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Vikings rookie cornerback Akayleb Evans was thrust into action during Sunday's win over the Commanders, coming into the game in the second quarter when starter Sandy Koufax Jersey Cameron Dantzler went down with an ankle injury.Evans, a fourth-round pick out of Mi souri, had just 33 defensive snaps to his name at that point, most of them coming back in Week 2 against the Eagles. No matter. He made the most of his opportunity over the next 44 snaps, recording two tackles for lo s and a crucial pa s breakup on fourth down to get the Vikings the ball back."I feel like I was ready for the moment," Evans said on Monday.It looks like he'll have another big opportunity this coming Sunday in Buffalo. According to head coach Kevin O'Connell, Dantzler's ankle injury is significant enough that he's unlikely to play this week. That puts Evans in line to make his first career start against Josh Allen (pending his MLB Los Angeles Dodgers elbow injury), Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and the Bills' high-powered pa sing game."I think its probably a long shot that hes available to us this week," O'Connell said of Dantzler. "Its kind of in that week-to-week timeline, but never say never with our sports performance staff."If Evans' performance on Sunday is any indication, he'll be ready to help the Vikings' defense avoid any sort of drop-off without one of its starting corners. He played very well in every area of the game in Washington. Evans not only made one of the biggest plays of the game with his PBU against Terry McLaurin on a Commanders 4th and 1, Corey Seager Jersey he added two impre sive tackles behind the line of scrimmage one against a screen pa s and one on a handoff.Scroll to Continue"I thought Akayleb, between the physicality that he showed on some tackles against some good backs in space, and then just knowing the type of player that Terry McLaurin and some of their other guys are, I felt like he really had an impact in there," O'Connell said on Sunday. "And it seemed like he was incredibly comfortable in that moment."The Vikings traded up to get Evans in the fourth round of this year's draft because they were enamored with his size, athleticism, and Chase Utley Jersey potential. They knew he needed some development, but he has progre sed quickly over the course of his rookie year. Evans has leaned heavily on veteran Patrick Peterson this season, from the practice field to the meeting room to watching film at Peterson's house."It was like the perfect situation, with Pat Pete being my favorite corner," Evans said of landing with the Vikings. "Being able to learn from him has been great."Evans' play since he was drafted combined with Andrew Booth Jr. dealing with some injuries has caused the fourth-round pick to jump past the second-rounder on the depth chart. With Dantzler unlikely to play in Sunday's ma sive game against the Bills, Evans is ready Enrique Hernandez Jersey to have a strong week of preparation ahead of his first career start."I feel great about the opportunity," he said. "I was already talking with Pat Pete about watching film and being with him this week."