EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings won a wild one in Week 5 to improve to 2-3.
Here's a look at Minnesota's snap counts in the 19-17 home win over Detroit:
— Kirk Cousins and four members of the starting offensive line (Brian O'Neill, Olisaemeka Udoh, Garrett Bradbury and Ezra Cleveland) played all 67 offensive snaps. That group has played all 353 offensive snaps so far in 2021.
— Rashod Hill got the start at left tackle and played 39 snaps, but rookie first-round pick Christian Darrisaw made his offensive NFL debut with 28 snaps. Darrisaw was in for multiple drives, including for Minnesota's lone touchdown of the day. Hill, however, was in for the Vikings final drive that led to the game-winning field goal.
— Alexander Mattison played 44 snaps to lead the Vikings backfield as he had 25 carries for 113 yards. Dalvin Cook was inactive with an ankle injury. Fullback C.J. Ham played 32 snaps, and running back Ameer Abdullah was in for a dozen on offense.
— Adam Thielen (62 snaps) and Justin Jefferson (60 snaps) had nearly identical workloads. Jefferson shined early with five of his seven total catches and 104 of his 124 yards in the first half, while Thielen starred late with a pair of clutch receptions on the final drive. K.J. Osborn played 42 snaps, while Dede Westbrook played a season-high 14 offensive snaps.
— Tyler Conklin played 50 snaps to lead the tight ends group. The other two tight ends played the exact same amount of snaps as the week before. Ben Ellefson was on the field for 14 snaps again, while Chris Herndon played seven snaps. The latter was called for a pair of penalties.
— Defensively, the Vikings had six players — Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Xavier Woods, Harrison Smith, Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland — who were on the field for all 68 snaps. Barr, who missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, made his season debut.
— Nick Vigil played 25 snaps, his lowest total of the season, due to Barr's return. He had played all of Minnesota's 261 defensive snaps entering the game.
— Mackensie Alexander was the only other cornerback to see the field as he played 43 snaps. Minnesota was shorthanded with Harrison Hand and Cameron Dantzler are on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Danielle Hunter played 61 snaps and recorded a sack. Everson Griffen got the start at the opposite defensive end spot and played 49 snaps while notching a pair of sacks. D.J. Wonnum recorded his first sack of the season on 43 snaps. Stephen Weatherly played seven snaps.
— The Vikings evenly rotated their defensive tackles group with Michael Pierce out with an elbow injury. Armon Watts earned the start in Pierce's place and played 36 snaps. Dalvin Tomlinson (who also started) played 34 snaps, the same number as Sheldon Richardson. James Lynch made his season debut with 11 snaps and recovered a fumble forced by Griffen.
View game action photos of the Vikings battling the Lions in the Week 5 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.
— Weatherly led all Vikings players in special teams snaps with 17. Blake Lynch, Troy Dye and Ryan Connelly played 16 snaps apiece on special teams, with Kris Boyd and Josh Metellus playing 15.
— Kicker Greg Joseph played 11 snaps on special teams, none bigger than the final one of the game.