DAILY CLIPS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Thursday, July 30, 2020

Star Tribune

Vikings are likely to stand pat at nose tackle, even with Michael Pierce's opt-out By Ben Goessling https://www.startribune.com/vikings-are-likely-to-stand-pat-at-nose-tackle-even-with-michael-pierce-s-opt- out/571950852/

Three more Vikings, including Ifeadi Odenigbo, placed on COVID list By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/three-more-vikings-including-end-ifeadi-odenigbo-placed-on-covid-list/571947652/

Pioneer Press

Vikings place Ifeadi Odenigbo, two others on COVID-19 reserve list By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/07/29/vikings-place-de-ifeadi-odenigbo-two-others-on-covid-19-reserve-list/

Confident undrafted rookie Nevelle Clarke eager to show Vikings he’s a ‘top guy’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/07/29/confident-undrafted-rookie-nevelle-clarke-eager-to-show-vikings-hes-a-top- guy/

The Athletic

Vikings Training Camp Guide — DT: Michael Pierce’s opt-out leaves a big hole By Arif Hasan https://theathletic.com/1952868/2020/07/29/vikings-training-camp-guide-dt-michael-pierces-opt-out-leaves-a-big- hole/

Skor North

Vikings place Ifeadi Odenigbo, two others, on Reserve/COVID-19 list By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/07/vikings-place-ifeadi-odenigbo-two-others-on-reserve-covid-19-list/

Purple Insider

Quantifying the loss of Michael Pierce By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/quantifying-the-loss-of-michael-pierce

NATIONAL NEWS: Thursday, July 30, 2020

ESPN

Vikings' Mike Zimmer has luxury of patience, but that's not stopping him By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/30053/vikings-mike-zimmer-has-luxury-of-patience-but-thats- not-stopping-him

Vikings put DE Ifeadi Odenigbo on COVID reserve; 7 players on list By Associated Press https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29560920/vikings-put-de-ifeadi-odenigbo-covid-reserve-7-players-list

Maven Media

Joey Bosa's Deal is a Reminder That is a Massive Bargain By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/joey-bosa-contract-reminder-danielle-hunter-bargain

Ifeadi Odenigbo, Two Other Vikings Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/ifeadi-odenigbo-smith-udoh-vikings-reserve-covid-19-list

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Thursday, July 30, 2020

Peter King on Expectations For Cousins In 2020, Loss of Diggs, Impact That Jefferson and Gladney Can Make, More By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/peter-king-on-expectations-for-cousins-in-2020-loss-of-diggs-impact-that-jeffers

Vikings Add 3 to Reserve/COVID-19 List By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=b1310e20-bece-4fbc-a118-a150fe2ebd52

Odenigbo Put on Reserve/COVID-19 List By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=e77843cd-7277-4995-b1d1-535766a52841

Pierce to Sit Out 2020 Season By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=458cf885-8cc7-475c-b807-d62ab3b37a3d

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Thursday, July 30, 2020

Minnesota Vikings Player Updates On Reserve/COVID-19 List By Vikings PR https://www.vikings.com/news/covid-19-players-reserve-opt-out-nfl-2020

Past Experiences with Adversity Prep Vikings & Zimmer for 2020 By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-zimmer-2020-nfl-past-experiences-adversity

Lunchbreak: PFF Ranks Vikings Backfield 7th Heading Into 2020 Season By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/backfield-ranked-7th-nfl-2020-season

Peter King Offers Predictions for 2020 Vikings By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-nfl-season-predictions-peter-king

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings are likely to stand pat at nose tackle, even with Michael Pierce's opt-out

By Ben Goessling

Twice in Mike Zimmer’s seven offseasons as head coach, the Vikings have opened free agency with substantive investments that indicate how vital a run-stopping nose tackle is to their plans.

