DAILY CLIPS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Star Tribune

Vikings placekicker Dan Bailey wants silence with quips stirred in on field-goal attempts in practice By Ben Goessling https://www.startribune.com/vikings-kicker-bailey-wants-silence-with-mixed-quips-in-practice/572071532/

Veteran tackle Riley Reiff says Vikings offensive line needs live reps By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/tackle-reiff-says-vikings-offensive-line-needs-live-reps/572071342/

Vikings' 2020 training camp preview: Defensive backs By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/vikings-2020-training-camp-preview-defensive-backs/572063872/

Pioneer Press

Vikings’ Dan Bailey: kicking without crowd noise would be ‘weird’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/08/10/vikings-dan-bailey-says-it-would-be-weird-kicking-without-crowd-noise-this- season/

Vikings waive Cameron Smith but plan to put him on reserve list due to heart issue By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/08/10/vikings-waive-cameron-smith-but-plan-to-put-him-on-reserve-list-due-to-heart- issue/

The Athletic

Seven things we’ve learned so far from a very different Vikings training camp By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/1986812/2020/08/10/vikings-training-camp-seven-things-weve-learned/

Purple Insider

The most important Vikings camp battle is at nickel corner By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/the-most-important-vikings-camp-battle

NATIONAL NEWS: Tuesday, August 11, 2020

ESPN

Vikings appear to opt for familiar with offensive line early in camp By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/30100/vikings-appear-to-opt-for-familiar-with-offensive-line- early-in-camp

Associated Press

Vikings LB Cam Smith to miss season due to heart condition By Dave Campbell https://apnews.com/98da7fc2ad5d52053dbcc756ae4208fa

Maven Media

Vikings Tackle "Doing Well" After Having COVID-19 By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-tackle-oli-udoh-doing-well-after-having-covid-19

Vikings Waive Cameron Smith With Non-Football Injury, Expect Him to Clear Waivers By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-waive-cameron-smith-non-football-injury-clear-waivers

Andre Patterson Defends Shamar Stephen: "He Does What We Coach Him to Do" By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/andre-patterson-defends-shamar-stephen-three-technique

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Highlights From Monday's Rookie Practice at Training Camp By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/highlights-from-monday-s-rookie-practice-at-training-camp

Mike Boone: "I Consider Myself a Great One-Cut Back" | Podcast By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/mike-boone-i-consider-myself-a-great-one-cut-back-minnesota-vikings-podcast

Billick: Vikings 'Absolutely In The Mix' To Win The NFC In 2020 By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/billick-vikings-absolutely-in-the-mix-to-win-the-nfc-in-2020

Special Teams Gearing Up For Games By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=c406d8a7-b5f2-494e-b452-b4c789eed7eb

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK NEWS: Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Vikings Stability of Specialists Helps Amid 2020 Uncertainties By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-stability-of-specialists-helps-amid-2020-uncertainties

Vikings Announce Cam Smith Roster Move By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/cameron-smith-waived-2020-nfl-season

Riley Reiff on Vikings Preparations: 'Every Minute's Crucial' By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/riley-reiff-on-vikings-preparations-every-minute-s-crucial

Lunchbreak: Smith & Harris Tabbed as NFL's Best Safety Tandem by ESPN By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/harrison-smith-anthony-harris-tabbed-as-nfl-s-best-safety-tandem-by-espn

Monday Morning Mailbag: Backing Bailey, DT Depth & Emerging Leaders By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/dan-bailey-dt-depth-emerging-leaders

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings placekicker Dan Bailey wants silence with quips stirred in on field-goal attempts in practice

By Ben Goessling

To keep kickers on edge while they searched for a replacement kicker during their offseason program last year, the Bears employed what coach Matt Nagy referred to as “Augusta silence,” evoking the atmosphere on the 72nd hole at the Masters to simulate the pressure of a late-game field goal attempt.

Were the Vikings to take a similar tack in training camp practices over the next few weeks, the proper approach might be something resembling Augusta silence, interrupted by a timely taunt from a fellow golfer.

In some ways, that’s what kicker Dan Bailey expects it to be like on the field this fall, when the NFL regular season begins with stadiums mostly or completely empty.

Fans do their part to ratchet up the pressure on kickers before a big field-goal attempt on the road — “You can almost kind of feel it your chest, like it would be going to an air show or something and those jets are flying by,” Bailey said — but a quiet stadium presents a different set of challenges.

“Not having the crowd noise is going to be a lot more weird than we think it is,” he said Monday in a video conference with reporters. “Sometimes you’ll line up for a kick and … you can definitely at times — especially at home games — hear the other team yelling stuff at you before you’re going to kick.

“In my head, I’m like, ‘Well, there’s no crowd noise or even a low crowd noise to block that out,’ and that’s something you’re going to have to think about and get ready for. Hopefully, it doesn’t throw you off or anything like that.”

The banter from across the line of scrimmage is playful enough; Bailey said he has had opposing players facetiously offer him their game checks if he misses the kick.

The silence, though, is what can leave kickers at the mercy of their thoughts.

During practices, the Vikings often incorporate field goals in the middle of simulated game situations, running their special teams unit onto the field during a two-minute drill to work on the timing of a crucial kick with the clock running down.

“That’s kind of the environment I like to create for our guys — a little bit of organized mayhem,” special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf said. “I want them to be in the thick of things, and then I want us to step up and perform our operation the way they know how.”

The Vikings gave Bailey and three-year contracts this offseason, investing in the kind of special-teams stability they have frequently lacked under Mike Zimmer.

Their continuity from last season, Bailey and Colquitt said Monday, will help the veterans be ready for a year where their first game action comes not in a preseason game but against the Packers on Sept. 13.

To help him get prepared, Bailey wouldn’t mind if the Vikings gave him opportunities to practice in environments where he can hear himself think — in addition to whatever creative jabs his teammates can construct.

“Honestly, I think it would be beneficial,” he said. “At least try it out just because we don’t know what it’s going to be like. Because for sure the other teams are going to be doing it. There’s no question about that. They’re going to try to get in your head and yell stuff, which is fine. I get that.

“… A lot of times we do practice with crowd noise here so maybe I can talk to Zimmer or [Maalouf] or one of those guys and see if we can maybe do some simulated stuff. I’m sure the guys would love to talk some noise, have some friendly banter. I think it would help. I’d be up for it, for sure.’’ PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/11/20

Veteran tackle Riley Reiff says Vikings offensive line needs live reps

By Andrew Krammer

Left tackle Riley Reiff is a man of few words, but he needed only a handful Monday to describe the value of a preseason, or this year’s lack thereof, to the Vikings offensive line. This year’s Week 1 lineup will be the fourth different opening-day combination in Reiff’s fourth season as the Vikings’ left tackle. Long-awaited practices begin this week, and playing in pads next Monday, and Reiff said the clock is ticking on the offensive line.

“We’re one of the groups on a football field that really needs to get those live reps,” Reiff said during a videoconference with reporters.

Evaluations have been limited so far to the classroom and walk-throughs, creating a short runway for the Vikings offense to debut a new right guard and any improvements from young players.

Veterans and Aviante Collins are among the candidates to replace Josh Kline at right guard, according to coordinator , with just 14 padded practices before the regular season begins. “Every minute is crucial,” Reiff said.

Vikings coaches are counting on starters, including left guard Pat Elflein and center , to improve while seeking development from many young reserves. Another COVID-related change, according to Reiff, has been splitting the squad onto separate practice fields, keeping apart starters and reserves at times. “[Young players] didn’t get live reps, but they really had to nail down that first aspect of knowing the playbook,” Reiff said. “We haven’t interacted much. I’ve been in the room with them, but with split fields and stuff. I haven’t been able to see them that much.”

