Vikings rookie safety 'has some catching up to do' before Week 1
Injuries limited a Vikings rookie during training camp, keeping him from standing out in a crowded safety room.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted safety Jakobe Thomas from Miami, believing he would be a perfect fit for their team. According to PFF, Thomas excelled in coverage with an 89.1 grade during his 2025 season, and also managed 14 pressures on 42 pass rushes. However, Thomas suffered from back stiffness and missed a significant portion of training camp.
Meanwhile, undrafted rookie free agent Jacob Thomas impressed with his instincts at safety. Jakobe Thomas finally made his preseason debut against the Denver Broncos last Friday, playing 57 snaps at high altitude and earning a 61.0 grade. His role for the team remains uncertain, and he is expected to sit behind established starters Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and key backup Theo Jackson until further notice, as reported by ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
Despite his physicality and understanding of the system, Seifert noted that Thomas has "some catching up to do." This article, originally published on Vikings Wire, suggests that Thomas may need to look around at the veterans in the room for inspiration, as Metellus, Ward, and Jackson all began their careers as backups before becoming starters.
However, the article concludes that the odds of Thomas breaking into the starting lineup early in the 2026 season are slim.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
