Concerns for Vikings’ Dallas Turner Ahead of 2025 Season

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are preparing to rely heavily on outside linebacker Dallas Turner in the upcoming 2025 season, despite concerns following a less than stellar rookie year. Turner, a first-round pick from Alabama, played just 28% of defensive snaps in 2024, raising questions about his readiness for a more significant role.

Turner’s performance during preseason has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. Paul Allen, KFAN‘s voice of the Vikings, expressed concerns about Turner’s readiness on his show. “What do you do with Dallas Turner? Where do you play him? How much do you play him?” Allen questioned, pointing out that Turner’s training camp performance has been outshined by teammate Gabriel Murphy, who had a standout game against the Houston Texans.

In a recent game, Turner only played nine snaps, failing to register any sacks or quarterback hits, while Murphy excelled with two sacks and five quarterback hits on 29 plays. This discrepancy has led to speculation that Turner is not living up to expectations.

Despite this criticism, some of Turner’s teammates, including Jonathan Greenard, believe in his potential. Greenard remarked, “He just looks locked in. I think he just understands that he has a real opportunity to come in and change the game.” Turner is expected to have a crucial role in defensive strategies, as the coaching staff believes he has the skill set to thrive.

Turner will have his chance to prove himself starting from the Vikings’ first regular-season game on September 8. The coaching staff remains hopeful that with more game time, Turner can develop further and become a key player in defensive strategies.

As the Vikings look ahead, fans remain eager to see if Turner can make an impact this season and fulfill the promise that led to his first-round selection.