In a game where the Minnesota Vikings logged a season-high 71 offensive plays and quarterback Sam Darnold distributed the ball to 10 different players, third-year running back Ty Chandler was noticeably absent from head coach Kevin O’Connell’s strategy.
Chandler did not play any offensive snaps during the Vikings’ 21-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9—marking the first time this season he went unused—due to Cam Akers assuming the backup spot behind Aaron Jones.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2022, Chandler ended his second season on a high note, overtaking Alexander Mattison for the starting role late in 2023. However, this season has seen his involvement dwindle. Initially, Chandler participated in 36% of the offensive snaps over the first five weeks but has since dropped to just 7%.
Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling highlighted ongoing concerns about Chandler, now in the third year of his four-year, $3.8 million rookie contract. On the “Access Vikings” podcast, Goessling noted, “I don’t think they’re terribly happy with Ty Chandler in some areas of the game. Pass protection has been a question, and he hasn’t consistently shown the explosiveness he’s capable of. The last significant game he had was in Week 5 against the Jets.”
With limited draft picks for 2025, the Vikings might consider trading Chandler for a potential fifth-round pick ahead of the November 5 trade deadline. While not necessarily viewed as trade bait, the team’s reduced trust in Chandler makes a future move for additional running back depth plausible.
Vikings Strengthen Their Playoff Potential Despite Close Win Over Colts
Despite the seemingly tight final score, the Vikings (6-2) showed their prowess against the Colts, entering the final 48 hours before the trade deadline as strong playoff contenders.
Coach O’Connell focused on improving time of possession through more short passes to aid the run game. Darnold threw a season-high 34 passes, completing 28 (82.4%) for 290 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. This helped propel the Vikings to a season-high 415 total yards, marred only by the interceptions.
Minnesota controlled the clock for 36 minutes and 54 seconds, which allowed their defense ample rest to pressure Colts quarterback Joe Flacco. The defense limited Indianapolis to just 227 total yards and a 3-of-11 success rate on third downs.
Crucially, the Vikings cleaned up their pre-snap penalties, which had been a persistent issue, committing only three penalties throughout the game.
These improvements addressed the problems that had led to consecutive losses after their bye week.
Defense as the Focus for Potential Trade Additions
With Cam Akers increasing his workload and contributing 46 yards on 6 carries, including three first downs, and adding 7 yards on two receptions, the Vikings’ running back situation looks stable.
However, defensive depth remains an area of need. There could be discussions about acquiring a cornerback or defensive tackle ahead of the November 5 deadline at 3 p.m.
