Was Nwangwu’s Long TD A Season Predictor Or Preseason Fluke?
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
It’s difficult to take too much from the first preseason game — or any preseason contest for that matter — but the Minnesota Vikings hope that one big play means they’ve finally unlocked a weapon in Kene Nwangwu. In Minnesota’s 24-23 victory against the Raiders on Saturday, the offense had some inspiring moments. Even without star receiver Justin Jefferson, rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy threw for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
But perhaps the most exciting play on offense came from Nwangwu. In the second quarter, he took a carry 48 yards for a touchdown. Though just a preseason rush, it’s arguably — and probably not even that — his most impactful offensive play in four years with the team.
Can't catch Kene! @NwangwuKene
📺: @FOX9 | @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/obcUP3s1jX
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 10, 2024
In 2023, Nwangwu played in just nine games thanks to a back injury. Even in nine games, however, he finished the year with just five carries for 13 yards on offense. He’s still yet to score a rushing touchdown since being drafted out of Iowa State in the fourth round in 2021.
Realistically, he could be on the bubble for roster cuts, according to such outlets as Sporting News. So his reps at running back in the preseason are make-or-break. A long touchdown run against the stout Raiders defensive front (which, early in the second quarter, still featured Maxx Crosby) is currently feather in his cap. If he’s on the 53-man squad, that sprint to the end zone may be the turning point.
Of course, Nwangwu has really stood out on special teams. There’s a reason he’s coming back after a 13-yard rushing season, after all. In 2022 he was named Second-Team All-Pro as a returner. And with the way the NFL has changed kickoffs, Nwangwu will likely be even more valuable than seasons past, in which a majority of kicks ended in touchbacks.
“Huge, that’s the other aspect of [the new rules]. The value of a returner now skyrockets. The value of a returner significantly increases, so you want to have a plethora of those guys who you can trust to do it, who can be dangerous with the ball in their hands,” special teams coordinator Matt Daniels told Vikingsterritory.com.
With his undeniable speed, Nwangwu was a solid successor to returners such as Marcus Sherels and Cordarrelle Patterson from seasons prior. However, he’s still yet to reach his potential as an offensive weapon.
In the past, coach Kevin O’Connell’s offenses haven’t featured a ton of receiving production from running backs. Partially that’s due to their wealth of great options like Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and others. Last year, starter Alexander Mattison was the leading running back with 700 rushing yards, and led all running backs in receiving yards. What was this position-leading total? Just 192 and a single score on receptions.
So while it would be intriguing, it’s not likely that Nwangwu would be catching a ton of screens or getting other options to create yards. He’ll probably have to fit into a more traditional running back role.
“He’s got the talent to be involved in a gadget-type role, but that has not materialized in the NFL under two different coaching staffs,” Andrew Kramer of the Star Tribune wrote in 2023.
It’s also probable that he’ll be more like a traditional change-of-pace third-string running back behind Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler on the depth chart. Those opportunities for him to carry a bigger part of the load should surface, with both starters having a history of injuries — they’re NFL running backs, after all. Jones, in particular, missed a handful of games for the Green Bay Packers in 2023.
The Vikings will also have a new starting quarterback, whether it’s J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold, and may have to rely more on the run to help ease the pressure. Don’t be silly and expect Nwangwu to light up the stat sheet and become your fantasy football starter, but suddenly being RB3 might not be a death sentence in this offense.
That is, of course, if this run indicates anything at all. In theory, this should be simple for a speedy back like Nwangwu, and it looked easy on that touchdown run. See hole, hit hole, touchdown.
But the Vikings, who have been desperate for production out of the backfield, haven’t seen fit to play him. He’s had 27 carries for 88 yards in his career, with the longest being 19 yards. Pro Football Reference measures “Successful Rushing Play%,” and for Nwangwu’s career just 33% of his runs have been “successful.” That’s well below what Mattison (45.0%) and Chandler (45.1%) did last year. Heck, even Cam Akers (39.5%) saw more success last year.
Some of that is to be expected, as Nwangwu came out of college as a raw talent. He’d only run the ball 143 times with Iowa State… for his entire four-year career. Behind more NFL-running backs since his draft day, Nwangwu has been able to bide his time as a kick returner. But now it’s time for him to cook. Can the 26-year-old sink or swim in a semi-regular role?
He finally delivered a tantalizing proof of concept this weekend with that long touchdown run. It gives some hope that he could make an impact out of nowhere with his speed. With the Vikings vying to get back to the playoffs, they’ll take what they can get, especially if that’s unexpected long touchdown runs. Whether Nwangwu can or can’t deliver those explosive moments in the regular season is still to be seen.
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