Dalton Risner absolutely dominated Week 3, putting up a staggering 82.7 PFF grade for the Cincinnati Bengals, easily the top performance among former Minnesota Vikings players across the league. But while Risner was flying high, guys like Jonathan Allen and Jerry Tillery took some serious PFF hits, showing a real mix of outcomes for former Vikes making their way on new squads. This past Sunday gave us a clear picture of who’s thriving and who’s facing some uphill battles.
RISNER AND HUNTER ARE STILL BALLING OUT, NO SURPRISE THERE
You gotta hand it to Dalton Risner, man, that 82.7 PFF grade is no joke for an offensive lineman. He logged 65 total snaps for the Bengals, with 60 of those on offense, meaning he was out there grinding and protecting. That’s the kind of performance that makes a unit click. Over in Houston, Danielle Hunter is still doing what Danielle Hunter does best: getting after the quarterback. With 61 total snaps, 57 on defense, he notched 0.5 sacks, two QB hits, two tackles, four assists, and even a pass defensed, all contributing to a rock-solid 78.0 PFF grade. He’s a problem for opposing offenses, no doubt about it.
It wasn’t just those two shining, though. Javon Hargrave, now with the Packers, put up a strong 70.8 PFF grade on 33 defensive snaps, adding a tackle, two assists, and a pass defensed. Jonathan Bullard for the Cowboys was right there with him at 70.7 PFF on 25 defensive snaps, picking up an assist. And let’s give some props to the special teams warriors: Reddy Steward of the Cowboys posted an impressive 74.7 special teams PFF grade, making a tackle and an assist on his 13 special teams snaps. Carolina’s Akayleb Evans also had a great special teams outing with a 75.1 special teams PFF grade, plus a pass defensed and two special teams assists, alongside his defensive work.
WHEN THE PFF GRADES HIT HARD: WHO STRUGGLED IN WEEK 3
Now, not everyone had a highlight reel kind of Sunday. Some former Vikings faced some tough sledding, and the PFF grades didn’t hold back. Cincinnati’s Jonathan Allen, despite 48 defensive snaps, ended up with a really rough 33.5 PFF grade. He did have three assists and two QB hits, but that grade tells you it was a tough day at the office. Even lower was Jerry Tillery for the Colts, who managed a meager 31.7 PFF on 29 total snaps, with just one assist. That’s definitely a performance he’ll want to forget.
Mike Hughes with the Falcons had a busy 57 defensive snaps, collecting six tackles and an assist, but a 38.9 PFF grade and a costly 34-yard penalty show it wasn’t his sharpest outing. Vederian Lowe, an offensive lineman for the 49ers, registered a 35.4 PFF on 22 offensive snaps, indicating a challenging game up front. Even Mekhi Blackmon, who played a massive 82 snaps for the Browns, mostly on defense, still only pulled a 45.0 PFF grade, despite six tackles, two assists, and a pass defensed. And Laquon Treadwell, with the Colts, had 63 total snaps and one reception for 20 yards, but his 54.1 offensive PFF grade isn’t going to turn heads. It just goes to show, the NFL is a grind, and every single snap is under the microscope.
Week 3 showed us that some of these guys are absolutely thriving in their new homes, while others are still trying to find their footing. You gotta watch Risner to see if he can keep that insane PFF streak going, and if Hunter continues to be a problem for QBs. On the flip side, we’ll be tracking if Allen and Tillery can bounce back from those tough grades. Every snap matters, and these former Vikes are proving it every single Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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