Rookie LBs Kentrell Brothers, Jake Ganus got longer look in Cincinnati

Injuries to a trio of Vikings linebackers in Eric Kendricks, Edmond Robinson and Brandon Watts last week created additional opportunities for a pair of rookie linebackers who are trying to crack the 53-man roster.

The beneficiaries were fifth-round pick Kentrell Brothers of Missouri and, to a lesser extent, Jake Ganus, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia.

Both got bumped up to the second team at times during the two joint practices with the Bengals. And they got a handful of reps with the top unit, too, as coach Mike Zimmer mixed and matched his personnel.

Then, in the 17-16 preseason victory over the Bengals on Friday night, Brothers played 41 of 66 defensive snaps, second among linebackers to only veteran Audie Cole. Ganus played 22 snaps, all of them in the second half.

Brothers made three tackles, none bigger than when he teamed up with defensive end Danielle Hunter to stuff Bengals back Cedric Peerman on 4th and 1 inside the 5-yard line. He was also credited with a QB hit.

Last Thursday, Zimmer said Brothers has looked good against the run.

“He’s a down-hill plugger. He thumps in there pretty good in the running game,” Zimmer said. “He has just got to continue to improve in the passing game. Some of the stuff we do is fairly complicated. It’s hard on the linebackers, and they’ve got to be able to adjust.”

Ganus made one tackle on defense and one on special teams, where he got another 13 snaps. He was also credited with a pass-break up.

Zimmer was asked about Ganus after Thursday’s joint practice, too.

“He has done a good job. He’s a smart kid,” he said. “Like all rookies, he still has some mistakes he makes, but hopefully he’s physical when he gets in there and runs around. Really, what I’m looking for in young guys [is] if they make a mistake, make it fast. Go fly around and hit somebody.”

Of the two, Brothers obviously has a better chance of making the 53-man roster. Ganus seemingly faces long odds, with Robinson, Watts and Cole all ahead of him on the depth chart. But he could be a candidate to stick around on the practice squad if he can’t overtake them.

Zimmer noted yesterday, though, that all it takes is a couple of preseason injuries to create a vacancy at what had once been a deep position.

“We’ve got a couple weeks before the cuts,” Zimmer said. “So many things change by the time cuts get here. And obviously, [GM] Rick [Spielman] and I have talked about a lot of these things. But things change.”