 2 against the 49ers on Sunday. He'll also figure to step into a larger offensive role behind Justin Jefferson should Jordan Addison (ankle) be limited at all due to injury.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Two receptions in preseason win
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Powell had two receptions for 19 yards on two targets in Saturday's preseason win over Cleveland.
It's hard to take too much away from a preseason game where the Vikings rested almost all their starters, but Jalen Nailor again outshined Powell in the competition for the third receiver role. Nailor had one reception for 31 yards on two targets after an impressive first preseason game where Powell did little. It looks like Nailor has a big lead for the third receiver role as a result. Whoever wins the job could have significant fantasy value early in the season with the Vikings possibly utilizing three-receiver sets more often, as tight end T.J. Hockenson is likely to miss several games as he recovers from January surgery on a torn ACL.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Falls to co-starter at No. 3 WR
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Jalen Nailor and Powell are both listed as the No. 3 receiver for the Vikings on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the preseason.
Powell was seen as the leader for the No. 3 role heading into training camp, but Nailor has drawn raves this summer and is seen by most observers as leading the competition. Whoever wins the role could have significant fantasy value early in the season with the Vikings possibly utilizing third-receiver sets more often, as tight end T.J. Hockenson is likely to miss several games as he recovers from January surgery on a torn ACL.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Leading No. 3 WR candidate
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Powell, Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield are the leading candidates for the No. 3 receiver role after the Vikings did not take a wide receiver in the 2024 Draft, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
It was a mild surprise the Vikings didn't draft a wide receiver after the departure of K.J. Osborn (New England) in free agency, leaving Powell as the leading candidate for the No. 3 receiver role. The Vikings could add a veteran free agent later this spring to compete for the job. Whoever wins the role could get a significant number of targets early in the season with tight end T.J. Hockenson likely to miss several games in coming back from January surgery for a torn ACL.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Catches 29 passes in 2023
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Powell appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season, catching 29 of 44 targets for 324 yards and one touchdown while adding five carries for 17 scoreless yards.
Powell also served as Minnesota's top punt returner, returning a league-high 37 punts for 289 yards and no touchdowns. It was Powell's first year with the Vikings after spending the previous two seasons with the Rams, where he crossed paths with Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell. Powell's 407 offensive snaps in 2023 were a new career high for the 28-year-old, as he saw extensive action in three-wide sets while Justin Jefferson missed two-plus months on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Powell is scheduled to be a free agent in March but may have showed enough to get a longer look in Minnesota with a familiar coaching staff.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Increased role with Addison hurt
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Powell had three receptions for 53 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss to Detroit. He had one punt return for five yards.
Powell saw increased usage as he played on 27 of the offense's 54 snaps with Jordan Addison leaving with a sprained ankle. Powell could work as the No. 3 receiver next week against the Packers behind Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn if Addison is sidelined.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Limited role on offense
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Powell didn't have a catch or target in Sunday's loss at Cincinnati. He also returned four punts at an average of 5.5 yards.
Powell had just two snaps on offense - both were quarterback sneaks where he helped (unsuccessfully) push the quarterback. Powell was getting significant playing time at receiver with Justin Jefferson injured, but he'll likely remain limited almost exclusively to special teams with Jefferson back.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Three receptions in loss
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Powell had three receptions for 32 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss at Denver.
With the return of K.J. Osborn from a concussion, Powell moved into the third receiver role and played on 44 of the offense's 75 snaps (compared to Osborn's 71 snaps). However, Powell was targeted more than Osborn (one catch for seven yards on two targets) as he appears to have a strong rapport with quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Powell's role should shrink to the fourth receiver role soon with Justin Jefferson close to returning from a hamstring injury.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Earns five targets
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Powell recorded four catches on five targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 27-19 win over the Saints.
Powell was pushed up the depth chart with both Justin Jefferson (hamstring) and K.J. Osborn (concussion) sidelined. He finished third on the team in targets, though T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison combined to hog 22 opportunities on Joshua Dobbs' 34 pass attempts. Powell's modest role is likely to disappear Week 11 against Denver with the potential for both Jefferson and Osborn to retake the field.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Role should increase
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Powell looks set for a larger workload with K.J. Osborn (concussion) inactive and Justin Jefferson not activated from IR, Will Ragatz of Sports Illustrated reports.
Powell played a season-high 51 snaps last week after Osborn was injured. He should start opposite Jordan Addison and could see more than the three targets he had last week. Trishton Jackson could also see an increased workload.
Powell recorded two catches on three targets for 15 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-28 win over the Falcons.
Powell made little impact on the game until 22 seconds remained, when he found the end zone from six yards away to score what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. Making the moment even more impressive was that he was battling through cramps at the time, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Despite the clutch score, Powell's overall involvement in the offense remains limited, as he's failed to top 45 yards in four of five games with Justin Jefferson (hamstring) sidelined. However, he could have a larger role in Week 10 if Justin Jefferson isn't activated from injured reserve and K.J. Osborn (concussion) isn't able to play.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Limited again Thursday
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Powell (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
It's the second straight day Powell has logged a limited practice session after he sustained a shoulder injury in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Packers. His participation in Friday's practice will be a better indicator as to whether he'll be able to suit up for Week 9 against the Falcons.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Two touches in Sunday's win
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Powell had one reception for 10 yards on three targets and had one carry for two yards in Sunday's win at Green Bay. He also had three punt returns for an average of 11.3 yards.
Powell left briefly due to an injury but was able to return. He played on 37 of the offense's 72 snaps as he continues to work as the third receiver with Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on injured reserve. It's possible Jefferson could return Week 10, so Powell may soon be back to a smaller role.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Four receptions in win
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Powell had four receptions for 64 yards on five targets in Monday's win over the 49ers.
Powell played on 43 of the offense's 70 snaps and worked as Minnesota's third receiver with Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on injured reserve. Powell should see a similar increased workload this week at Green Bay.
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Vikings' Brandon Powell: Three receptions in expanded role
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Powell had three receptions for 20 yards on four targets and lost a yard on a carry in Sunday's 19-13 win at Chicago. He also returned three punts for an average of 10.7 yards.
Powell played on a season-high 32 snaps on offense (58 percent of the offense's snaps) as he moved into a third-receiver role with Justin Jefferson on injured reserve. He failed to connect on a key third-down pass from Kirk Cousins that would have been a difficult catch but showed he has Cousins' trust.