‘Arrow’s up for him’ The Vikings placed linebacker Cameron Smith on waivers Monday, but he’ll remain with the team on the non-football injury list should he go unclaimed as expected. Smith, a 2019 fifth-round pick, announced Saturday he needs heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve discovered after he tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent cardiac screening. Although the non-football injury list allows teams to limit a player’s salary, the Vikings are not expected to take money from Smith., according to a league source. He’s in a “good place” mentally, said special teams coach Marwan Maalouf. “I told him if he’s around the building, ‘Be another coach.’ Because he’s a really good student of the game, a very sharp guy,” Maalouf said. “I think the arrow’s up for him from a mental perspective and everything, and now he has to take care of himself.”

‘A mature rookie’ Maalouf noted the Vikings’ many “options” at punt returner, but he kept coming back to fifth-round receiver K.J. Osborn, whom he praised as a “mature” rookie doing well on punt returns during on-field work. The Vikings also have receiver , cornerback Mike Hughes and receiver handling punt returns. “It’s just a matter of making sure we have the right person at the right opportunity,” Maalouf said. “Who knows, there could be a chance where we put two guys back there, but so far K.J. has done a good job.”

Open spaces Punter Britton Colquitt, entering his 12th NFL season, is enjoying the empty locker on either side of him at TCO Performance Center because of COVID-19 protocols, but this isn’t how he envisioned earning the comfort typically reserved for the highest-profile player in a locker room. “Every year of my life, ‘I want to be that old guy, so they feel sorry for me and get me an extra locker,’ ” Colquitt said. “I’m finally the oldest guy around and everybody gets an extra locker.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings' 2020 training camp preview: Defensive backs

By Andrew Krammer

The Vikings are getting closer to playing football. Training camp ramps up this week with the start of full practices, which can begin Wednesday. Until then, we’ll preview the key points at each position every day. Practices in full pads start Aug. 17.

Defensive backs

Cornerbacks: Mike Hughes, , Holton Hill, , Kris Boyd, , Nevelle Clarke, Mark Fields, Marcus Sayles

Safeties: Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, , Myles Dorn, Nate Meadors, Brian Cole II

Offseason moves

In: Gladney (first-round pick), Dantzler (third-round pick), Hand (fifth-round pick), Metellus (sixth-round pick), Cole (seventh-round pick), Clarke (undrafted), Dorn (undrafted)

Out: CB Xavier Rhodes (free agent), CB Trae Waynes (free agent), CB (free agent), S Andrew Sendejo (free agent), S Jayron Kearse (free agent), CB Marcus Sherels (free agent)

Outlook

The Vikings secondary needs to replace about half of the snaps from last season after all three starting corners and two backup safeties signed elsewhere in free agency. Mike Zimmer’s most experienced cornerback is now Mike Hughes, who has appeared in 20 NFL games, providing nearly a clean slate at the position. At safety, after tagging and trying to trade safety Anthony Harris this spring, they’ll settle for keeping one of the NFL’s best alongside Harrison Smith. Harris will play under the franchise tag and, without a new deal, will become a free agent again in 2021. “That’s a great thing for us because those two guys are smart. They make all the calls,” co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said. “They’re going to be able to help those guys out back there.” Those guys are most likely Hughes, Holton Hill and rookie first-round pick Jeff Gladney, who will not have the benefit of a preseason to get ready. Corners Kris Boyd and Cameron Dantzler are also in the mix.

Top competition

Nickel corner. Perhaps by default, Hughes as the most experienced will be the Vikings’ slot corner in Week 1 against Green Bay. But Gladney played some nickel at TCU, where on occasion he also shadowed top receivers, showing the rookie’s range. Zimmer has often relied on multiple slot defenders, and Gladney could become another option by the end of the season.

Player to watch

Hughes. The 2018 first-round pick could ease some of the secondary’s growing pains with a breakout season. He continued to show promise last year, leading Vikings corners in pass deflections despite ranking fourth in coverage snaps. Hughes didn’t play much in the slot (and has fewer than 150 snaps there in his career, according to Pro Football Focus), but he was solid. If he can level inconsistencies and shore up tackling, among other things, Hughes has the talent to make a big difference in 2020.

Notable number

9. No NFL defense had more interceptions last season from its starting safeties than the Vikings’ Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, who led all safeties with six picks (in the regular season). Opposing quarterbacks may have to look twice this year before picking on a young Vikings corner, as Smith and Harris form perhaps the league’s best tandem and a strong security blanket for this defensive makeover. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings’ Dan Bailey: kicking without crowd noise would be ‘weird’

By Chris Tomasson

Vikings kicker Dan Bailey is accustomed to crowd noise being pumped in at practice. This season, he might be listening to catcalls from teammates to help prepare him for games.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, NFL teams are expected to play this season before few if any fans, which would be quite an adjustment for place-kickers, especially at road games.

“Not having the crowd noise is going to a lot more weird than we think,” Bailey said Monday. “It’s going to be different. Fans make up so much of the experience of the game.”

Bailey expects heckling from opposing players to be loud and clear without fans to drown them out. With that in mind, he’s considering suggesting to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf some ways to get used to it.

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“I’m sure the guys would love to talk some noise, have some friendly banter,” Bailey said. “I think it would help. I’d be up for it for sure.”

If that happens, it will be interesting to see what his teammates come up with.

“(Opposing players) say (things like), ‘I’ll give you my game check if you miss this kick,’ ” Bailey said “You’ll hear that sometimes, but obviously that’s just friendly stuff.”

Whatever Bailey heard when he was lining up to kick last year, it usually didn’t work. He made 27 of 29 field-goal attempts (93.1 percent) in a bounce-back season. That earned him a three-year, $10 million contract after he had become a free agent.

At 87.3 percent, Bailey ranks sixth in NFL history in field goal accuracy. He was No. 2 before slipping in 2017 and 2018.

Bailey made 15 of 20 attempts for 75 percent during an injury-riddled 2017 season with Dallas and was released after seven years with the Cowboys. Signed by the Vikings before Week 2 in 2018, he again made 75 percent of his attempts (21 of 28) but returned to form last year with a new long snapper in then-rookie Austin Cutting and new holder in veteran punter Britton Colquitt.

“I feel good. I feel healthy,” Bailey said. “I feel like last year there were a lot of positives to build off of. … Having people like Britton and Austin in there playing at high levels only raises my bar, too.”

Cutting replaced Kevin McDermott, who was released. Colquitt replaced Matt Wile, who had been criticized by Zimmer for his holding ability.

“Dan was able to feel comfortable for the first time in a couple years just because, as a unit, we worked well together and Dan could lean on me knowing I was going to do my part,” Colquitt said. “He didn’t have to worry about, ‘Hey, is the ball going to be where it needs to be?’ ”

The Vikings are on track to enter a season with holdovers at kicker, punter/holder and long snapper for the first time since 2016. Colquitt signed a three-year, $9 million contract as a free agent last March.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings waive Cameron Smith but plan to put him on reserve list due to heart issue Vikings waive undrafted free-agent signee Tyler Higby Vikings hope dissing of their defense will motivate them Vikings LB Cameron Smith to miss 2020 season due to open-heart surgery Vikings make signing of LB Quentin Poling official, waive RB Tony Brooks-James The specialists didn’t get a chance to work together during the spring due to the pandemic. Bailey, who has a home in Texas, did his best to work out on his own during the pandemic.

