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49ers vs. Vikings: WR Randy Moss Debuts Against the Team that Created Him

By Dylan DeSimone
July 27, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss (84) catches a pass during training camp at the 49ers practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE
July 27, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss (84) catches a pass during training camp at the 49ers practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

In tonight's preseason opener at Candlestick Park, the San Francisco 49ers will host the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 1 exhibition game. There are plenty of names to watch as the 49ers have a fully loaded roster, where 53 spots seemingly just isn't enough for all the talent in camp.

However, one of the bigger names to watch in his 49ers debut is wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss, looking to define his legacy in perhaps his last hoorah, will ironically begin the end of his career against the team that drafted him. Moss is one of the most infamous Minnesota Vikings in NFL history.

As a rookie in 1998, he was an integral piece in their record-setting offense. After going on to establish another top-scoring offense with the New England Patriots in 2007, Moss eventually found his way back to Minnesota for a second time. On a team where Brett Favre was the quarterback and the Vikings were looking to catch lightening in a bottle, the results were disappointing.

The good news about Randy Moss playing tonight is that when Jim Harbaugh named the starters in the preseason, Moss was not among them. Harbaugh declared Ted Ginn Jr. and Michael Crabtree the two starters, and the starters usually have the briefest stints on the field. Hopefully, Crabtree and Ginn will head to the bench early in the first and Moss will get to see maybe a quarter and half of play.

The competition Moss will be going against will be sub-par to say the least. If Moss is getting reps in the 2nd quarter, he will likely be going against much younger and inexperienced players. With that in mind, even at age 35, Moss should make some noise.

Moss' position in the depth chart also indicates that he will be receiving passes from Colin Kaepernick, not Alex Smith. Kaepernick, though less accurate and experienced, has the rocket arm, so we could see them take shots downfield with Moss running the 9-route. It will be a very exciting game and when he's on the field, all eyes should be on Randy Moss.

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