Winners and Losers from Week 2 of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp

Somewhere Jared Allen has a HUGE smile across his face.

Why?

Training camp is over.

The second week is complete and with that in mind, we look back on the week that was.

Players can make this list for a number of reasons. It could because of their on-field performance, something coaches or teammates say about them, injury status, media attention or news about their location on the depth chart.

Step inside and see my four winners and losers. There of course are more winners and losers from training camp, but these are four (of each) that stick out in my mind.

Winner: Wide Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson

On Tuesday the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Cordarrelle Patterson is set as the team's No. 4 wide receiver. Coach Leslie Frazier said he likes the vets in front of Patterson to maintain their roles.

So why is Patterson on this list? Isn't that a negative?

Sort of. Patterson may be stuck—for now—but if he continues to play like he has been, then he'll move up the depth chart quickly.

He made a strong one-handed grab on Wednesday, according to 1500 ESPN, and stood out in the preseason opener. In that game he caught four passes for 54 yards and returned a kickoff for 50 yards.

"He was where he was supposed to be,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said about Patterson to the Star Tribune. “The quarterbacks want to know that guys are going to be dependable, be at the right depth, come out at the right angle and he was that way. You could see a bunch of passes that he caught, those balls were thrown early on anticipatory throws. And quarterbacks are starting to trust him.”

And as 1500 ESPN reports, Patterson is still in the mix for the punt returner job. You don't stay in the mix for that unless you're doing something right. 

Loser: Linebacker Desmond Bishop

Remember when Desmond Bishop was signed to be one of Minnesota's starting linebackers? 

Me neither. 

A torn hamstring ended his career as a Green Bay Packer. A groin injury may end his career with the Vikings before it even starts.

Coach Leslie Frazier told the Star Tribune on Tuesday that Bishop's play, or lack thereof, over the next two weeks will determine whether he's sporting purple and gold in Week 1.

Having not signed with Minnesota until June and missing mini camp, Bishop was behind the 8-ball to begin with. Marvin Mitchell, the leading candidate to start at weak-side linebacker should Bishop continue to fade, was a Viking last season and has the mental edge on Bishop for that reason.

Bishop can't make the team until he makes a return to the field, which he hopes to do Friday after missing the first preseason game. We'll see if it happens.

Winner: Wide Receiver Jarius Wright

He hit the ground early in training camp and hasn't let up.

Jarius Wright made some big plays in limited playing time in 2012 and appears ready to build on that based upon his performance in training camp.

Reports left and right have praised the second-year receiver for plays made in various drills.

Both 1500 ESPN and the Star Tribune reported on his big one-handed snag over first-round pick Xavier Rhodes in Wednesday's practice.

“I was thinking I had to win,” Wright told both news outlets. “I know Xavier is a big, physical corner and was going to try and get his hands on me. But Christian has a lot of trust in me and threw the ball up for me.”

Greg Jennings and Jerome Simpson are No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart, but both should watch their backs.

Wright is gunning for them.

Loser: Cornerback Marcus Sherels

Chris Cook. Xavier Rhodes. Josh Robinson. A.J. Jefferson.

At least all four of those names, maybe more, appear ahead of Marcus Sherels on the cornerback depth chart.

And given that fact, Sherels needs to be as versatile a player as possible to make the team. So when 1500 ESPN reports that the job is still up for grabs, that can't be good for a player like Sherels.

Early in training camp, the Star Tribune reported special teams coach Mike Priefer was a fan of Sherels' work for his unit.

Sherels must hope that remains true. He needs all the help he can get to make the roster.

Winner: Cornerback Josh Robinson

Injury is a major reason why Josh Robinson is dubbed a winner, but he's winning because of Xavier Rhodes' misfortune.

Rhodes' hamstring injury has limited him in training camp and kept him out of last Friday's preseason opener.

Rhodes' absence has allowed Robinson to step up and be the guy across from Chris Cook.

Robinson is making the transition to a slot cornerback, a position brand new to him as reported by the Star Tribune, but he could still start outside and then slide inside once the nickel defense came on.

Of course, the expectation is still that Rhodes will supplant Robinson and be the guy.

But the man, Robinson, should enjoy the limelight while he's in it.

Loser: Fullback Jerome Felton

The news came this week that Jerome Felton was the most overpaid player in the NFL, according to Forbes.

That was bad news.

The worse news came Wednesday when it was reported that Felton had an appendectomy and would likely miss the rest of the preseason.

The Star Tribune reports Felton is expected to be back for the Sept. 8 opener.

While Felton's role within the team is simple (clear the way for Adrian Peterson), injuries are injuries and are always a negative.

It sounds like Felton should make a full recovery, but you just never know. And given the uncertainty of Minnesota's passing game, it needs to have the game's best running attack like it did last season.

Felton was a major contributor to that last season and is expected to be a big player again.

The Vikings hope the injury doesn't impact that plan.

Winner: Running Back Adrian Peterson

Ever since Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hoodwinked the world into thinking he was a superstar clear of performance enhancing drugs, fans and the media alike have begun to question the legitimacy of every athlete's abilities.

Cue all eyes turning to Adrian Peterson, the NFL's reigning MVP.

The questions have come fast and furiously lately for Peterson. When asked about it this week, Peterson called the rumors a "compliment."

"When you know you don't do it, and someone's saying you do, you're like, 'Wow. They think I'm on HGH? I'm doing that good? Well, hoo! Thank you, Jesus!' It's a compliment," Peterson told ESPN.com. "I don't get mad about it at all."

That comment really has silenced many people.

There are still critics out there who don't believe him, and that's fine.

But the way he handled this situation has earned him a gold star and should keep the critics at bay. For now.

Loser: Cornerback Xavier Rhodes

It's been a downer of a time to be Xavier Rhodes.

The first-round pick was supposed to be Minnesota's No. 2 cornerback, but a nagging hamstring injury kept him out of the preseason opener and has slid him into the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.

I expect that to only be temporary, but we're focused on the now. And in the now, it's a negative.

Rhodes will make his NFL debut in Friday's preseason battle with the Buffalo Bills and told 1500 ESPN that his hamstring injury is behind him. 

It's a big night for Rhodes on Friday, as he begins his journey to become Minnesota's No. 2 cornerback.