What is the worst case scenario for the Vikings' defense in 2026?

Every NFL season has good and bad roads it can take. More often than not, there is one key factor that can take a season to new heights, or make it all come crashing down.

>Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL defense. When it came to the Vikings, the discussion centered around one of their key rookies and a veteran needing to step into a big role.

>Davenport writes, "Overcoming those losses is no sure thing, with rookie Caleb Banks and Theo Jackson penciled in to start at those spots. Edge-rusher Andrew Van Ginkel is coming off a down year, and if he struggles again in 2026 a cornerback that is Minnesota's weak spot could be exposed. Minnesota's front-seven looks solid on paper, but that's going to have to translate to game days to avoid a potential slip from the top-10 to defensive mediocrity."

>Theo Jackson has played in big spots over his tenure with the Vikings, but worrying about Caleb Banks is a big question. The former Florida Gator defender is coming into camp off a foot injury, and for linemen, that is never an easy thing to overcome.

>If he is healthy, they will prove a lot of people wrong, but for now, a lot is very much up in the air.

>This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: What is the worst case scenario for the Vikings' defense in 2026?