Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Is Here

Today is reporting day for the Minnesota Vikings. At least, it’s reporting day for the rookies. The rest of the team reports on Tuesday. Still, this day marks the start of the 2024 season. The offseason workouts were just warmups to this. Minnesota Vikings Training Camp is here.

The Vikings still have some procedural work to do. Their second first-round pick, outside linebacker Dallas Turner, is still unsigned. Their first first-round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, signed his rookie contract on Friday. When that news broke, I figured that Turner’s signing would soon follow. So far, nope. It’ll get done. For all I know, the pen is hitting the paper now. I’m certain the deal will get done before he and the rest of the rookies are expected on the field.

Sadly, fourth-round corner Khyree Jackson won’t be on the field with his teammates. I can’t imagine how his tragic passing will impact the locker room. Talent-wise and personality-wise, he had become such a smiling part of the team in such a short time. The picture Turner posted of his locker with Khyree Jackson’s nameplate above his was a tearjerker. Turner and Jackson were teammates at Alabama from 2021-22. Their reunion in Minnesota was special, and way too short. RIP 31.

TCO Performance Center has been the Vikings training camp home since 2018. This is the seventh training camp held there. Seven! You’d think that would be enough time to no longer think about Mankato as the Vikings summer home. Well, I guess that it can be tough to move on from nearly a half century of sweat, fun, and Gage Hall hijinks on the campus of Minnesota State University-Mankato. Their stay at the small college campus goes beyond my time with the team. 

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Homes:

1961-1965: Bemidji State

1965-2017: Minnesota State University-Mankato

2018-present: TCO Performance Center, Eagan

I always liked the NFL tradition of team’s traveling to a small college campus for some degree of isolation. As other teams started constructing elaborate, state-of-the-art facilities to hold all football activities, I liked that the Vikings still traveled and kept alive that football tradition. Perhaps that’s why it’s still so hard for me to accept that the Vikings have a year-round home. In 2019, I saw the then one-year old facility from the Vikings Museum. I tried to get closer but security kept me from it. Even from that distance, it looked spectacular. TCO Performance Center is beautiful and hand’s down the best facility in the league. With plenty of housing and medical facilities (hopefully never needed) nearby it’s perfect for training camp. Still, I’ll always remember Mankato fondly. 

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp is HERE! Get Turner signed! SKOL!