“As soon as you’d get on the field somewhere, they’d shut it down and you had to find somewhere else,’’ Bailey said. “So, it was tough. There were a couple times I was literally kicking in a field like an actual field that had been mowed but it worked out.”

Now, Bailey could find out this season what it’s like kicking in another new setting.

“We’re going to miss our fans if they’re not going to be in the stadium,” Vikings special teams coach Marwan Maalouf said. “I don’t know what’s going on there yet. … I think (Zimmer) will create the right environment, and obviously I’ll help with that.”

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings waive Cameron Smith but plan to put him on reserve list due to heart issue

By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings on Monday waived linebacker Cameron Smith because of a “non-football illness,” but the plan is to place him on the reserve/non-football illness list if he clears waivers.

It is all but certain that Smith will clear waivers on Tuesday after he had announced Saturday that he will miss the 2020 season due to having open-heart surgery. Smith wrote on Instagram that he had a heart defect found after he tested positive last month for the coronavirus. He had been on the reserve/COVID-19 list since July 29.

Vikings special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf said Monday he has been in touch with Smith, who played in five games last season as a rookie and wrote in his post that he expects to return to play in 2021.

“We’ve talked a little bit,’’ Maalouf said. “I think he’s very confident. I don’t want to speak for him as far as what he feels and stuff, but he seems like he’s in a good place. I told him if he’s around the (TCO Performance Center this season), ‘Be another coach,’ because he’s a really good student of the game, a very sharp guy. I think the arrow’s up for him from a mental perspective and everything, and now he has to take care of himself.’’

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Teams are not required to pay players on the reserve/non-football illness list, however the Vikings have a history of paying at least some portion of salaries to such players. Smith is on the books this season for a base salary of $675,000.

“I want to wish him well on his different journey now and let him know that we’re behind him and we will miss him,’’ Maalouf said.

The waiving of Smith leaves tackle Oli Udoh as the only Vikings player on the COVID-19 list. A source said Monday that Udoh tested positive for the coronavirus but is doing well and could come off the list as soon as Tuesday.

Smith and Udoh are the only Vikings players known so far to have tested positive for coronavirus. While the Vikings have had nine total players on the COVID-19 list, the team is not revealing which players tested positive and which ones were quarantined due to being in contact with an infected individual.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings’ Dan Bailey: kicking without crowd noise would be ‘weird’ Vikings waive undrafted free-agent signee Tyler Higby Vikings hope dissing of their defense will motivate them Vikings LB Cameron Smith to miss 2020 season due to open-heart surgery Vikings make signing of LB Quentin Poling official, waive RB Tony Brooks-James WILL MORE-RESTED PLAYERS HELP GAME? While some believe NFL play could suffer this season against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, Vikings tackle Riley Reiff doesn’t.

“I think play is going to be better, actually,’’ Reiff said.

The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of on-field spring drills and preseason games. Some believe that could result in players not being as sharp, but Reiff believes it will help that players are more rested.

“There’s less distractions this offseason,’’ he said. “Guys were taking care of their bodies and stuff like that. But we’re working on limited time, too, so I’m hoping that the product is good.’’

Minnesota punter Britton Colquitt agrees with Reiff that the “product will be better” because of the way “guys seem physically and not kind of beaten-down.’’ PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 8/11/20

Seven things we’ve learned so far from a very different Vikings training camp

By Chad Graff

Shamar Stephen Shamar Stephen (Jeffrey Becker / USA Today) “I think will tell you that part of the reason that he went to the Pro Bowl were those two big bodies sitting in front of him, OK?” said co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson. “They allow him to run from sideline to sideline and be free. Their No. 1 job in their life is to not let anybody touch Eric. People write stuff about Shamar Stephen, and I get it because everybody just looks at stats. But if you watch film and you ask Eric Kendricks if he had to pick anybody to go to the game with, I guarantee he’d tell you it’s (No.) 93 because 93 is not going to let anybody get to the second level and block Eric. They’re doing what we coach them to do. Some people take that three- technique role, and that guy’s a penetrating guy. He’s trying to get in the backfield and get tackles for losses and is better on his pass rush because he’s moving forward, but we don’t ask our guy to do that. We ask our guy to keep Eric Kendricks free. We want to flatten out the line of scrimmage. Don’t let any linemen leave the line of scrimmage, the inside guys, and let Eric free.”

Armon Watts has a big opportunity Watts was one of the team’s pleasant surprises a year ago, going from a sixth-round pick to one of the final players to make the roster, to a contributor who seemed to make plays every time he was on the field.

He was always going to have a chance this training camp to earn more playing time. But that opening grew when Pierce opted out. Watts now may be the favorite to start at nose tackle

“Armon’s played really well, I think,” Mike Zimmer said. “He’s done a nice job when he’s been in there. He played a fair amount toward the end of last season. He’s a big, strong, athletic guy, so we’re looking for another big jump out of him this year. We’ve got guys in there, we’ll be alright.”

Watts really impressed coaches with his play against the Dallas Cowboys last season, performing well even against a good offensive line with a great running back.

Danielle Hunter stays on the left With the departure of , there was at least some thought that the Vikings might consider moving Hunter to the right side of the defensive line where he’d face the opposition’s left tackle, usually their top offensive lineman.

But the Vikings figured there was no reason to change something that works. So Hunter will stay on the left side with Ifeadi Odenigbo as the right defensive end.

“Why would you move somebody that’s doing something great?” Patterson said with a laugh. “I don’t understand that. He’s the fastest to 50 sacks in NFL history. You guys would be all over me if I moved him to the right and all of a sudden, he wasn’t very good. I’m smarter than that. We’re going to keep him where he feels comfortable. Obviously, there are going to be games where we move him around a little bit just like we did with him and Everson in the New Orleans game. But I don’t want to take a guy from where he’s comfortable and making a name for himself to be one of the best in the business at what he does. To me, that’s not very smart as a coach. I may not be very bright, but I’m smarter than that.”

Danielle Hunter Danielle Hunter (Harrison Barden / USA Today) The cornerback conundrum continues Without practices, it’s impossible to know who exactly the Vikings view as their top three cornerbacks. Patterson said they’ll ask cornerbacks to play both on the inside and outside as they try to determine who replaces Mackensie Alexander at nickelback.

“Because you know how the season goes, you lose guys in the NFL to injury and somebody’s got to come out and play,” Patterson said. “Right now, you’ve got to go through the evaluation process to find out what these guys can do and what they can do well, and we as coaches have to put them in the best role to allow them the opportunity to succeed.”

Mike Hughes is expected to start and first-round pick Gladney has a good shot too as well. But perhaps occasionally lost in the shuffle is Holton Hill, the third-year player who had a great rookie season but was suspended half of last season and seemed to fall out of Zimmer’s good graces.

If Hill can build on his first season, it would go a long way in alleviating concerns about the Vikings’ secondary.

“I think he’s much more focused than when he first came in here,” Patterson said. “I got to see him a couple of days ago. He looks like he’s in great shape. Doing the virtual meetings, he was on point as far as answering the questions and knowing what he was supposed to do, so I’m excited to see what he’s going to do to his game once we get out here in pads and start playing real football.”

Special teams stability For the first time since Blair Walsh’s playoff miss at the end of the 2015 season, the Vikings enter training camp with little drama at kicker or punter.

Dan Bailey and Britton Colquitt both signed three-year deals in the offseason and return after a successful 2019.

“We’re going to look like a more polished group at an earlier stage,” Colquitt predicted.

Colquitt ranked No. 6 in the league in average net punt yards (42.6) last season while Bailey made 93 percent of his field-goal attempts. During the offseason, Colquitt, 35, and Bailey, 32, discussed the potential that they finish their careers together in Minnesota.

