Vikings Snap Counts: Wright’s clutch assist

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright has flown pretty far under the radar this season thanks to playing alongside Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Wright appeared in all 16 games during the regular season, but didn't start in any of them for the first time in his six-year pro career. He finished the season with just 18 catches for 198 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 25 targets.



Despite those figures, Wright always seems to be there when the Vikings need him most.

Wright quietly had his biggest game of the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, hauling in three catches on six targets for a season-high 56 yards. He was on the field for 47 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps, his best snap percentage since Week 7 (a game in which Diggs had to leave because of injury).

He came through once again on third down on the Vikings' opening drive, picking up 22 yards on his first catch of the game to set up Jerick McKinnon's 14-yard touchdown run.

And when star receiver Diggs needed an assist after his earth-shattering, game-winning touchdown, Wright made one of his biggest plays of the night.

As Diggs kicked off the celebration by flinging his helmet across the end zone, Wright quickly scooped up the ball, which had found its way back to Diggs by the time the cameras caught up with him in the locker room later on.

Other observations from Sunday's snap counts:

-- Minnesota’s 81 plays on offense was its most in a single game since they racked up 85 plays against the Browns in Week 8.

-- New Orleans punter Thomas Morstead made an appearance in the Saints' defensive snap counts (along with backup guard John Fullington) for coming back on the field for Minnesota’s two-point attempt as time expired.

-- After resting his injured ankle for a week, tight end Kyle Rudolph was back to his usual workload, appearing on 88 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps.

-- Cornerback Mackensie Alexander played in 50 percent of the snaps, just the second time all season he's reached 50 percent or higher (also against Pittsburgh in Week 2).

-- With safety Andrew Sendejo knocked out with a concussion, Anthony Harris played in 24 defensive snaps (35 percent). While Harris played in all 16 regular-season games, he had appeared on defense just twice in the last seven games (Week 11 vs. Rams and Week 15 vs. Bengals).

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DEFENSE