They made Linval Joseph the first free agent of the Zimmer era on March 12, 2014, giving the former Giants nose tackle a five-year, $31.25 million contract that would eventually be supplanted by a five-year, $62.5 million deal in 2017.

Those two deals put Joseph in the middle of the Vikings for 93 of a possible 101 regular-season and playoff games from 2014-19.

Then, when the team decided to move on from the 31-year-old Joseph this spring — releasing him six years and a day after it signed him — it made former Ravens tackle Michael Pierce its big prize of 2020 free agency with a three- year, $27 million deal.

Pierce’s decision on Tuesday to opt out of the 2020 season, over concerns about how COVID-19 could affect him given his family’s history with asthma, came with the blessing of team doctors who understood the risks coronavirus could present to the 345-pound tackle.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Pierce was one of 31 NFL players to forgo playing this fall, according to NFL.com, with the league’s opt-out deadline still at least a week away.

The NFL’s efforts to keep the virus out of locker rooms notwithstanding, football is laden with enough risk that players have more safety considerations than ever to weigh when determining whether to play or sit out this fall.

And yet, the choices players make for their personal well-being come with cold, empirical football effects. For the Vikings, it’s this: Without Pierce, they’ll head into the fall absent a proven nose tackle for the first time in Zimmer’s tenure.

They could look to add a veteran such as Damon Harrison or Domata Peko, who played for Zimmer in Cincinnati. But on Wednesday, indications were the Vikings would stick with what they have, confident in their ability to develop a young group of linemen as they’ve done so often under Zimmer and co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson.

That route would mean opportunities for fourth-year tackle Jaleel Johnson, who posted career highs in sacks (3½), tackles (29) and tackles for loss (five) last year. The Vikings liked what they saw from at the end of the season, and new assistant defensive line coach Imarjaye Albury coached Watts at Arkansas. Shamar Stephen spent some time at nose tackle for the Seahawks in 2018, and he could do some work there if the Vikings feel good about a player like rookie James Lynch at the other spot.

But without the presence of a player like Joseph or Pierce, a spot the Vikings thought they’d solved for the 2020 season becomes another they will have to configure on the fly. They already have a new group of and a change at , barring a return from , who remains a free agent.

“I know everybody is saying how it’s big turnover and all that,” Zimmer said in a conference call to discuss his three- year contract extension on Saturday. “We have lost some guys, but I think sometimes in these situations you forget about the guys you still have: Danielle Hunter, Pro Bowler; Anthony Barr, Pro Bowler; , a Pro Bowler; Harrison Smith, a Pro Bowler. We’ve got two really good safeties. We’ve got a good defensive line. We added Michael Pierce. We’ve got a really good group of . Obviously the corners are going to be younger, and that’s our job to bring them along as fast as we can.”

The same weekend Zimmer said those words, Pierce was flying to Minnesota to let the Vikings know of his decision in person. Pierce told the Star Tribune on Tuesday he would return to Alabama and “build the best home gym I can afford,” with plans to return in 2021 provided there’s a vaccine for the coronavirus by then.

If that happens, Pierce will cost the Vikings just $5 million against their 2021 cap, returning at age 28 with the potential to resume his career as the run-stopping force the Vikings have prized during Zimmer’s and Patterson’s time together in Minnesota.

Until then, a defensive coaching staff that prides itself on two things above all others — its resourcefulness and ability to coax the most out of players — has an unexpected chance to demonstrate both. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/30/20

Three more Vikings, including end Ifeadi Odenigbo, placed on COVID list

By Andrew Krammer

Three more Vikings players, including defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, the team announced.

Odenigbo, tackle and Cameron Smith join four Vikings rookies in quarantine, where players on the COVID list are either recovering from positive tests or part of contact tracing. The NFL has mandated teams do not disclose which player is in which category.

Receiver , guard Tyler Higby, tackle and safety Brian Cole II were placed on reserve/COVID on Monday, a day after rookies were scheduled to take their final entry tests for the coronavirus. Eric Sugarman, the team’s virus czar and top trainer, remains in quarantine after announcing “mild symptoms” over the weekend after he and some family members tested positive.

