VIKINGS GAME NOTES minnesota vikings communications Preseason Week 1 | Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints | August 9,2019 GAME NOTES GAMEDAY WEATHER • Vikings Captains: LB Anthony Barr, QB Kirk Cousins, DE Everson Griffen, TE Kyle Rudolph. Conditions: Partly Cloudy • Coin Toss: Vikings won coin toss and elected to receive. Temperature: 91º • Tonight’s matchup marked the 12th overall preseason contest between the two teams dating back to 1968. The Vikings now hold a 5-7 all-time preseason series record against New Orleans. Wind: N 3 mph • The Vikings recorded eight tackles for loss in the first half. vikings • The first-team offense was on the field for nine snaps. not expected to play • Minnesota’s offensive line paved the way for 141 rushing yards on 27 attempts (8.5 avg.) while also not allowing a sack. 21 Mike Hughes CB (PUP) 38 Kris Boyd CB • Minnesota had 11 2019 draftees make their preseason debuts: C Garrett Bradbury, TE Irv Smith, Jr., RB Alexander Mattison, WR Olabisi Johnson, LB Cameron Smith, DT Armon Watts, 68 Ade Aruna DE T Olisaemeka Udoh, LS Austin Cutting, Marcus Epps, G Dru Samia and WR Dillon Mitchell [CB Kris Boyd (DNP)]. 75 Brian O’Neill T 76 Aviante Collins T PLAYER NOTES 89 David Morgan TE (PUP) • In nine plays of work, QB Kirk Cousins went 4-for-4 for 65 yards and one touchdown while 90 Tashawn Bower DE (NFI) posting a team-leading 158.3 passer rating. 93 Shamar Stephen DT • Rookie RB Alexander Mattison recorded the first preseason touchdown reception of his NFL career on a one-yard pass from Cousins with 10:42 remaining in the first quarter. 98 Linval Joseph DT • QB Sean Mannion entered the game on the Vikings’ second offensive drive, completing 7-of-13 passes for a team-leading 102 yards, one touchdown and a 105.3 passer rating on the night. saints not expected to play • Mannion connected with rookie WR Olabisi Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown strike with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter, each players’ first preseason touchdown in purple and gold. Not Available • QB Kyle Sloter started the third quarter for Minnesota, leading the offense to a six-play, 72- yard touchdown drive, tossing a short-left pass to rookie RB Khari Blasingame for a two-yard score. • Blasingame’s score was the first preseason TD of his NFL career. • Rookie CB Nate Meadors intercepted a Taysom Hill pass at the 2:34 mark in the third quarter, returning it 30 yards for the first preseason pick-six of his NFL career. • Rookie QB Jake Browning entered the game with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. • RB Mike Boone registered Minnesota’s longest rush on the game with a 64 yard touchdown with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. • Boone led all Vikings RBs with 70 total rushing yards. WR Adam Thielen and TE Tyler Conklin each recorded 34 receiving yards, tying for the team high. • Rookie LB Cameron Smith paced Minnesota with six combined tackles (four solo, two assisted) while DTs Jalyn Holmes and Hercules Mata’afa each recorded one sack. vikings starters saints starters OFFENSE DEFENSE OFFENSE DEFENSE WR Adam Thielen DE Danielle Hunter WR Michael Thomas DE Marcus Davenport LT Riley Reiff DT Jalyn Holmes LT Terron Armstead DT David Onyemata LG Pat Elflein NT Jaleel Johnson LG Nick Easton NT Malcom Brown C Garrett Bradbury DE Everson Griffen C Eric McCoy DE Trey Hendrickson RG Josh Kline LB Ben Gedeon RG Larry Warford LB Demario Davis RT Rashod Hill LB Eric Kendricks RT Ryan Ramczyk LB Alex Anzalone TE Kyle Rudolph LB Anthony Barr TE Jared Cook LB A.J. Klein WR Stefon Diggs CB Trae Waynes WR Tre’Quan Smith CB Eli Apple QB Kirk Cousins CB Xavier Rhodes QB Teddy Bridgewater CB Marshon Lattimore RB Alexander Mattison SS Anthony Harris RB Alvin Kamara SS Von Bell TE Irv Smith Jr. FS Harrison Smith WR Ted Ginn Jr. FS Marcus Williams.