Vikings' depth at linebacker shows up against Colts

While the Vikings are "just being cautious" with injured linebacker Anthony Barr, according to coach Mike Zimmer, the team's backup linebackers gave coaches reasons to be more optimistic about their depth during Saturday night's 12-10 preseason loss to the Colts.

Barr has missed practice sporadically over the past few weeks. He was replaced by second-year linebacker Blake Lynch during Saturday's exhibition. In the first quarter, Barr was already congratulating Lynch on the sideline for making one of a few standout plays by the linebacker group.

During the Colts' second series, Lynch blitzed from the back side and caught Colts running back Nyheim Hines from behind for a third-down stop. Fellow reserves Troy Dye and Chazz Surratt soon made plays of their own after replacing starters Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil.

"The backup guys played a lot better [Saturday night] than they did before," Zimmer said. "They're still making little bitty mistakes that we have to try to correct. Surratt, he did some good things, but he tried to run underneath a block and got blocked one time."

Surratt, the third-round rookie, perfectly timed a tackle on Colts punt returner Isaiah Rodgers on the following series. Two plays later, Dye intercepted a pass tipped by nose tackle Armon Watts and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

"Fantastic blocks by everyone on the defense," Dye said. "Everyone was out there making moves trying to make it easier on me to get in the end zone."

Surratt also added a run stop — corralling running back Benny LeMay behind the line in the third quarter — among his team-leading nine tackles. Barr's continued absence kept the spotlight on inexperienced backups. The star linebacker's latest injury is not related to last year's torn pectoral muscle, according to Zimmer, who did not reveal the current injury keeping Barr out.

"He's not a concern as a football player," Zimmer said. "He's a concern maybe a little bit with his health, so we're taking that with real kid gloves. But we miss him out there. We can do so many different things with him."

Special teams inch forward

Although kicker Greg Joseph missed a 51-yard field goal wide right, he returned to make a 49-yard attempt as the Vikings special teams showed signs of improvement under new coordinator Ryan Ficken.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette flashed his elusiveness on a 41-yard kickoff return, even though Zimmer said the rookie wasn't cleared to return from that deep in the end zone. He also added a 17-yard punt return. Punter Britton Colquitt got back on track, and his coverage — from Surratt to safety Josh Metellus — pinned down Colts returners who were held to 17 yards on five attempts.

"Much improved," Zimmer said. "Colquitt punted the ball well, we covered well, we had some good returns and good coverage. I thought we flipped the field position pretty well that way."

Cornerback shuffle

Only part of the Vikings' retooled secondary played. Patrick Peterson rested, but fellow newcomer Bashaud Breeland deflected a third-down pass intended for Colts receiver Michael Pittman. Breeland started with cornerback Kris Boyd.

Boyd is simply "doing better" right now, according to Zimmer, which is why he got the start over fellow backup corner Cameron Dantzler, a 2020 third-round pick who started as a rookie. Boyd played most of the first half with Breeland and slot corner Mackensie Alexander. The secondary wasn't tested much against Colts quarterbacks Sam Ehlinger and Jacob Eason; they sputtered with two balls tipped at the line and another four deflected downfield.

Vikings starters not done?

Zimmer will consider playing certain Vikings starters in the preseason finale on Friday in Kansas City. That includes members of the struggling offense. It also may include defensive end Danielle Hunter, whom Zimmer held out against the Colts. Hunter hasn't played since January 2020 as he returns from last year's neck surgery.

"Danielle probably needs to play a little bit," Zimmer said. "I'll try to get his opinion on where he thinks he's at, but he hasn't played in a year."

Multiple Colts starters sit

As more teams err toward the side of caution in the preseason, the Colts sat a handful of healthy starters against the Vikings. Running back Jonathan Taylor, receiver T.Y. Hilton, linebacker Darius Leonard, and tight end Jack Doyle were among Indianapolis' starters who did not play. They sat along with injured starters in quarterback Carson Wentz and guard Quenton Nelson.