Offense
Quarterback
1. Sam Bradford
2. Case Keenum
3. Taylor Heinicke
PUP: Teddy Bridgewater
Running Back
1. Jerick McKinnon
2. Dalvin Cook
3. Bishop Sankey
4. Terrell Newby
PUP: Latavius Murray
Fullback
1. C.J. Ham
Wide Receiver 1
1. Stefon Diggs
2. Michael Floyd
3. Cayleb Jones
4. R.J. Shelton
Wide Receiver 2
1. Adam Thielen
2. Stacy Coley
3. Isaac Fruechte
4. Moritz Boehringer
Wide Receiver 3
1. Laquon Treadwell
2. Jarius Wright
3. Rodney Adams
Tight End
1. Kyle Rudolph
2. David Morgan
3. Bucky Hodges
4. Kyle Carter
5. Nick Truesdell
6. Josiah Price
Left Tackle
1. Riley Reiff
2. Rashod Hill
3. Aviante Collins
Left Guard
1. Alex Boone
2. Jeremiah Sirles
3. Austin Shepherd
4. Freddie Tagaloa
Center
1. Nick Easton
2. Pat Elflein
3. Zac Kerin
Right Guard
1. Joe Berger
2. T.J. Clemmings
3. Danny Isidora
Right Tackle
1. Mike Remmers
2. Willie Beavers
3. Reid Fragel
Offensive Thoughts
It's great to see second-year receiver Laquon Treadwell running with 1's in three-receiver formations. He was penciled in as a bust during his rookie season by those with little patience (which is nearly every fan and talking head).
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has said that he wants to decide on the five offensive line starters soon so that they can get settled in together. No other position group demands the same level of coordination, cohesion, and comfort that's needed on the offensive line. They have to act as one unit. If everyone's being honest, center is really the only unsettled position. Nick Easton currently sits at the top of the depth chart but it's been assumed that the Vikings' decision-makers want third-round rookie Pat Elflein to grab the job and keep it for at least a decade. Elflein rotated in for first-team snaps yesterday. With pads, the offensive linemen can finally get to do what they are supposed to do, keep Sam Bradford safe and open holes for the backs.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has said that he wants to decide on the five offensive line starters soon so that they can get settled in together. No other position group demands the same level of coordination, cohesion, and comfort that's needed on the offensive line. They have to act as one unit. If everyone's being honest, center is really the only unsettled position. Nick Easton currently sits at the top of the depth chart but it's been assumed that the Vikings' decision-makers want third-round rookie Pat Elflein to grab the job and keep it for at least a decade. Elflein rotated in for first-team snaps yesterday. With pads, the offensive linemen can finally get to do what they are supposed to do, keep Sam Bradford safe and open holes for the backs.
More offensive line. Left tackle Riley Reiff was injured on Thursday. The nature of the injury hasn't been disclosed but Zimmer said that it wasn't serious. Reiff didn't practice yesterday and likely won't practice today. Hopefully he returns soon. In his place, promising youngster Rashod Hill gets some time running with the first team. There's some good in that but the Vikings need Reiff back on the field.
Defense
Right Defensive End
1. Everson Griffen
2. Stephen Weatherly
3. Tashawn Bower
4. Sam McCaskill
Under Tackle
1. Tom Johnson
2. Datone Jones
3. Will Sutton
NFI: Sharrif Floyd
NFI: Sharrif Floyd
Nose Tackle
1. Linval Joseph
2. Shamar Stephen
3. Jaleel Johnson
Left Defensive End
1. Damielle Hunter
2. Brian Robsion
3. Ifeadi Odenigbo
Stong-side Linebacker
1. Anthony Barr
2. Eric Wilson
3. Noor Davis
Middle Linebacker
1. Eric Kendricks
2. Kentrell Brothers
3. Ben Gedeon
4. Darnell Sankey
4. Darnell Sankey
Weak-side Linebacker
1. Emmanuel Lamur
2. Edmond Robinson
3. Elijah Lee
Left Cornerback
1. Trae Waynes
2. Terence Newman
3. Tre Roberson
4. Horace Richardson
Strong Safety
1. Harrison Smith
2. Anthony Harris
3. Antone Exum
Free Safety
1. Andrew Sendejo
2. Jayron Kearse
3. Jack Tocho
Right Cornerback
1. Xavier Rhodes
2. Jabari Price
3. Terrell Sinkfield
4. Sam Brown
Nickel Cornerback
1. Mackensie Alexander
2. Terence Newman
3. Antone Exum
4. Marcus Sherels
Defensive Thoughts
The defense has been a strength since Zimmer arrived in 2014. It should remain a strength. This is a talented group. Most positions are pretty much set but there will be some interesting camp competitions.
