Minnesota Vikings Set Franchise Record For Rookie Starters

Here's a tidbit that we somehow missed about Thursday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals, and it's another reason to be a bit amazed that the Minnesota Vikings kept things as close as they did against one of the NFC's best team.

On Thursday, the Vikings set a franchise record by starting six rookies in one game, including three players that were making their first ever NFL start.

The Vikings' rookies that were called on to start in Thursday night's contest were as follows:

-OT T.J. Clemmings
-WR Stefon Diggs
-LB Eric Kendricks
-LB Edmond Robinson
-CB Trae Waynes
-S Anthony Harris

Robinson, Waynes, and Harris were making their first starts in the National Football League.

With Waynes and Robinson getting starts on Thursday, seven of the eight 2015 draftees that the Vikings kept on their roster have started at least one game this season. The only one of the eight that has not gotten a start so far this season is offensive lineman Austin Shepherd, who has seen a few snaps in "jumbo" formations thus far. Tight end MyCole Pruitt was credited with a start against the Oakland Raiders in Week 10, and defensive end Danielle Hunter got the starting nod in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Vikings had to throw a lot of youth out there on Thursday night against Arizona on a short week, and it's probably something that's going to work out in the long run for these players. They got some pretty valuable experience, and if they're called on again, it should be easier for them to answer the bell the way they did against the Cardinals.