5 Vikings Players Trending Upward After the Week 1 Green Bay Game

Several Vikings players offered the team some strong football in Week 1.

Most obvious, perhaps, there’s the effort from Carson Wentz while stepping in for the injured Kyler Murray. Give the veteran credit for stepping in to shine, something he told Vikings Territory he could do back in August. Look beyond just the passer position to see who did well for the Vikings.

The Vikings Players Who Shined in Week 1

No. 5 — Defensive Tackle Domonique Orange

Mr. Orange wasn’t dominant in his debut NFL game. What he did do, though, was prove clutch on that 4th down attempt the Packers didn’t convert. Go ahead and watch that play. Keep your eye on #97, who is lined up directly across from the center:

One more detail: the Packers had missed a PAT earlier in the game. Had they drilled that kick, then Matt LaFleur almost certainly kicks the field goal to make it a 9-point game since it would be a two-score lead. Instead, the 4th & 1 QB sneak didn’t pan out, largely due to the rookie nose tackle stonewalling the center.

No. 4 — Corner James Pierre

Most obviously, there’s the interception. James Pierre did well in this moment.

However, there was strong ball beyond just plucking a pass out of the sky. The corner earned a 78.4 grade on PFF, earning his grade within 23 snaps. A question: should the Vikings have put Pierre onto Christian Watson to try to shutdown what the long-and-strong receiver was doing earlier in the contest?

No. 3 — Linebacker Blake Cashman

What a start for the veteran linebacker.

Blake Cashman is moving through a contract year. In Week 1, Cashman played like it. Not only was the PFF assessment impressive — a blistering 91.8 grade — but so were the basic statistics. His day finished with 7 tackles to stand alongside 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 2 quarterback hits. So, too, did he generate a ton of pressure on the blitz.

No. 2 — Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson

Can’t help but be happy for him. The elite WR1 had a tough 2025 due to the quarterback play being mostly awful.

Yet again, the Vikings had to sort through more passer turmoil with Kyler Murray leaving the game in the 1st quarter due to a concussion. Jefferson still found a way to explode.

Jefferson’s final stats: 8 catches, 92 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Better yet, Jefferson had a 2-point conversion, as well.

No. 1 — Edge Rusher Dallas Turner

Elite. Boiling down Dallas Turner’s day to a single word would mean describing it as elite.

The Vikings need Mr. Turner to continue doing what he did on Sunday. The defender had a pair of tackles to stand alongside the sack and forced fumble. More promising is that the Vikings saw him generate 9 pressures alongside 6 quarterback hits.

Elite.

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