Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, quarterback Kirk Cousins and safety Harrison Smith have never played a preseason game under second-year coach Kevin O'Connell, and they didn't start Saturday night during the Vikings' preseason home opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, a 24-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The Vikings held out 33 players against the Titans, including all 22 projected starters on the team's depth chart, following two joint practices with Tennessee this past week. The four starters who played during the preseason opener — right guard Ed Ingram, safety Camryn Bynum, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and cornerback Akayleb Evans — joined the others on the sideline Saturday night.