29 July 2023
Vikings safety Josh Metellus made it clear this spring that he intends to play special teams as long as the Vikings will let him.
“If we need somebody out there, I’m the first one to raise my hand,” said Metellus, who has made a name for himself as an ace on special teams. “That’s something I’m always going to have in the back of my head.”
Now that Metellus has started to pick up more playing time on defense, however, his playing time on specials teams could decrease.
Though he’s not technically a starter, Metellus is a player new defensive coordinator Brian Flores clearly plans to use in certain packages. After a few days into training camp at TCO Performance Center, Metellus has often been on the field with fellow safeties Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum.
“We know Josh is talented,” Flores said. “He’s shown that over the course of his career.”
As much as that talent has helped Metellus develop since the Vikings selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, his intelligence might be an even bigger reason for his leap.
Just ask Smith, who has played more than a decade in the league, and noted that Metellus might know the new defensive scheme better than he does.
“He could sit up there and run a meeting as a coach right now,” Smith said. “He’s got it that well. I learn a lot from him. He knows more a lot of times than I do, so I’m trying to learn stuff from him, too. He’s great to be around, and it’s a lot of fun to watch him.”
Special-teams coordinator Matt Daniels says even if he loses Metellus completely at some point this season, he’s proud to see him rise up the ranks.
“That’s the beauty of being a special-teams coordinator,” Daniels said. “We’re really part of the development process of these players. We want guys like Josh Metellus to do what he has to do, ball out on special teams, and eventually develop and become a starter in the league.”
A kicking competition?
There will be a kicking competition for the Vikings this season.
After veteran kicker Greg Joseph went 26 for 33 on field-goal attempts last season, the Vikings decided to sign rookie kicker Jack Podlesny this spring after he went undrafted.
“The way this roster has been built out, we’re looking to compete at every single level of every single position,” Daniels said. “That’s how the roster is built out, and the personnel has done an unbelievable job of putting it together, so it will be a kicking competition between those guys.”
It’s worth noting that Podlesny kicked for Georgia at the collegiate level and was named 2022 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.
Day 3 observations
— There wasn’t much to write home about on Friday afternoon as the Vikings spent most of the time on walkthrough. As the practice wrapped up, lightning struck nearby and the players went indoors to finish the rest of the session. The highlight of the day was star receiver Justin Jefferson making an incredible catch over Smith and cornerback Byron Murphy.
— Another thing of note was former Vikings star receiver Cris Carter watched part of practice from the sidelines. He paid special attention to Jefferson and rookie receiver Jordan Addison during individual drills.
— There was no sign of receiver Jalen Nailor for the second straight. The only other active players who did not practice were pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who is in search of a new contract, and right tackle Brian O’Neill, who is being brought along slowly as he finishes up his recovery process from an injury.
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