4 takeaways from Vikings’ preseason finale: Max Brosmer keeps dealing

The Vikings lost to the Titans, 23-13, during their preseason finale on Friday night, but the score is hardly what matters in these exhibition games. It’s all about the various individual performances from players who are fighting to make the 53-man roster on Tuesday — or in some cases, making a push for a significant role when the regular season begins.

Here are four takeaways from the action in Nashville (plus some other notes at the end).

It’s difficult to overstate how impressive Max Brosmer was on Friday night. The Vikings’ undrafted rookie quarterback has assuredly locked up a roster spot with his play, and there’s a real discussion to be had about whether or not he might already be suited to be Minnesota’s No. 2 QB behind J.J. McCarthy.

Brosmer has played well all throughout training camp and in the first two preseason games, but this was his best showing yet. He went 15 for 23 for 161 yards and a touchdown, and his numbers would’ve been even more impressive if not for a drop on perhaps his prettiest throw of the evening.

Everything the Vikings like about Brosmer was on display in this game. The former Gopher operated the offense smoothly and was both decisive and accurate with the football. He faced a tough task early against Jeffery Simmons and Tennessee’s first-team defense, but he handled it admirably. And when the Titans’ starters departed, Brosmer lit them up.

He rifled a hole shot to Dontae Fleming for 36 yards.

He then capped that drive with a touchdown pass to Bryson Nesbit.

As mentioned earlier, neither of those were Brosmer’s best throw of the game. That came on a fourth down later in the third quarter, when he floated a perfect deep ball to Fleming for what should’ve been close to a 40-yard gain. Unfortunately, the rookie receiver was unable to complete the process of the catch as he fell to the ground.

Brosmer has given the Vikings a lot to think about — not in terms of his roster status, but in terms of how high he might climb on the depth chart.

The Vikings played two quarterbacks in a rotation on Friday. Brosmer got the start, but Brett Rypien also handled plenty of work. And while the former shined, the latter was far less sharp.

Rypien’s final line was 7 of 14 for 62 yards and a pick. He made a few nice throws, but it wasn’t particularly smooth overall. Rypien’s interception actually wasn’t his fault, as former Vikings defensive tackle James Lynch hit him while he threw, causing the ball to float easily into the arms of a Titans defender. However, he should’ve thrown a second pick in the fourth quarter (it was overturned to an incomplete pass upon review), so it evens out.

With Brosmer having seemingly secured his roster spot, Rypien’s fate appears to be sealed. Unless the Vikings decide to waive Sam Howell, who didn’t play in this game, Rypien figures to be waived and brought back to the practice squad as QB4.

This game may well have ended the Vikings’ punting competition — and not because of any punt.

The role of holder is perhaps just as important for a punter as their primary job description. As such, it was quite notable when rookie Oscar Chapman bobbled a hold, resulting in Will Reichard missing a 55-yard field goal wide left. And it was similarly notable when Ryan Wright’s quality hold led to Reichard drilling a 58-yarder not long after.

Chapman has done well as a punter to make this a real competition. But if the Vikings can’t trust him as a holder, he can’t win the job. Wright seems likely to retain his job for a fourth season, with Chapman remaining on the practice squad via the International Player Pathway program (which grants a bonus 17th practice squad spot).

One of the more intriguing players from this year’s Vikings preseason has been wide receiver Myles Price. He caught a touchdown pass in the opener, but more notably, he’s turned heads with his skills as a returner, including an 81-yard kick return in the second game last weekend.

Price had another nice return in this game, a 28-yarder that didn’t count due to a penalty. He looks confident with the ball in his hands and is able to make people miss in the open field.

But there’s one concern: his ability to actually catch the ball without issue. It’s been part of the equation throughout training camp and the preseason, and in this one, he nearly muffed a punt before managing to hold on. Price seems to have real juice as a returner, but if he’s going to make the roster and potentially earn that role, the Vikings have to be able to trust that he can catch it cleanly.

The preseason has come to an end. Let the real games begin.