jake ganus.JPG

UAB's Jake Ganus closes in on Middle Tennessee State wide receiver Kyle Griswould at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 2, 2013.

(AL.com File)

One barrier to undrafted rookies making it to the NFL regular season is exposure. They're often relegated to the third- and fourth-team units on the 90-player preseason rosters at the bottom of the pecking order for reps.

After spending his final college season at Georgia, former Chelsea High School and UAB standout Jake Ganus is an undrafted rookie with the Minnesota Vikings. He's behind a veteran two-deep depth chart at linebacker. But last week, the Vikings got a better look at Ganus.

With three linebackers sitting out because of injuries and the Vikings practicing with the Cincinnati Bengals for two days before the teams squared off in the preseason opener, Ganus got more exposure in game-like conditions. He played with the second-team defense and even got a few looks surrounded by Minnesota's defensive starters.

"He's done a good job," Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said of Ganus after the Vikings' second joint practice with the Bengals. "He's a smart kid. He's like all rookies -- he still has some mistakes he makes. But, hopefully, he's physical when he gets in there and runs around. Really, what I'm looking for with young guys isn't so much if they make a mistake, (it's) make it fast. Go fly around and hit somebody. Mistakes are going to happen, especially with the young guys. If they make a mistake, make it as fast as you can, and if you're wrong, be wrong fast and physical."

In the Vikings' 17-16 preseason victory over Cincinnati on Friday night, Ganus got 22 snaps with the Minnesota defense in the second half. He was credited with a tackle - stopping a Bengals ball-carrier for no gain - and tipped a pass that cornerback Mackensie Alexander intercepted.

Ganus said he's trying to make Minnesota's defensive scheme second nature so he can play fast.

Probably just as important to his chances of making the regular-season roster, Ganus got in on 13 special-teams plays in the preseason opener and recorded a tackle on a kickoff.

"Becoming the best special-teams player possible is a big goal for me," Ganus said.

As an undrafted rookie, Ganus remains a long shot to make Minnesota's regular-season roster. But just as with the injuries that gave Ganus more time on the field last week, a lot could happen before the Vikings kick off their regular season on Sept. 11 against the Tennessee Titans.

"We've got a couple weeks before the cuts," Zimmer said. "So many things change by the time cuts get here. And, obviously, (general manager) Rick (Spielman) and I have talked about a lot of these things. But things change."

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The Vikings play the second of their four preseason games on Thursday, when they visit the Seattle Seahawks. NFL Network will televise the game at 9 p.m. CDT.