Cases without symptoms allow players to return as early as five days, only after registering two negative tests. Symptomatic cases require at least 10 days before returning, including three days since the last symptoms.

Here’s a COVID-related FAQ for Vikings training camp

Once placed on the COVID list, players are not allowed to enter the building until passing the testing protocols. They also do not count against the active roster limit, so the Vikings with 79 active players are below the 80-player capacity for team facilities mandated by the league.

Vikings veterans, like Odenigbo, are scheduled to undergo three tests in four days upon reporting for camp this week, before being allowed to use team facilities as early as Saturday. Daily testing for players then continues for at least two weeks.

Entering his fourth NFL season, Odenigbo is projected to be a starter after starring in a reserve role last season. Odenigbo’s ascension comes at an opportune time for the Vikings defense, which does not include defensive end Everson Griffen (free agent).

Udoh, the second-year tackle out of Elon, and Smith, a second-year linebacker from USC, are expected to compete for depth roles. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings place Ifeadi Odenigbo, two others on COVID-19 reserve list

By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings placed three more players on the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday, including up-and-coming defensive end Ifeadi Odengibo.

Odenigbo is expected to take over as a starter this season for Everson Griffen, who is a free agent and said in March he would not re-sign with Minnesota.

Also placed on the list Wednesday were two reserves, tackle Oli Udoh and linebacker Cameron Smith. Both were rookies last season. The Vikings placed four rookies on the COVID-19 list Monday, including first-round draft pick Justin Jefferson, meaning they now have seven on the list.

This reserve list category was created for players who either test positive for coronavirus or have been been placed in quarantine for having been in contact with an infected person. NFL teams will not designate what category any player is in.

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All seven of the Vikings players have been quarantined and have not been allowed into the team’s practice facility in Eagan.

RELATED ARTICLES Confident undrafted rookie Nevelle Clarke eager to show Vikings he’s a ‘top guy’ Vikings put undrafted rookies Nevelle Clarke, Quartney Davis on non-football injury list Vikings’ Michael Pierce to opt out of 2020 season due to respiratory issues Vikings trainer tests positive for coronavirus; top draft pick Justin Jefferson among four players put on reserve list Vikings’ Mike Zimmer, 64, ‘blessed’ to get contract extension considering ‘my age’ Vikings rookies reported last Thursday and needed to have two negative coronavirus tests before being allowed into the facility. Veterans reported Tuesday and need three negative tests before being allowed in. Players are being tested daily.

A source close to Odenigbo declined to provide specifics but said “he’ll definitely be OK.” Odenigbo, who was second on the team with seven sacks last season, and Jefferson, a from LSU, are the only expected starters on the reserve list.

Other rookies put on it Monday were tackle Blake Brandel, a sixth-round draft pick, safety Brian Cole II, a seventh- round selection, and tackle Tyler Higby, who was signed as an undrafted free agent.

Wednesday’s moves drop the Vikings to 79 players on the active roster, meaning they have gotten to the allowed 80- man limit for training camp and don’t need to make any more immediate moves. The Vikings had 87 active players before the seven went on the COVID-19 list this week and nose tackle Michael Pierce went on the reserve/opt-out list.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 7/30/20

Confident undrafted rookie Nevelle Clarke eager to show Vikings he’s a ‘top guy’

By Chris Tomasson

Nevelle Clarke joined the Vikings as undrafted free agent, but he talks like a first-round pick.

The rookie is one confident guy. After starring at Central Florida, Clarke vows to stand out in training camp.

“I just can’t wait to actually hit the field and be able to show people my talents,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out there and do what I do best. This defense runs a whole lot of variety of coverages, and I excelled (in college) in those coverages, and I just feel like I’m a top guy.”

