The Minnesota Vikings take the field today for the first padded practices of training camp. Football is finally here. Real football. Well, real practice football. Roster decisions, offensive line decisions will start being made based on this week's practices. It's an interesting, exciting time.
The Vikings continued with some roster-massaging last week and over the weekend. There was the unfortunate news that linebacker Cameron Smith will miss the entire due to a need for heart surgery. He had tested positive for COVID at the start of camp. It's believed that it might've been a false-positive. True or false, it was enough to require further tests and checks. Those revealed the need for open-heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve defect he's had since birth. True or false, the COVID test result likely saved his life. Smith will miss this season but it's expected that a complete recovery will allow him to continue his football career next year.
Offensive tackle Oli Udoh was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19. There was a time early in camp when the Vikings had eight players on the list. With Udoh being activated the team now has no players on the list. Even trainer Eric Sugarman has returned from his bout with the virus. Hopefully, no other person associated with the Vikings tests positive or lands on Reserve/COVID-19.
Safety Steven Parker was claimed off of waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Despite having only four starts and 14 games on his NFL resume, he provides some experienced depth behind starters Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris. Prior to Parker's addition only rookies backed Smith and Harris: sixth-round pick Josh Metellus, seventh-round pick Brian Cole II, and undrafted Myles Dorn. While I like the potential of all three rookies it's nice to have a player that's spent a little bit of time in NFL games.
Running back Tony Brooks-James has had to deal with the yo-yo experience that comes with being on the fringe of an NFL roster. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad late last season. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 12, 2020. He was released on August 8 and re-signed a week later. So, he'll be putting on the pads as a Minnesota Vikings running back today.
NFL roster-massaging comes with good news for some players and bad news for an often corresponding number of players. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates and offensive tackle Brady Aiello were on the disappointing side of the process. As was linebacker Quentin Poling. He had a brief stay in Minnesota. He was signed on August 8 and released today to make room on the roster for Steven Parker.
There will be some hitting in Eagan today. Football is fun.
In advance of those practices here's another look at the Vikings' 80-man roster.
Minnesota Vikings 80-man Roster
Offense (40 Players)
Quarterbacks (4)
8 Kirk Cousins
4 Sean Mannion
3 Jake Browning
7 Nate Stanley
Running Backs (5)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison
23 Mike Boone
31 Ameer Abdullah
35 Tony Brooks-James
Fullbacks (2)
30 C.J. Ham
40 Jake Bargas
Receivers (10)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
81 Olabisi Johnson
11 Tajaé Sharpe
17 K.J. Osborn
12 Chad Beebe
15 Alexander Hollins
13 Dillon Mitchell
14 Quartney Davis
85 Dan Chisena
Tight Ends (5)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin
86 Brandon Dillon
89 Nakia Griffin-Stewart
Offensive Tackles (7)
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
72 Ezra Cleveland
69 Rashod Hill
76 Aviante Collins
74 Oli Udoh
64 Blake Brandel
Guards (4)
65 Pat Elflein
73 Dru Samia
78 Dakota Dozier
68 Kyle Hinton
Centers (3)
56 Garrett Bradbury
61 Brett Jones
63 Jake Lacina
Defense (37 Players)
Defensive Ends (8)
99 Danielle Hunter
96 Ifeadi Odenigbo
57 D.J. Wonnum
79 Kenny Willekes
92 Anthony Zettel
90 Stacy Keely
52 Eddie Yarbrough
91 Jalyn Holmes
Defensive Tackles (6)
93 Shamar Stephen
96 Armon Watts
94 Jaleel Johnson
51 Hercules Mata'afa
66 James Lynch
60 David Moa
Linebackers (7)
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
50 Eric Wilson
45 Troy Dye
48 Blake Lynch
49 Jordan Fehr
Cornerbacks (10)
21 Mike Hughes
20 Jeff Gladney
24 Holton Hill
27 Cameron Dantzler
38 Harrison Hand
29 Kris Boyd
34 Nevelle Clarke
26 Nate Meadors
32 Mark Fields
36 Marcus Sayles
Safeties (6)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
44 Josh Metellus
39 Brian Cole II
46 Myles Dorn
37 Steven Parker
Special Teams (3 Players)
Kicker
5 Dan Bailey
Punter
2 Britton Colquitt
Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting
Active/Physically Unable To Perform
42 Ben Gedeon, LB
Reserve/COVID-19
No one!
Reserve/Non-Football Illness
59 Cameron Smith, LB
Reserve/Opt-Out
98 Michael Pierce, DT
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