“Obviously it doesn’t get much better than here from a kicking standpoint,” Bailey said of playing for the Vikings — presumably because of location more than history at the position. “Nine games inside including Detroit ever year that’s guaranteed. That’s about the best you can ask for. The organization is great, the city is great. … So that would be the goal, for sure.”

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 8/11/20

The most important Vikings camp battle is at nickel corner

By Matthew Coller

When the Minnesota Vikings finally begin 11-on-11 practices, they will only have a few weeks before suiting up against the in Week 1. There is much to be decided in the interim, including how Michael Pierce will be replaced at nose tackle, how the depth receiver battle will shape up and who will start at outside cornerback and guard.

The up-for-grabs position that’s easy to overlook is nickel corner, which used to be considered a rotational job but in recent years it has become a full-time gig. Last year the Vikings’ slot corner Mackensie Alexander averaged 41 snaps per game, which is about 70% of total defensive plays.

With Alexander exiting to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said they will be trying numerous defensive backs in order to find out who fits best.

“It’s an important position and that’s the reason we want to roll as many guys through there to see what’s the best combination for us to put out on the field,” Patterson said. “Who understands it the best, who’s the best cover guy…who’s the best guy in run support? We want to roll as many guys in there that we possibly can to see what’s the best move for us to put on the field.”

Mike Hughes, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2018, has the most previous playing time at nickel of any corner on the roster with just 138 snaps inside last year and 58 in his rookie year. Special teams ace Kris Boyd and first-round pick Jeff Gladney are expected to be in the mix but Boyd saw only a handful of snaps on defense in 2019 and Gladney played his entire college career at outside corner.

Of all the spots on defense, nickel corner may be the hardest to play without experience because it has many elements that deviate from a traditional outside corner job, where most drafted corners cut their teeth.

On Friday, Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith explained the multitude of responsibilities on the plate of a nickel.

“I’ve always thought safety is a very undervalued position but I think nickel is even more undervalued, just league- wide, especially these days,” Smith said. “You have to cover oftentimes every different type of route all over the field and you have to be active in the run game and pressures. So, you’re constantly moving around and have to be mentally on top of it, kind of like a safety or linebacker in that aspect. Then you have the cover skills of a corner. There’s not a lot of guys that can do that at a very high level.”

The data backs up Smith comments about nickel being undervalued.

On a defense that has had Pro Bowlers at every level, it was easy to lose sight of Alexander’s contributions but over the last two seasons as the nickel starter he gave up quarterback ratings of just 85.6 and 90.2 on throws into his coverage and picked up 10 QB pressures (five of which were sacks) on 27 chances to rush the passer. His 9.2 yards per completion allowed last year ranked eighth lowest in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

PFF credited Alexander’s performance being worth 0.44 Wins Above Replacement over the last two seasons, which is more than Everson Griffen’s WAR for the last three years.

In an article from 2017, Dr. Eric Eager explained that offenses produce more Expected Points Added on throws to slot receivers, putting a premium on slot corners who can slow them down. Eager wrote:

“During the PFF era, throwing to slot receivers has been worth approximately 0.243 expected points added (EPA), while throwing to outside receivers has yielded only 0.228 EPA. When looking at the distribution of these throws, the difference becomes even larger, with the median EPA throwing to guys out of the slot being 0.200, as opposed to 0.130 for outside guys. Thus, throwing to inside receivers is not only a better play, it’s a safer play for offenses (and hence defending such a play well comes at a premium for a defense).”

Covering slot receivers is just the start. The job requires the ability to identify route combinations and is often asked to switch coverage based on those patterns. One mistake and the offense will pick up an easy explosive play.

Eric Kendricks said the nickel player must also understand how to fit into the run game and have some of the traits of a linebacker, including their personality.

“They’re going to be out there covering and involved on passing situations and have to know the DB lingo but they have to be able to get big like a linebacker and be able to make some tackles in the box and communicate with us as well,” Kendricks said. “It’s definitely a position that requires a lot of communication, it requires a lot of confidence as well.”

If the Vikings do end up going with a rookie at nickel, they will have one of the steepest learning curves of any position. Last year 15 rookies played at least 200 coverage snaps and only one graded above 70 (out of 100) by Pro Football Focus in coverage and only two allowed a below league average QB rating against.

“I would say a lot is on the corners,” Smith said. :They have to cover well, and they have to know adjustments and be consistent and kind of be process-oriented. They’re also coming from college to the pros, and the rules are very much not in their favor. That adjustment is normally, I think when we play preseason — we won’t this year, but that’s normally the most glaring thing, the grabbing and illegal contact type of penalties, so that’s something that we’ll probably have to focus on a lot in practice, but the trajectory is tough.”

The best thing going for the Vikings’ nickel corner — whoever that might be — is that they are surrounded with talent. Kendricks, Smith and safety Anthony Harris all ranked by PFF last season in the top three at their positions.

“Safeties like [Harris] and myself, we take pride in playing not just what we do but what our group does and the linebackers and the guys in front of us for where we all fit in the defense,” Smith said. “We can sometimes help nickels with that, at the end of the day, everybody has to do their part. It falls on the shoulders of that guy the most, but we can certainly help.”

Judging by the task in front of the group battling for the nickel corner job, it appears they will need all the help they can get.

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings appear to opt for familiar with offensive line early in camp

By Courtney Cronin

MINNEAPOLIS -- After April's NFL draft, Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman suggested a "wide open competition" would take place on the interior of the offensive line.

Following the departure of Josh Kline in free agency and Pat Elflein's struggles moving from center to left guard last season (32 pressures allowed), Minnesota aimed to retool its guard play at both spots.

That was the plan four months ago. One week into walk-through practices, it appears time may have altered the Vikings' approach.

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When camp opened last week, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak noted that the line's four returning starters -- Elflein, left tackle Riley Reiff, center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Brian O'Neill -- were remaining in the spots they played in 2019.

"We have four of our five back and somebody will end up playing the other guard position," Kubiak said. "We'll see what happens, but it's going to be a very competitive nature through the course of camp. We have six weeks until we play a game and a lot to get done."

Kubiak seemed to suggest the Vikings for now are only looking to fill the vacancy created at right guard. In a way, it makes sense.

Few positions are as affected by time constraints as an offensive line. Every training camp in Minnesota in recent years has featured multiple position battles, new starters and scheme changes. In 2017, the Vikings debuted in Week 1 with a starting five that hadn't taken snaps together during the preseason.

Without the luxury of time to tinker with various combinations, the Vikings may choose to rely on familiarity to get the offensive line ready to play on Sept. 13.

There has been talk of moving Riley Reiff from left tackle to guard the past two offseasons, but the veteran expects to stay put for now. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire "I think we're one of the groups on a football field that really needs to get those live reps," Reiff said. "Everybody's working with the same platform. We've just got to take advantage of the time that we do get and make sure that we're putting in good work."

That includes keeping Reiff at left tackle instead of shifting him inside to guard, a move that has been debated by the coaching staff over the past two offseasons but was never brought up to him.

The reason for the questions about moving Reiff, 31, is due to the Vikings using a second-round pick to draft Boise State's , who could be their next franchise left tackle.

But for now the Vikings are experimenting with Cleveland at right guard.

"The nice thing is we think [Cleveland] has flexibility," Kubiak said. "We know he's played tackle for a long time. Through the walkthrough period, we're working him at guard right now, so he gets reps next to Blake (Brandel) as they work together in the young group, and we'll go from there. We're going to take it a day at a time, but he's a very bright player and we felt like we should start somewhere where he hasn't had many reps, make sure he gets them there.