Many prognosticators expected Clarke to be picked in in April’s NFL draft. When he wasn’t, the Vikings picked him up by guaranteeing him $115,000 for this season, the most for any of the 12 undrafted free agents they signed. He got a $15,000 signing bonus and had $100,000 of his $610,000 salary guaranteed.

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Clarke reported to camp in Eagan last Thursday along with other Vikings rookies, and selected players. All other veterans reported Tuesday.

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, it will be a few weeks before the Vikings do much on the field. On Tuesday, Clarke was placed on the active/non-football injury list with what he said was an old hamstring injury. But he said that won’t keep him out of practice at the start.

“When we start practicing, then they’ll be able to see how fluid I am, and see how I can move,” said Clarke, who ranked second in the American Athletic Conference last season with 13 passes defended. “I’m going to be the best I can be, and people are going to be able to see the difference.”

The Vikings need all the help they can get at cornerback. In March, they released starter Xavier Rhodes, and starter Trae Waynes and nickel back both left as free agents. In the draft, they selected cornerbacks in the first (), third () and fifth () rounds.

As far as being a confident guy, Clarke said some of that stems to being from Florida, a hotbed for football.

“If you’re from Florida, we’re football breeders down there,” the Miami native said. “So, you know, that confidence thing is just something that we’re born with, and that’s just something that as you go on you build on that. And ever since I’ve played corner, every year, every day I’m able to work on it, I get confident even more.”

While confident as a player, Clarke has been restrained in the rest of his life the past four or five months. Being in South Florida during the coronavirus pandemic, he worked out every other day with a trainer, but other than that, he rarely ventured out of his house.

“I’m more scared about the COVID-19 than a lot of people,” he said. “I’m scared to even come close to those gatherings. I know not even to play around with it, and I didn’t want to come close to catching the virus or being around anybody who did. I took that very serious when it came to staying away from people. If I wasn’t working out, I was home all day.”

Clarke arrived in Minnesota on July 22. Like other players, he has been tested regularly for the coronavirus, and all his tests so far have been negative.

He doesn’t deny having some apprehension about camp getting underway during the pandemic, but he’s hopeful the Vikings will make things as safe as possible.

RELATED ARTICLES Vikings place Ifeadi Odenigbo, two others on COVID-19 reserve list Vikings put undrafted rookies Nevelle Clarke, Quartney Davis on non-football injury list Vikings’ Michael Pierce to opt out of 2020 season due to respiratory issues Vikings trainer tests positive for coronavirus; top draft pick Justin Jefferson among four players put on reserve list Vikings’ Mike Zimmer, 64, ‘blessed’ to get contract extension considering ‘my age’ “I’m still skeptical about it, but if they feel they have the best possible way for us to social distance and not get the virus, I’m going to put my trust in them,” Clarke said. “So far, it’s been going pretty good. They’ve got us testing every day.

“We have our own (hotel) rooms and we’re pretty spread out. So, I mean, I really stay away from my teammates. I know they’re my teammates, but at some point we’ll be able to talk with each other and be closer.”

Clarke figures he will have plenty of time to get to know his teammates. Not surprisingly, he anticipates making the 53-man roster when it is set Sept. 5 to start the season.

“I feel very confident about coming in and making the roster,” he said. “I feel I’m part of the organization, and I’m just there to stamp it, to make it official.” PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings Training Camp Guide — DT: Michael Pierce’s opt-out leaves a big hole

By Arif Hasan

(Editor’s note: This is part of a series of position-by-position articles breaking down every non-specialist player on the Vikings roster as training camp begins. We’ve already covered the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line and defensive line. Next up, the defensive tackles. Still to come: Linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.)

An already uncertain defensive tackle picture got cloudier Tuesday when Michael Pierce reportedly opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Pierce, who has respiratory concerns and is considered high-risk, came over this offseason after four years with the Ravens and was the Vikings’ only big free-agent signing, slated to replace the departing Linval Joseph.

