The former UNC football standout made the most of his opportunity to see more playing time for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.
Prior to Sunday’s action, former UNC football standout Ty Chandler wasn’t much of a factor in the Minnesota Vikings backfield.
In fact, the second-year pro had just eight carries coming into the team’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
You know what they say, “Be ready when your number is called.” That’s exactly what Chandler did this past weekend.
Kevin O'Connell on the Ty Chandler direct snap touchdown: "As soon as I saw big CD out there, there was really one guy left, I thought we were in good shape."
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 13, 2023
Great blocking from not just Darrisaw but also Risner and Bradbury. pic.twitter.com/nrT6sWFe3z
Chandler scored his first NFL touchdown, as he rushed for 45 yards on 15 total carries. If it wasn’t for a penalty, the former Tar Heel would’ve had two scores, as he showcased his explosiveness on this play:
Ty Chandler is explosive 🔥
— SB23 (@SkolBros) November 13, 2023
pic.twitter.com/OhTQq0pAFf
Although he only spent one season with the UNC football program, it was one that served as a breakout campaign for the now NFL running back. Chandler rushed for 1,092 yards as the Tar Heels lead back, as he played a major role in filling the void left when Javonte Williams and Michael Carter departed for the NFL.
With the injury to Cam Akers, Chandler is expected to take on a bigger role in the Vikings backfield moving forward. Based on his first performance with a signficant workload, expect Chandler to be ready to be more of a steady presence in the Vikings offensive attack throughout the remainder of the 2023 season.
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