"We know he has a comfort zone to go back outside. We'll settle him down probably after about a week and we'll take a look at exactly where we think he should be and what gives him the best chance to help our team."

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While Cleveland works through reps with the second-team offensive line, the likes of , Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins are expected to compete at right guard with the veteran group.

Samia, a fourth-round pick in 2019, was effectively given last season as a redshirt year to transition from the zone scheme he played at Oklahoma. His experience at guard and in the Vikings' offense may give him a leg up on the competition at right guard.

"I think Dru in the last year has really matured a lot in terms of knowing what's expected of him and trying to work within the framework that the coaches give us," O'Neill said. "I think anybody in the building would tell you that he's a lot more aware of what he needs to do now, which is good.

"Not that he wasn't before but when you come in there's so much going on around you and what you need to do and how you need to do it and now he's really dialed in to what he needs to do. He looks great. He's physically in a much better spot, and he's excited to be here. He's talking a lot more to the guys. He's opening up, which is good, because he feels comfortable and he should." PUBLICATION: Associated Press DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings LB Cam Smith to miss season due to heart condition

By Dave Campbell

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings second-year linebacker Cameron Smith will miss the 2020 season because of a heart condition that was discovered after he tested positive for COVID-19 upon reporting to training camp two weeks ago.

The Vikings made the procedural move on Monday of waiving Smith with a non-football injury designation. Upon clearing waivers, he’ll revert to the reserve list for non-football injuries. Smith, who played mostly on special teams as a rookie, was a fifth-round draft pick out of USC in 2019.

The Vikings signed linebacker Quinten Poling over the weekend for depth. Poling was a 2018 seventh-round draft pick out of Ohio by the , who kept him on the practice squad. He spent most of last season on the practice squad with the then-Oakland Raiders.

Smith announced on his Instagram account on Saturday that he needs open heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve he was born with.

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“It is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer,” Smith said. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one!”

He said the procedure won’t be career ending.

“By no means am I ready to be done playing football,” Smith posted. “There is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field.” PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings Tackle Oli Udoh "Doing Well" After Having COVID-19

By Will Ragatz

Vikings offensive tackle Oli Udoh – the team's lone player still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list – is reportedly "doing well" after testing positive for the coronavirus and could be activated as soon as Tuesday, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

Udoh is the second Vikings player who has been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. The other is linebacker Cameron Smith, who will miss the 2020 season as he recovers from open-heart surgery.

Udoh and Smith were both placed on the COVID list on July 29th, 12 days ago. Of the nine Vikings to spent time on that list, only Udoh, Smith, and rookie Tyler Higby were on it for over ten days, which suggests a positive test with symptoms. Higby was activated on Sunday, and then promptly released.

A 2019 sixth-round pick out of Elon, Udoh is someone who the Vikings like a lot. He's a massive tackle prospect who could also potentially move to guard in the future. Udoh was impressive in last year's Week 17 loss to the Bears. Here's everything you need to know about his background and future.

Once Udoh is activated, the Vikings will need to make one final cut to keep the roster at 80 players. They won't need to make any additional cuts unless they bring in a free agent in the coming weeks.

The Vikings will begin padded practices this week and next. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings Waive Cameron Smith With Non-Football Injury, Expect Him to Clear Waivers

By Will Ragatz

The Vikings have waived second-year linebacker Cameron Smith with a non-football injury designation, the team announced on Monday.

Smith recently revealed that he is having open-heart surgery to fix a congenital heart defect that doctors discovered after he tested positive for COVID-19. This is a procedural move required by the NFL because Smith is not a vested veteran.

"Per NFL procedures, to move Cam Smith from the Vikings active roster to their reserve/non-football injury (NFI) list, the team must first subject him to waivers," the Vikings said in their press release. "Should he clear waivers, he will revert to the Vikings reserve/NFI list."

The Vikings reportedly expect Smith to clear waivers, which will allow them to add him to their injured reserve in roughly 24 hours.

Smith will likely be paid his $675,000 base salary for the 2020 season despite being inactive, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

On Saturday, the 2019 fifth-round pick from USC took to Instagram to announce that he needs open-heart surgery. Smith also shared that he has no plans of giving up on his football career.

"Earlier this week I found out I need open heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve that I was born with," Smith wrote. "Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer. I found this out after I tested positive for COVID and had to have further testing done as protocol. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one! There is a surgery that will allow me to continue to play football as soon as I am healed and cleared and I didn’t think twice about going with that one. By no means am I ready to be done playing football, there is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field. I'm going to attack this like everything else I have in life. Already looking forward to the comeback!"

View this post on Instagram Earlier this week I found out I need open heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve that I was born with. Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer. I found this out after I tested positive for COVID and had to have further testing done as protocol. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one!🙏🏻 There is a surgery that will allow me to continue to play football as soon as I am healed and cleared and I didn’t think twice about going with that one. By no means am I ready to be done playing football, there is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field. Im going to attack this like everything else I have in life. Already looking forward to the comeback! #SKOL

A post shared by Cam (@_killacam) on Aug 8, 2020 at 12:22pm PDT

Smith shared a follow-up post on Sunday.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone for all of the support I have received over the last 24 hours, it means more to me than most of you may know! I also have realized how many people have been affected in some way by BAV and all of you that reached out to share your stories has given me strength beyond belief! ⁣Bumps in the road are apart of life, but how you attack them is all that really matters. You can coast through and land safely or pin that son of a gun and launch off that bump as if it was only there to put you further ahead.⁣ I’m all smiles over here and I wouldn’t be this way with out the lord and my support system! I’ll keep everyone as updated as possible. I’m coming out on the other side stronger than ever."

View this post on Instagram I just want to say thank you to everyone for all of the support I have received over the last 24 hours, it means more to me than most of you may know! I also have realized how many people have been affected in some way by BAV and all of you that reached out to share your stories has given me strength beyond belief! ⁣ ⁣ Bumps in the road are apart of life, but how you attack them is all that really matters. You can coast through and land safely or pin that son of a gun and launch off that bump as if it was only there to put you further ahead.⁣ ⁣ I’m all smiles over here and I wouldn’t be this way with out the lord and my support system! I’ll keep everyone as updated as possible. I’m coming out on the other side stronger than ever蘭

A post shared by Cam (@_killacam) on Aug 9, 2020 at 5:57pm PDT PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 8/11/20

Andre Patterson Defends Shamar Stephen: "He Does What We Coach Him to Do"

By Will Ragatz

Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen is an easy target of criticism for Vikings fans and writers alike. A look at the stats shows that the veteran was one of the least productive three-technique tackles in the NFL last season, recording just six pressures and one sack in over 300 pass-rushing snaps. Pro Football Focus backs that up, giving Stephen the 93rd-best grade out of 118 qualified DTs for his play in 2019.

As a result, a great deal of discussion this offseason has been spent on the prospect of finding a replacement for Stephen in 2020. Especially after the addition of nose tackle Michael Pierce – who has never been known as much of a pass-rusher – the idea of the Vikings finding a player who could generate interior pressure from the 3T spot was an appealing one.

Recent developments have shaken up that picture. Pierce opted out of the 2020 season because of serious health risks, a decision that was clearly the right one given his circumstances. Now, Stephen seems like a strong candidate to continue to start at one of the interior positions. He might be a more natural fit at nose tackle anyways, but could also be out there at 3T if Jaleel Johnson or plays the nose.

While the thought of Stephen remaining a starter might not be an attractive one for many Vikings fans, co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson wants it to be known that he thinks the criticism of the UConn product is misguided. He gave an impassioned defense of Stephen's play on Friday, which was focused on the role he plays in allowing the Vikings' linebackers to make plays.

