The off-season is finally over. Fans had to wait a long time for the players to come back and get ready for real football, but the Vikings made it to training camp Sunday, at least some of them. The veterans have two more days off, but some of them joined the rookies and arrived a couple of days early.
the vikings are back
Thirty-seven players reported to the TCO Performance Center on Sunday, as the Vikings announced. Here’s the full list (veterans in bold):
- jordan addison
- junior now
- alan ali
- calvin avery
- abraham beauplan
- Ross Blacklock
- mekhi blackmond
- Andre Carter II
- jacky chen
- C. J. Coldon Jr.
- kirk cousins
- jaren’s living room
- wilson huber
- lucky jackson
- Cepho Johnson III
- Malik Knowles
- William Kwenkeu
- james lynch
- Garett Maag
- dewayne mcbride
- nick mullens
- Zach Ojile
- Brian O’Neill
- Ivan Pace Jr.
- harrison phillips
- Jack Podlesni
- Blake Proehl
- chris cane
- jaquelin roy
- sam schlueter
- ben sims
- tj smith
- jose sokol
- thayer thomas
- najee thompson
- Jay’s room
- jaylin williams
All three quarterbacks arrived early, just like last season. Kirk Cousins is the starter, but veteran Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall will compete for the reserve spot. It should also be noted that the NFL implemented the emergency QB position on the game-day roster, so the Vikings could be left with three quarterbacks, unlike in 2022.
Brian O’Neill’s recovery from injury will be a big topic in the coming weeks. He partially tore his Achilles tendon in a Week 17 loss against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings need him back on the field as the cornerstone of their offensive line, forming an elite tackle duo with Christian Darrisaw.
Also notable are four defensive tackles, James Lynch, Harrison Phillips, TJ Smith and Ross Blacklock. While Phillips is the best on the defensive line, everyone else is vying for a starting job, but at the same time they risk losing their roster spot. Getting a couple extra days of work could help them compete.
First-round pick Jordan Addison returned to the facility after making headlines for off-field issues. He also missed all organized team activities and minicamp due to injury. He is playing a big role in the Vikings’ plans for 2023 and years to come. It will be vital for him to get acclimated quickly to the NFL.
Like Addison, DeWayne McBride missed much of offseason training. The rookie walks into a crowded RB room with various players fighting for jobs and touches. Alexander Mattison is expected to be the starter, but the rookie had a productive college career and could make life difficult for the veteran.
The veterans are scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. Defensive end Danielle Hunter could choose to stay away from the team until the demands of her contract are met, which will be another fascinating topic in the coming weeks.
Minnesota plays its preseason opener in Seattle on August 10, and the regular season opener will take place at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 10.
Janik Eckardt is a soccer fan who likes numbers and statistics. The Vikings became his favorite team despite his quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves to watch comedies, and classic rock is his favorite musical genre. Follow him on Twitter if you like Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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