A couple of reserves stepped in to help the Vikings first-team defense turned in an impressive night in the first half against the Seahawks in the second preseason game for both teams.

Linval Joseph sacked Russell Wilson on Seattle's fifth play from scrimmage, and the Vikings ended the possession with three run stuffs for no gain in a four-play span.

Shamar Stephen, who started at defensive tackle in place of Sharrif Floyd for a second straight week, stonewalled rookie Alex Collins on a fourth-and-1. Collins ran into a wall formed by Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr on the previous play, and Audie Cole, who started in place of Eric Kendricks at middle linebacker, stopped Collins on first-and-10.

The Vikings kept applying the pressure, with Everson Griffen chasing down the fleet-footed Wilson from behind for a sack and a loss of 10 to put the Seahawks in a third-and-20.

Barr added to the barrage for a sack and a loss of 11 one play after the Seahawks uncorked a 16-yard run by Christine Michael and were trying to build momentum.

The tally for Seattle on those first three possessions: 20 offensive snaps, 79 net yards in the game's first 20 minutes.

In addition to Stephen starting for Floyd and Cole in place of Kendricks, Trae Waynes subbed in for Xavier Rhodes early.

The Vikings opted to start Michael Griffin alongside Harrison Smith at safety. Andrew Sendejo, who started 13 games at safety last season, then replaced Smith and played together with Griffin.

Sendejo added a fourth sack on a blitz of Wilson in the first half.

Wilson finished 5-for-11 for 77 yards and a passer rating of 69.1 in the first half and was replaced by rookie Trevone Boykin with the Vikings up 11-0.