Under Tackle: Sharrif Floyd is fighting to get back on the field. A nerve issue in his leg from a surgery mishap is threatening his football career. When healthy, he's a disruptive football player. If he can return he should top the depth chart. Tom Johnson is an effective, interior pass rusher but he's most effective when his snaps are limited. Datone Jones and Will Sutton were added in the offseason to improve the talent level and the depth at the position.
Weak-side linebacker: Emmanuel Lamur ran with the first team on the first day, Edmond Robinson on the second day, and so on. It's between those two right now but seventh-round rookie Elijah Lee could emerge. He's shown well in the early, un-padded days.
Nickel corner: While technically not one of the starting 11 on defense, the nickel corner is on the field more than the weak-side linebacker in the Vikings defense. It's young vs. old here. Second-year Mackensie Alexander vs. ageless Terence Newman. Alexander should get the job but Newman will play quite a bit. He's the probable backup at all three corner positions. He could probably even play safety in a pinch.
It's been a chore to keep track of the linebackers through the early days of training camp. Noor Davis was signed yesterday. Quarterback Wes Lunt was released to make room for Davis but the move was probably made because undrafted rookie linebacker Shaan Washington has been unavailable due to an injury. The Vikings needed another linebacker on the field. #2 middle linebacker Kentrell Brothers was injured yesterday. It looked like a hamstring injury. That isn't good as those can be nasty and nagging. Hopefully he returns soon but it forced the Vikings to sign Darnell Sankey. He's the cousin of Vikings running back Bishop Sankey. Washington was released to make room for the newest Sankey.
It's early.
Under Tackle: Sharrif Floyd is fighting to get back on the field. A nerve issue in his leg from a surgery mishap is threatening his football career. When healthy, he's a disruptive football player. If he can return he should top the depth chart. Tom Johnson is an effective, interior pass rusher but he's most effective when his snaps are limited. Datone Jones and Will Sutton were added in the offseason to improve the talent level and the depth at the position.
Weak-side linebacker: Emmanuel Lamur ran with the first team on the first day, Edmond Robinson on the second day, and so on. It's between those two right now but seventh-round rookie Elijah Lee could emerge. He's shown well in the early, un-padded days.
Nickel corner: While technically not one of the starting 11 on defense, the nickel corner is on the field more than the weak-side linebacker in the Vikings defense. It's young vs. old here. Second-year Mackensie Alexander vs. ageless Terence Newman. Alexander should get the job but Newman will play quite a bit. He's the probable backup at all three corner positions. He could probably even play safety in a pinch.
It's been a chore to keep track of the linebackers through the early days of training camp. Noor Davis was signed yesterday. Quarterback Wes Lunt was released to make room for Davis but the move was probably made because undrafted rookie linebacker Shaan Washington has been unavailable due to an injury. The Vikings needed another linebacker on the field. #2 middle linebacker Kentrell Brothers was injured yesterday. It looked like a hamstring injury. That isn't good as those can be nasty and nagging. Hopefully he returns soon but it forced the Vikings to sign Darnell Sankey. He's the cousin of Vikings running back Bishop Sankey. Washington was released to make room for the newest Sankey.
It's early.
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