Training camp will be critical for Cordarrelle Patterson. The wide receiver is on thin ice entering his third season with the Minnesota Vikings and the team has added players that could easily replace him if needed. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner and head coach Mike Zimmer have stood by Patterson and defended his future on the team, but that does not mean he will be a starter in 2015.
According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, Patterson is a second-team receiver right now and must prove that he can beat out players like Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and Mike Wallace for time on the field. Patterson has been praised for his athleticism, but criticized for his lack of knowledge of the offense. After being a first-round draft pick, the Vikings were hoping for more. According to Teddy Bridgewater, there is no reason why Patterson can get back up in the starting rotation.
"When we're out here in practice, we have individual periods, we have periods where we get to throw routes with the wide receivers and that's where we develop that chemistry," Bridgewater said, per ESPN. "And then it's staying after practice and working on routes that we may have not thrown in practice, trying to get that chemistry down. Those are some of the ways that you just try to find some chemistry with the other receivers."
Goessling writes that Turner will likely continue with a three wide receiver set while adding in Kyle Rudolph at tight end. Last season Johnson emerged as the No.1 threat while the newly acquired Wallace is expected to run alongside him. The race is for the third spot is what Patterson is fighting for. It could go to Jarius Wright or Stefon Diggs who was recently drafted. Patterson made some nice players during offseason workouts and must capitalize off that in order to get time on the field.
Another player hoping for time on the field is Jerick McKinnon who got a taste of the starters life when Adrian Peterson was out and now finds himself back on the bench with the veteran having returned. McKinnon told the media that he wants to compete for the starting job no matter who is on the roster, but considering the Vikings' offense will be controlled by Peterson, his best case to see field work is the preseason.
