For all of the electricity that former Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs has brought to the Minnesota Vikings this preseason, it still may not be enough to crack the regular rotation, according to a report from Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.
It has been on special teams where Diggs has really made his mark, averaging 24.2 yards per return on the five punts he has fielded in two preseason games. That includes a 62-yard near-touchdown against Pittsburgh in the team's preseason opener.
But there's just one problem. The punt and kick return options for the Vikings feature players who have been among the best in the league at their jobs over the course of the past two seasons.
As Tomasson explains, Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer said this week that cornerback Marcus Sherels appears to be in line to retain his job returning punts. The same goes for wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who will likely continue fielding kicks.
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And for as well as Diggs has played, it's hard to argue that Sherels (15.2 yards/return in 2013) and Patterson (32.4 yards/return in 2013) should be overtaken by a rookie. Those numbers by Sherels and Patterson were good for second and first in the league, respectively, that year.
The wide receiver position is also a log jam for Minnesota.
Diggs joins a group that includes Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Jairius Wright, Adam Thielen, and the aforementioned Patterson. There doesn't seem to be much room there.
Of course, injuries happen and perhaps Diggs could slot in somewhere if that scenario arises. But, for the time being, it appears we may see limited opportunities for Diggs at least early in 2015.
