3 Minnesota Vikings training camp battles to watch
By Randy Gurzi
3. Punt Returner
For years, punt returning was a strength for the Minnesota Vikings. Marcus Sherels had the position locked down. However, that changed last season when Sherels left in free agency. He wasn’t the only high-profile departure either as long-time special teams coordinator Mike Priefer left for the Cleveland Browns and was replaced by Marwan Maalouf.
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Last season, Maalouf had several players give returning a try — and they even brought Sherels back twice after he didn’t last with the New Orleans Saints and then Miami Dolphins. No one stood out in this department but the best player was Mike Hughes, who averaged 7.4 yards per return.
Now with Hughes possibly serving as CB1, they should be looking elsewhere. Currently, rookie K.J. Osborn is the favorite for the position. A fifth-round pick who spent time at Buffalo and Miami, Osborn averaged 15.9 yards per punt return for the Hurricanes as a senior.
He’s going to have to fight off players such as Chad Bebe and Ameer Abdullah to win the job. They’re also going to try Hughes again and Justin Jefferson as well, but with them both being starters at their respective positions, there’s a good chance Maalouf would prefer to see the speedy rookie Osborn take the job and run with it.