Andre Smith

Vikings Snap Counts: Thielen, Patterson break out

Published Oct. 11, 2016 2:30 p.m. ET

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Stefon Diggs, Andre Smith, MyCole Pruitt; the Minnesota Vikings' injury report keeps getting longer, but the list of players who have taken a step forward in their absence is growing as well

Receiver Adam Thielen started in relief of Diggs and had a career day, while Nick Easton and Zac Kerin stepped in to help plug up an ailing offensive line.

Dynamic offensive threat Cordarrelle Patterson scored his first receiving touchdown in nearly two years, while Andrew Sendejo nabbed a critical interception, as the Vikings rolled to a 31-13 win over the Houston Texans.

Check out the Vikings' offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 5, as well as some observations from their latest win:

GAME 5: TEXANS (OFFENSE)

PLAYER	Plays (74)	%
Berger	74	100
Boone	74	100
Sirles	74	100
Clemmings	74	100
Bradford	74	100
Rudolph	68	92
Thielen	68	92
Kerin	66	89
Patterson	45	61
Wright	44	59
McKinnon	41	55
Asiata	34	46
Line	27	36
Easton	13	18
Johnson	12	16
Pruitt	10	14
Treadwell	8	11
Fusco	8	11

GAME 5: TEXANS (DEFENSE)

PLAYER	Plays (74)	%
Sendejo	64	100
Kendricks	64	100
Barr	64	100
Smith	64	100
Griffen	62	97
Newman	56	88
Robison	55	86
Rhodes	55	86
Munnerlyn	48	75
Johnson	39	61
Joseph	38	59
Hunter	38	59
Stephen	22	34
Waynes	16	25
Alexander	12	19
Greenway	7	11

-- Thielen stepped into Diggs' role and thrived, playing on 92 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps and registering career highs in receptions (6) and receiving yards (127).

-- Tight end Kyle Rudolph's involvement in the passing game dropped off after a big game last week. He was targeted just four times and had two catches for 15 yards.

-- First-round pick Laquon Treadwell saw a career-high eight offensive snaps, while Charles Johnson was on the field for 12 snaps.

-- Johnson was targeted just once, potentially opening the door for Treadwell once the Vikings return from their bye.

-- Patterson's usage has been on the rise every week, and he responded against the Texans, hauling in his first touchdown since Week 7 of the 2014 season.

-- T.J. Clemmings has been suspect since moving from right to left tackle in relief of the injured Matt Kalil, and was beaten soundly by Whitney Mercilus, who sacked quarterback Sam Bradford once, and assisted on another.

-- Sendejo came up with his first interception of the season, picking off Brock Osweiler in the third quarter. It was his third career interception, and second in his last seven regular-season games.

-- After playing on a career-low two snaps against the New York Giants, linebacker Chad Greenway was on the field for just seven plays against the Texans.

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