The primary day of padded follow for Minnesota Vikings coaching camp, the sixth day of camp total, offered some extra thrilling highlights, however what occurred off the sphere might need been much more compelling.
The Vikings ended up getting so much higher with out including a brand new participant to the roster, as an alternative resolving the Danielle Hunter contract scenario that had been looming over camp and had threatened to torpedo the hopes that the Vikings had at bettering their protection.
Danielle Hunter Returned to Observe
Hunter returned to follow, which was a welcome reduction to everybody within the constructing and certain Hunter himself. He wasn’t actually injured a lot as conducting a “maintain in” that prevented him from practising. The Vikings had quite a lot of compliments for Hunter after he confirmed his availability for the remainder of coaching camp.
Hunter, when requested if he wished to complete his profession in Minnesota, stated, “I wish to be a Viking eternally.” Maybe there’s the chance that Hunter and the Vikings work out one thing to signal him long-term after the season is over.
Normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was interviewed on the Vikings Leisure Community’s stay broadcast of follow, and he stated of the deal, “We’re making an attempt to be the baddest dudes within the schoolyard. Whenever you add a nasty dude like that, I believe you stroll a bit of taller.”
Adofo-Mensah even talked about that Hunter is coming into camp a bit of bit greater; the manager acknowledged that when Hunter walked into his workplace, he stated, “Danielle, you look greater,” and Hunter responded, “Yeah, that is the primary offseason in two I haven’t been rehabbing an harm.”
The Vikings normal supervisor is optimistic and identified that Hunter’s second half of the season was higher than the primary half. That ought to imply he can carry an excellent larger degree of play into 2023.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores stated in a press convention after the deal was introduced that “[Hunter’s] an distinctive participant. We’re excited to have him as a part of the protection … he leads by instance, and his actions communicate for themselves.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell was ecstatic. He added, “We’re a greater soccer staff with Danielle Hunter. He will probably be a full participant in coaching camp from right here on out.”
Minnesota Vikings Harm Information
The Vikings returned one participant to the follow area however despatched yet another from the follow area to the coach’s room. Listed below are the absences the Vikings had on Day 6 of coaching camp:
QB Nick Mullens
G Chris Reed
EDGE Andre Carter II
OT Brian O’Neill
WR Jalen Nailor
OT Sam Schlueter
Nick Mullens is a brand new addition to the absentee checklist, although his absence was not injury-related. He was excused from follow in an effort to take care of a household matter.
Brian O’Neill continues to rehabilitate from his Achilles harm and continues to be on the timeline that the coaches have indicated would put him again on the sphere by the point the season begins. Andre Carter II and Chris Reed haven’t been taken off their explicit reserve lists.
Jalen Nailor wasn’t noticed at practices, so it’s protected to imagine the harm he suffered on the second day of camp continues to be a problem, although O’Connell expects him again sooner moderately than later this week.
Within the earlier follow, earlier than it was minimize brief due to thunder, Vederian Lowe left early. He participated in Monday’s follow, suggesting that the harm he suffered was not significantly regarding.
Offensive sort out Sam Schlueter wasn’t noticed at follow, so he might have been absent due to an harm.
Vikings Depth Chart Information
The Vikings didn’t change their depth chart a lot, whilst they returned Hunter to the lineup. Nonetheless, there have been some adjustments. The Vikings started rotating rookie Mekhi Blackmon into the beginning lineup with Joejuan Williams on the second staff.
Most of follow featured Williams because the beginning cornerback in nickel units, however in red-zone drills, Blackmon took on the position. On the offensive line, with O’Neill out, the Vikings continued to play Oli Udoh because the beginning proper sort out, which left the second staff to area Vederian Lowe at left sort out, Austin Schlottmann at left guard, Josh Sokol at heart, Blake Brandel at proper guard, and Bobby Evans at proper sort out.
Kene Nwangwu continued to take second-team working again snaps as an alternative of Ty Chandler. What’s actually fascinating is that it was rookie DeWayne McBride that acquired some extra run with the twos than Chandler. There have been only a few different adjustments on offense, although it ought to be famous that Jordan Addison did take part in some punt return drills.
Vikings Coaching Camp Highlights
The Vikings have developed extra of their blitz packages, and we’ve been capable of see one thing we didn’t get to see practically in any respect final yr: Harrison Smith blitzing. He pulled in a probable sack on Jaren Corridor, who ended up taking part in with the second-team offense with Mullens absent.
The elevated quantity wasn’t fantastic for Corridor, who struggled with difficult the second and first-team defenses. He was inaccurate in numerous other ways, together with overthrows, underthrows, and poorly timed passes behind his meant goal. He was picked off greater than as soon as, together with as soon as by Smith.
Corridor wasn’t alone — Kirk Cousins struggled a bit of bit with accuracy and, this time, didn’t have the excuse of heavy winds to level to. That stated, Cousins has largely been excellent all through camp, so one or two days of underperformance don’t actually imply a lot.
Camp reviews for rookie Jordan Addison stay overwhelmingly optimistic, and his bodily traits — significantly agility — have proven out in opposition to the members of the Vikings’ secondary.
#Vikings rookie WR Jordan Addison is SHIFTY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vgUROHfp3V
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) July 31, 2023
It helped that Addison additionally noticed extra time with the primary staff, maybe his longest run with the beginning unit but.
Receiver Trishton Jackson had a wonderful day as effectively and received numerous his reps, together with a diving one-handed catch in opposition to Joejuan Williams. He might be a favourite for the fifth receiver slot.
