Vikes hope Burleson can spark struggling offense

By Krupka  |   Friday, October 21, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Standing at an even 6'0" tall, weighing only 192 pounds, the silky smooth Nate Burleson made a name for himself last year. Burleson was drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. His emergence in just his second season in the league, catching 68 passes for 1006 yards and 9 touchdowns, last year made the Vikings feel as though they could trade star wide receiver Randy Moss. Nate Burleson was anointed as the number one wide receiver after the trade of Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders and was expected to fill the void left by Moss.

Unfortunately, the Vikings have been without their number one wide receiver since Week 2 when Burleson sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Cincinnati Bengals. On Wednesday Burleson practiced and will make his return to the lineup this Sunday against the Packers.

There couldn't have been a better time for Burleson to return to the lineup. In two regular season games against the Packers last year, Burleson torched the porous Packer defense for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 receptions and also carried the ball 3 times for 22 yards. Burleson also caught 4 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game victory against the Packers last season.

The struggling Minnesota Vikings (1-4) need a big win against their bitter arch rival to get back on track and try to salvage the season. Burleson's return to the lineup should help the offense, especially struggling quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Burleson is known as a great run blocking wide receiver which should help the running attack. He also provides a go-to guy that Culpepper has sorely missed, and a threat to go across the middle which should open up the deep routes for Vikings wide receivers Marcus Robinson and Travis Taylor.
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