"Eric Kendricks will tell you that part of the reason that he went to the Pro Bowl are those two big bodies sitting in front of him," Patterson said. "They allow him to run from sideline to sideline and be free. Their number one job in their life is to not let anybody touch Eric. People write stuff about Shamar Stephen, and I get it because everybody just looks at stats. But if you watch film and you ask Eric Kendricks if he had to pick anybody to go to the game with that he'd make sure that guy was there, I guarantee he'd tell you it's 93. Because 93 is not going to let anybody get to the second level and block Eric."

Patterson's explanation was that Stephen isn't asked to do what many teams ask their three-tech to do. So even though his pressure stats are putrid, that doesn't mean he's not adding value by eating up blockers at the line of scrimmage and preventing them from getting to the second level. The Vikings don't want Stephen to be Aaron Donald or Grady Jarrett, which he clearly isn't. They want him to essentially be a second nose tackle up front, and Patterson believes he does that at a high level.

"They're doing what we coach them to do," he said. "Some people take that three technique role, and that guy's a penetrating guy. He's trying to get in the backfield and get tackles for loss and is better on his pass rush because he's moving forward, but we don't ask our guy to do that. We ask our guy to keep Eric Kendricks free. We want to flatten out the line of scrimmage. Don't let any linemen leave the line of scrimmage, the inside guys, and let Eric free. So those guys are just going out there and executing what I coach them to do, and that's why that position is so important because we want to keep those linebackers free, and Eric and Anthony Barr are able to make plays because of the way those two D-tackles play."

It was a very interesting, passionate answer from Patterson, who clearly has seen some of the vitriol directed towards Stephen and is sticking up for his player. It makes a lot of sense; Stephen is a strong, powerful tackle who plays with good leverage and is tough to move in the run game.

However, it's worth questioning whether the Vikings were making the correct strategic choice last year by essentially punting on the idea of creating interior pressure on early downs. With Linval Joseph no longer the havoc-wreaker he once was, there was no one troubling opposing quarterbacks up the middle unless the Vikings rotated defensive ends to the interior. Kendricks did have a career year, so Patterson has a point.

In 2020, the Vikings may be forced to adjust their strategy somewhat. With no Pierce, the leading candidates for playing time up front are Stephen, Johnson, and Watts. Hercules Mata'afa, James Lynch, and will also be part of that competition. Assuming Stephen remains a starter, whoever is alongside him will likely offer more as a pass-rusher than Joseph did last year and Pierce would've this year.

Vikings Defensive Tackles Preview: Who Will Emerge at Three-Technique?

Another interesting thing mentioned by Patterson is that all of the defensive tackles have to know how to play both nose tackle and three-technique, because defenses can essentially force them to swap roles based on their alignments and blocking schemes.

"Because of the way we play, our noses have to know how to play three-technique and our three-technique has to know how to play nose, because the offense can make those guys have to play those roles," Patterson said. "As we go through practice they all have to learn how to play nose and how to play three. I'm going to put the best combination out there that gives us the best opportunity to succeed. When it's all said and done and we go through the evaluation at camp, I'm going to put the best two D-tackles out there that give us the best opportunity to be successful."

The competition for those two starting jobs in the middle is going to be one of the most fascinating to track over the course of training camp. Based on Patterson's comments, it seems like Stephen – despite the stats – has an inside track to claiming one of those spots.

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings Stability of Specialists Helps Amid 2020 Uncertainties

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – Snap, hold, kick.

Amid plenty of uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season, the Vikings specialists aren't taking the smoothness of their operation for granted.

Punter Britton Colquitt and kicker Dan Bailey spoke with media members Monday via video conference, and each emphasized the benefit of continuity in an offseason that has been shortened by the coronavirus pandemic.

Bailey said it feels "really good" to be heading into training camp practice knowing Minnesota is set at all three specialist positions, including second-year long snapper Austin Cutting.

"There are always obviously a few things we can improve on, but … coming off a year where I felt like we all operated pretty well together definitely gives you confidence," Bailey said. "Normally we train in the spring and sync up even more, but having some success last year and Britton being a vet, Austin coming in and playing like a vet, gives me a ton of confidence.

"It's what you want, especially in circumstances like this," he added. "You want that confidence, that comfortability to be ready to go."

Ad : (0:07) The spring and summer programming may have been truncated, but Colquitt last year didn't even meet Bailey and Cutting until just before the regular season.

"I was just the new kid on the block last year, which was not completely strange to me, but not totally familiar. It's a lot better," Colquitt said. "There's a whole different feel this year. Not just with the schedule … but being here is a different comfort level.

"It was like we'd never left," he later added. "We've got a good operation going on already, so it feels good."

Bailey and Colquitt together account for 19 seasons of NFL experience. Both re-signed multiyear contracts with the Vikings this spring.

For the 35-year-old punter, inking a new deal created another level of stability not just for him but also for his wife, Nikki, and their four children who have come to love Minnesota over the past year.

"[For my wife], that's the biggest thing – some sense of security in a game, in a business, that has very little security," Colquitt said. "I'm not sitting here and saying, 'We've made it,' or 'we're just the most secure people ever,' but it's nice to know we're here for now and the Vikings appreciate what you do and are willing to show that in a contract, so it was great."

Bailey, Colquitt and Cutting each navigated an unprecedented offseason, including the cancellation of OTAs and minicamp, due to COVID-19.

Colquitt worked out in a field within a Florida rental community – and he had plenty of assistants at his disposal.

"I put my kids to work shagging balls and snapping to me and stuff like that," Colquitt laughed.

Ad : (0:07) "The gym closed down that I was going to, so we got things like bands and [medicine] balls, and I was kind of creating things on this field that we live on. I probably looked like a crazy person, setting up this giant gym on this field – I had people kind of checking, like, 'What's this guy doing?' " he later explained. "But it was fun, and I was able to do it with my kids and with my family."

Bailey wasn't quite so lucky.

"Yeah, he's got a whole crew over there, so I'm sure that was a whole family event," he quipped. "I would have loved to have had that. That would have been nice."

At his home in Texas, Bailey struggled to find a consistent place to practice kicking but rolled with the punches.

"As soon as you'd get on a field somewhere, they'd shut it down and you had to find somewhere else," he explained. "So it was tough. There were a couple times I was literally just kicking in a field – like an actual field that had been mowed – but it worked out. Over time, things kind of evened out and you could find a couple places that were good to go."

Now that the trio is back together at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, they're looking forward to working with Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf and focusing on a regular season that is scheduled to kick off in just over a month.

Maalouf said it "feels pretty good" to be heading into the campaign with a well-oiled machine in Bailey, Colquitt and Cutting.

"We've already spent some time together wiping the cobwebs off," Maalouf said. "Those guys have done a really good job on their own throughout these COVID times, here and since we've been away from each other, of practicing their craft. You can see it. I've seen guys who haven't worked on it and guys who have, and these guys have definitely done that. Now it's a matter of keeping working on their continuity, their rhythm and timing together and hopefully take it to the next level this season."

The Vikings have carryover at kicker, punter and long snapper for the first time since 2015-16, and it's the first time they've held no competition at any of the positions since 2016.

In a year with so many questions, it feels good to have a plan.

"It just enables all of us — including the coaches, [Ryan Ficken] and [Maalouf] — to be able to say, 'We could start today.' We don't have to say, 'Well, if you're the guy…' It's probably easier for them and easier for us," Colquitt said. "It makes things transparent and enables us to do our job better and get to that part of it.

