National Football League

Cordarrelle Patterson still a second-team WR for Minnesota Vikings

Published Jun. 17, 2015 2:07 p.m. ET

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is taking second-team reps at the team's minicamp this week, according to ESPN's Ben Goessling. Eating up the first-team reps ahead of him are Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and trade acquisition Mike Wallace.

Patterson, a first-round pick out of Tennessee in the 2013 NFL draft (29th overall), was benched in favor of Johnson last year. Both Wright (588) and Johnson (475) had out-gained Patterson (384) in receiving yards by the end of the 2014 season.

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tells ESPN there's still an avenue for second-teamers to become starters.

"When we’re out here in practice, we have individual periods, we have periods where we get to throw routes with the wide receivers and that’s where we develop that chemistry," Bridgewater said, per ESPN. "And then it’s staying after practice and working on routes that we may have not thrown in practice, trying to get that chemistry down. Those are some of the ways that you just try to find some chemistry with the other receivers."

Even though Patterson has struggled to nail down a role on offense, he is still the team's top kick returner. He was an All-Pro return specialist as a rookie in 2013.

(h/t ESPN)

Photo Credit: Jim Mone/Contract Photographer