Harrison

Hand

It’s the second time this season Hand has been placed on the COVID list. It’s unclear whether Hand is vaccinated, and it’s also not evident whether he tested positive or is just a close contact, but the rookie will now have to adhere to the NFL’s protocols before rejoining the team.

The Vikings picked up Hand in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Hand split his time between defense and special teams. He has played exclusively on special teams this year and was rehabbing from a hamstring injury prior to hitting the COVID list.

Barr will miss another week with a knee injury he picked up in early August. Minnesota will also be without rotational DL Griffen and CB Hand as they face off against Kyler Murray and one of the NFL’s most lethal offenses. Arizona sports an implied total of 27.25 points in what should be a high-scoring affair in Week 2. The Vikings can’t stop Murray; they can’t even hope to contain him.

Via The Athletic’s draft guru, Dane Brugler, “A one-year starter at Temple, Hand was the boundary cornerback in defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles scheme, playing both man and zone coverages. He was part of ex-coach Matt Rhule’s first recruiting class at Baylor, but called Waco a ‘big culture shock’ and made a smooth transition to Temple in 2019, leading the team in interceptions. Hand is a competitive player with the eyes and toughness required to read and react, trusting his vision and not allowing himself to overthink things. While he isn’t a poor athlete, he doesn’t play with sudden qualities and lacks the textbook technique to help compensate. Overall, Hand is quick to sort from off coverage, but lacks the necessary twitch in his hips and feet to be a consistent playmaker at the position, projecting as a possible backup zone corner.”