"In the past and in my whole career, I've competed a lot," he continued. "And there's a lot of good things that come out of competition, but there are things that kind of distract you from what you're really trying to do. I think it's going to be good for us, and we're going to look like a more polished group out there at an earlier stage of the season." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 8/11/20

Vikings Announce Cam Smith Roster Move

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. — Per NFL procedures, to move Cam Smith from the Vikings active roster to their reserve/non- football injury (NFI) list, the team must first subject him to waivers. Should he clear waivers, he will revert to the Vikings reserve/NFI list

Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2019, announced on his personal Instagram account over the weekend that he will undergo open-heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve. The linebacker was born with the condition that went undiagnosed until recently.

"Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn't have lasted much longer," Smith posted. "I found this out after I tested positive for [COVID-19] and had to have further testing done as protocol. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one."

Smith said the surgery will "allow me to continue to play football as soon as I am healed and cleared," adding that it was an easy decision to make.

"By no means am I ready to be done playing football, there is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field," he wrote. "I'm going to attack this like everything else I have in life. Already looking forward to the comeback! #SKOL."

Smith made a second post on Sunday night, thanking everyone for their support.

"Bumps in the road are a part of life, but how you attack them is all that really matters," Smith wrote. "You can coast through and land safely or pin that son of a gun and launch off that bump as if it was only there to put you further ahead.

"I'm all smiles over here and I wouldn't be this way without the Lord and my support system," he added. "I'll keep everyone as updated as possible. I'm coming out on the other side stronger than ever."

Smith appeared in five regular-season games and both playoff contests for the Vikings in his rookie season, working as a reserve on defense and on special teams.

Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf said during a video conference with media members on Monday that he had spoken with Smith and offered encouragement. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 8/11/20

Riley Reiff on Vikings Preparations: 'Every Minute's Crucial'

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — Riley Reiff is a grizzled veteran in the NFL, and not just because of the wooly beard he sports along the offensive line.

The starting left tackle also has 112 career starts between his time in Minnesota and Detroit, which makes him the most experienced lineman the Vikings have on either side of the line.

The other offensive linemen on Minnesota's roster have 129 combined career starts, and that's split up between seven players. A handful of linemen — five of them — have never played an NFL snap.

So yes, as Reiff enters his ninth season after being a first-round pick back in 2012, it's safe to say he's looked at as a leader along the line.

And with such a unique offseason in the books, it's a role that Reiff — a team captain in his first three seasons in Purple — is embracing even more.

"Obviously being the oldest guy, I think they kind of put that in there, but I'm an open book," Reiff said Monday in a rare chat with the Twin Cities media. "If anybody has a question to me, I welcome it, actually.

"I don't have everything figured out, either. There's a lot of stuff that still, even going into Year 9, where I'm asking questions," Reiff added. "These young guys, I hope they reach out to me and ask me about this or that."

And to be clear, Reiff will take on that responsibility from his usual left tackle spot. Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak said as much last week, and Reiff emphasized again Monday there wasn't much chatter about him potentially moving to guard.

"I didn't hear anything about that," Reiff said. "Heck, I'll play whatever as long as it helps the team."

So as Reiff enters his ninth season overall and fourth in Minnesota, he'll be tasked once again with protecting ' blindside and opening up holes for a rushing attack that consistently wants to pound the ball.

He drew Kubiak's praise a week ago for his professionalism and work ethic.

"I think Riley played really well for us last year," Kubiak said. "I think we can do some things offensively and me as a play caller to help all our players and help Riley more, from that standpoint.

"I'm a big Riley Reiff fan. I love him as a person, a player and a leader on our team. Nobody comes here more ready to work than Riley. It showed," Kubiak added. "We haven't seen these guys [practice yet], but watching him walk in, you can see his detail. Expecting Riley to have a great year."

Reiff rattled off a few things he's focused on as camp ramps up, and also touched on getting the chance for some offensive continuity.

And although Kubiak will be Reiff's fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, the South Dakota native said he's looking forward to being in a similar scheme again. Kubiak did not call plays in 2020, but he did have a strong influence on the offensive system.

"We went through a few offensive coordinators and they've all been great. Some things I'd like to work on are obviously pass pro," Reiff said. "I think I can get better in run blocking, too. It's just going out there and being consistent every week. That's what pros do. I'm looking forward to going out there and putting in the work and then producing on game days.

"We've got total trust in Gary. Gary's been around, and Gary's won football games," Reiff later added. "I'm excited to play in this offense, and it's a fun offense, and we're putting in the work right now and getting ready for that home opener."

It remains to be seen how the starting five along the offensive line shakes out, but three starters to pencil in as of now appear to be Reiff and Brian O'Neill at the tackle spots, along with second-year center Garrett Bradbury.

O'Neill has started 26 games, and Bradbury became the first Vikings rookie to start all 16 games of a season at center. Pat Elflein, who ranks second on the line with 42 total starts, played center in his first two seasons then shifted to left guard in 2019.

Elflein could be back in that role again, or the Vikings may take a look at other players during practices in leading up to a scheduled Week 1 home game against the Packers on Sept. 13.

As the Vikings embark on a season that could look different from all others — Minnesota will rely on its most-veteran lineman to help get his group ready to go both on and off the field.

"We haven't been here long," Reiff said. "There's some familiar faces back and then there's some new guys. With the offseason we've had, every minute's crucial. Excited to get to work with them more as camp progresses. We've just got to put in the time together, that's how the O-line jells.

"I've been in the room with them, but with split fields and stuff, I haven't been able to see them that much. They seem like a real smart group, and I'm excited to help them in any way that I can," Reiff added. "I've been around. I mean, I wasn't here in the lockout year, but it's going to happen fast, the season's going to come up on us. I know it sounds generic, but the minutes that we do get to work this camp are going to be crucial."

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 8/11/20

Lunchbreak: Smith & Harris Tabbed as NFL's Best Safety Tandem by ESPN

By Lindsey Young

Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris have only started one full season together, but that was enough to see they're tough to beat.

Harris stepped in partway through the 2018 season and never looked back. As Minnesota's starter opposite Smith last year, the 2015 UDFA tied for the league lead with six interceptions and helped Smith earn his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearance.

ESPN's Mike Clay recently rolled out his annual position-by-position unit rankings for all 32 teams, and Minnesota topped his list of all safety duos. Clay wrote:

Harrison Smith is now 31 but remains one of the league's top safeties. Minnesota moved on from Andrew Sendejo prior to last season because of the emergence of previously unheralded Anthony Harris. Smith and Harris, who received the franchise tag during the offseason, combined for 145 tackles and nine interceptions last season. Depth is the only red flag here, with late-round rookies Josh Metellus and Brian Cole II next up on the depth chart.

Ranked behind the Vikings for the NFL's top five were Buffalo, Seattle, New Orleans and Denver. Division rivals Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago were slated at No. 7, No. 12 and No. 17, respectively.

Minnesota's next-highest-ranked position groups were running back (No. 5) and tight end (No. 6). The Vikings ranked lowest at defensive tackle, where Clay placed them dead last due to the uncertainty at nose tackle.

Offseason signing Michael Pierce – the expected replacement for Linval Joseph – has opted out for the 2020 season, which leaves Minnesota in rough shape in the trenches. The likes of Jaleel Johnson, Armon Watts, Hercules Mata'afa, Jalyn Holmes and Shamar Stephen are Minnesota's top veteran options, and a lot figures to be asked of fourth-round rookie James Lynch.

