Schuylkill County native Gavin Bartholomew had his most productive offensive game in his short NFL career Sunday in the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Bartholomew had 5 catches for 33 yards, including a 13-yard catch on Sunday. He now has 6 catches for 37 yards on the season. Before last week’s game against Miami, he was used exclusively on special teams assignments.
The 2021 Blue Mountain High School grad became a bigger target on Sunday after Minnesota’s starting tight end, TJ Hockenson was ruled out of the game after suffering a concussion on the second play from scrimmage Sunday.
Vikings Defeat Saints, 23-13
In the first quarter, on a 2nd & 20, Bartholomew hauled in a short pass from Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and was pushed out of bounds at the Saints 22 yard line. Minnesota would eventually kick a field goal and go up 3-0.
On the Vikings next drive, Bartholomew took in another short pass to the Vikings 43 yard line for 8 yards. That drive ended with a Minnesota fumble deep in Saints territory.
After halftime, Murray targeted Bartholomew with a pass that fell incomplete. He went back to the local tight end with a short pass for 6 yards that took the Vikings into the red zone. The Vikings would score on the next play when Murray hit Justin Jefferson for a 15-yard touchdown to go up 13-7.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Murray hit Bartholomew for a 2-yard completion down to the Saints 8 yard line. Aaron Jone Sr. ran it in for a go-ahead score on the next play.
Late in the game, with the Vikings trying to milk the clock up by 10, Murray hit Bartholomew with a 4-yard pass on a 3rd & 6 to the Vikings 46 yard line.
Photo: Minnesota Vikings
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