Vikings snap counts vs. Chargers: Debuts for Jaquelin Roy, Andre Carter II

Sunday's game against the Chargers was more of the same for the Vikings, who dropped to 0-3 with another gut-wrenching one-score loss. They turned the ball over two more times, including a twice-deflected interception in the end zone in the game's final seconds. This is a Vikings team that continues to be explosive in the passing game, but the defense was gashed again and the offense struggled to execute on third down and in the red zone.

From a playing time standpoint, Christian Darrisaw returned to action and a couple rookies made their debuts on the defensive line. Let's take a look at the snap counts against the Chargers to see what we can learn about this still-winless team.

Vikings offensive snap counts vs. Chargers (out of 83)

• QB Kirk Cousins: 83
• RT Brian O'Neill: 83
• RG Ed Ingram: 83
• C Austin Schlottmann: 83
• LG Ezra Cleveland: 83
• LT Christian Darrisaw: 83
• WR Justin Jefferson: 78
• WR K.J. Osborn: 77
• TE T.J. Hockenson: 74
• RB Alexander Mattison: 67
• WR Jordan Addison: 59
• TE Josh Oliver: 27
• RB Ty Chandler: 12
• FB C.J. Ham: 8
• TE Johnny Mundt: 7
• WR Brandon Powell: 5
• WR Trishton Jackson: 1

Offensively, Darrisaw's return was the big change from the Week 2 loss in Philadelphia. Dalton Risner didn't play against the Chargers, but that could change next Sunday against the Panthers. Cam Akers certainly figures to make his Vikings debut in Charlotte, perhaps at the expense of Chandler's snaps.

Addison got another slight bump in snap share, going from 69 percent against the Eagles to 71 percent in this game. His touchdown streak ended, but the rookie continues to look impressive as a route runner when he isn't facing press coverage.

Oliver caught his first Vikings touchdown pass to open the scoring for Minnesota. With Jalen Nailor on IR, Brandon Powell and Trishton Jackson (elevated from the practice squad) are next in line at receiver beyond the top three.

Vikings defensive snap counts vs. Chargers (out of 66)

• S Camryn Bynum: 66
• LB Jordan Hicks: 66
• S Harrison Smith: 63
• S Josh Metellus: 63
• CB Byron Murphy Jr: 62
• OLB Danielle Hunter: 61
• CB Akayleb Evans: 60
• OLB D.J. Wonnum: 59
• DT Harrison Phillips: 51
• LB Ivan Pace Jr: 41
• OLB Pat Jones II: 32
• DT Dean Lowry: 31
• DT Jonathan Bullard: 27
• CB Mekhi Blackmon: 18
• OLB Andre Carter II: 14
• DT Jaquelin Roy: 9
• S Theo Jackson: 3

If you hadn't noticed by now, the Vikings' base defense has three safeties on the field. Metellus is essentially a full-time player alongside Smith and Bynum.

In this game, we saw less Pace, more Wonnum, and more Blackmon compared to the Eagles loss. The Vikings are slowly expanding Blackmon's role as their third cornerback, but he's still sixth in the overall pecking order at defensive back.

Minnesota needs to find some pass rush production from someone other than Hunter, who recorded his fifth sack of the season on Sunday. Maybe it'll get some of that from Carter; the undrafted rookie had three pressures and two QB hits on just 14 snaps in his NFL debut.

The Vikings also need more from their interior defensive line. Phillips has played well and Bullard had a couple nice run stops against the Chargers, but Dean Lowry has been very ineffective through the first three games of the season. The Vikings chose to make Roy active for the first time in place of Khyiris Tonga, and the rookie out of LSU could eat into Lowry's snaps moving forward.

Give credit to the veteran Hicks for playing every defensive snap and grading out (via PFF) as the Vikings' best player. His forced fumble and recovery in the first half was a big play.

For the first time this season, Brian Asamoah joined fellow 2022 draft picks Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. in only playing on special teams. It does not look good for that class.