Young Vikings CBs will be 'thrown into the fire' with loss of preseason

The leadup to the 2020 NFL season has looked different every step of the way due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teams now have training camps underway, but the league announced last month that no preseason games will be played this year. The lack of exhibition contests will likely affect some players more than others, as they offer a good warm-up period for rookies and young players before hitting stride for the regular season.

Mark Craig of the Star Tribune specifically looked at Minnesota's cornerbacks room and said the rookies will be "thrown into the fire" without a preseason. He wrote:

On the roster now are 10 corners. Nary a one has more than five NFL starts. The top three are expected to be 23- year-olds Mike Hughes (five starts), Holton Hill (four starts) and rookie first-round draft pick Jeff Gladney. Another rookie, 21-year-old third-round pick Cameron Dantzler, is in the thick of it, as well.

That many greenhorns in one secondary certainly sounds ripe for some harmful growing pains. Especially with an offseason limited to virtual learning because of the pandemic.

Maybe. Maybe not, says Co-Defensive Coordinator Andre Patterson.

Craig quoted Patterson, who spoke to media members via video conference Friday:

"It's probably been a blessing that they've had all these virtual meetings," Patterson said. "They've heard the install more than any rookie class in the history of the .

"So these [rookies] have gone out there [in practice] and they've been vocal on making the calls," he added. "They know what to do. It's been really impressive. I think it's been a blessing in disguise."

Craig pointed out that the rookies will "still need practice reps and in-person corrections" when it comes to on-field execution.

"It's just making sure that we get enough reps and enough practice so we can achieve those things," Patterson said. "For me, that would be my No. 1 concern." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 8/11/20

Monday Morning Mailbag: Backing Bailey, DT Depth & Emerging Leaders

By Eric Smith

Do you have a comment or question? Send it to the vikings.com Mailbag! Every Monday we'll post several comments and/or questions as part of the vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag. Although we can't post every comment or question, we will reply to every question submitted.

Click here to submit a comment or question to the Mailbag. Remember to include your name and town on the email. The questions below have been edited for clarity.

You can also send Eric a Mailbag question via Twitter.

Do you think Dan Bailey's production will go down in the coming years? And if so, who has the best odds at replacing him? There are players like Adam Vinatieri, Matt Bryant, and Phil Dawson who have been in the game longer than I've been alive. But I don't know if Dan Bailey can either play as long as those three, or keep the production he has for as long as possible. We've had our fair share of kicking mishaps, but I truly think Dan Bailey should be a part of the 53-man roster until he starts to degrade. Thanks in advance, and as always, SKOL!

— Carter from New Prague, Minnesota

Starting the week with a rare special teams question! To answer Carter's question quickly, no, I don't expect a drop off from Bailey, especially this season. Here's why: for the first time in recent memory, the Vikings have stability within their kicking operation with Bailey, Britton Colquitt and Austin Cutting all back in the fold.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings K Dan Bailey View the top photos of Vikings K Dan Bailey from the 2019 season.

Bailey's first full season in Purple was a hit, as he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors on three separate occasions. He hit 27 of 29 field goals in 2019, including 19 straight kicks to end the regular season, plus all three in the playoffs, so he was one of the league's hottest kickers down the stretch.

Bailey has been one of the league's best kickers since entering the league in 2011. He ranks sixth all-time in field goal percentage at 87.313 percent, and would be even higher if he didn't have some ups and downs in 2017 and 2018 with Dallas and Minnesota due to a nagging injury or joining a new team after the season started.

The Vikings showed their belief in Bailey, signing him to a three-year deal in March.

As you mentioned, kickers have proven to have longevity in this league, especially of late. Bailey is just 32 years old right now. If he wants to do this for the next 8-10 years, I don't see why he can't, especially if he's as productive as he was in 2019.

Now that the P.J. Hall trade fell through, what do the Vikings do at DT? Stay safe, and Skol.

— Nicholas Balkou

There's been a lot of focus on the DT group over the past two weeks, but the reality is that the group is in the same spot they were after the Michael Pierce news and before the Hall trade was rescinded because of a failed physical.

That means the group of defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, Armon Watts and Jalyn Holmes will try to win a starting spot, with the likes of Hercules Mata'afa and James Lynch providing depth in situational roles. And, as we mentioned in last week's Mailbag, Shamar Stephen could always slide to the nose tackle spot.

Vikings Workouts: August 9 View photos of Vikings players who participated in workouts at TCO Performance Center.

What I'm more intrigued by going forward is whether or not the team brings in more depth at that position. Rosters are currently capped at 80 players instead of the normal 90 for a preseason, and they'll be at 53 plus a 16-player practice squad by the start of the regular season. Bringing in a veteran would require another roster move. The team's first full practice is scheduled for Aug. 17, providing the first look at the position group in 2020.

The Vikings seem to have great leadership throughout the organization, starting with the Wilf family and continuing with the management and coaches. I am interested to know, from your unique vantage point, which players you see as up-and-coming leaders. Excluding established star players and rookies, who have not had a chance to prove anything yet, which young players on the team do you see as possible future leaders?

— Jon Lamers in San Antonio, Texas

Great question, Jon. I'll give you a handful, but really focus on two players below. To me, the group of , Ifeadi Odenigbo, Garrett Bradbury and Mike Hughes are all players that could take on bigger leadership roles this year and beyond.

But if we're looking a pair of players that immediately came to my mind, I'll go with right tackle Brian O'Neill and linebacker Eric Wilson.

O'Neill took a big leap from Year 1 to Year 2, and the expectation is that he does the same again in 2020. Aside from his strong play on the field, it seems as if O'Neill is more confident and comfortable with his role on the team, too. Here is what Vikings OC Gary Kubiak said about him last week:

"The first thing I see with him when I walked in the building this year, I see confidence," Kubiak said. "Young player last year. I see extreme confidence, knows exactly what we're doing, why we're doing it and has great ideas as a player.

Ad : (0:11) "He's a very bright player, so when guys are going to become Pro Bowlers and great players, you see them take huge steps from Year 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and you're watching that progression go with Brian," Kubiak added. "We're very happy to have Brian on our team. I think he's going to become a leader as well."

With Wilson, he sometimes gets overshadowed by Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr, but the defensive depth and special teams ability he provides is exceptional. He could grow into an even bigger role on defense if he's the starter in the base 4-3. Kendricks had plenty of praise for him last week, too.

"E-Wil is a beast, man. The guy is a mental beast. He's mentally capable of handling this game in all of its capacity," Kendricks said. "He's a physical beast. As far as the weight room, he's fast and he can hit anybody. And he has the football IQ. He does things with his instincts sometimes where he makes those reactions. He can do it all.

"And as far as special teams is concerned, he's proven himself every year," Kendricks added. "He's become a leader on this team, not by being vocal necessarily, but by doing the right things day in and day out."

The Vikings are fortunate to have proven veteran leaders all throughout the roster, but the players mentioned above could help drive the organization's success for years to come.

Hi, I am a lifelong fan who moved to Minnesota to be a season ticket holder! With the training camp cut short and no preseason games, how do you think it will impact the players' ability to showcase their talent and be able to move up from either practice squad or being a rookie, to the roster for this season? And how are the ones in charge of measuring their abilities preparing to make informed and accurate decisions? Thanks!

— Hilda Gutiérrez-Ortiz from Plymouth, Minnesota

First off, Hilda, I love your dedication to the team! I actually wrote about how the Vikings will construct the 2020 roster last week as it pertains to the unique circumstances this season.

You can find that story here, but the highlights are below:

— Extra eyes from scouts in practice

— More game-like situations/live contact in practice

— A bit of future predictions for player potential

Hope that helps with your question. How the team builds the roster for the season is a storyline I plan on following as camp unfolds.