With longtime stalwart Joseph gone to the Los Angeles Chargers and now Pierce’s decision, that leaves Shamar Stephen as the most experienced member — pending another signing to replace Pierce — of a group that features several backups and rookies now vying for even more opportunity on a transitioning defensive line.

The interior defensive line has long been in the shadow of the ends in the Mike Zimmer era, without substantial star power to match the edge rushers bookending them. But the relative anonymity of the nose tackle position and constant rotation at the pass-rushing three-technique position belies the fact that Zimmer values production there, and it could be the key to a 2020 defense with a retooled secondary needing support.

Now faced with the certainty of replacing one of those positions and the possibility of replacing the other if they want something different out of Stephen’s role, the Vikings will have to prove that they can find consistent, useful talent at the position — despite a list of names that will look unfamiliar to all but the most hardcore NFL geeks.

Shamar Stephen (Jeffrey Becker / USA Today) Shamar Stephen Last year’s starter at three-technique for much of the year, Stephen played much more like a nose tackle — which is what he started out as for the Vikings when they drafted him in the seventh round in 2014 and what he might now be headed back to after Pierce’s decision. Playing as a backup to Joseph, he later came back to play next to him. Always a hybrid, he played three-technique in college and finally reprised that role — to the tune of six total pressures over the course of the year. While he did help clear up space for linebackers in the run game, the Vikings will very likely want to see some pressure production from this position going forward, whether it comes from him or someone else.

MIN - DTShamar Stephen SIXTH YEAR WITH VIKINGS AGE 29

HT 6-5

WT 309

YRS 7

Strengths: Positional versatility allows him to fill either defensive tackle role in case of injury. Good understanding of run/pass reads from the . Holds double-teams well from either position and prevents guards from hitting the second level on time. Good anchor generally prevents getting pushed back or create new lines. Remarkable strength for his size. Power rusher that can push pockets when his hands get inside the chest. Does a good job shedding on the backside of plays to prevent cutbacks. Balance is an asset; doesn’t end up on the ground too often.

Weaknesses: Extremely limited production as a pass-rusher. Doesn’t have the get-off from the to effectively penetrate the backfield from first step. Quickness doesn’t let him attack the shoulder of guards or centers to get inside and flexibility is limited. Smaller arsenal of pass-rushing moves and unintuitive with countermoves and setups. Needs to hit punch with timing to have an impact or he gets washed out. Limited tackle radius without much in the way of pursuit or finishing burst. Holds double teams but doesn’t effectively split them. At nose tackle, will occasionally lose anchor and get overwhelmed — if he’s not winning in the first second of the snap, he’s liable to create new rush lanes.

Armon Watts (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Armon Watts After a surprisingly successful season as a backup nose tackle, Arkansas hybrid defensive tackle Watts might be set up to be the starting three-technique for the Vikings, where he did the most damage as a Razorback. Despite his one-hit wonder status in college, he’s already beginning to look like a reliable piece of the Vikings roster that might even be a valuable contributor as a starter. The next question is whether or not he can play a different defensive tackle position and if he provides plus value there. If not, there seems to be room for him to compete for the starting nose tackle job.

MIN - NTArmon Watts SECOND YEAR WITH VIKINGS AGE 24

HT 6-5

WT 295

YRS 2

Strengths: Plays a lot like a defensive end as a pass-rusher — seeks the edge, plays with flexibility and some speed- rush moves. Good focus on hand-fighting and plays that part of the game with efficiency and intelligence. Demonstrates a surprising variety of pass-rush moves, including rips, swims and spins. Length is an asset here and generates additional leverage. Extremely effective as a nose tackle despite playing three-technique in college and playing underweight. Decent read/react to run/pass developments in the play — an issue he had in college but seemingly resolved now. Can play with an excellent first step and generally has great explosiveness. Can maintain a high level of burst and finishes well. Good combination of athletic traits, from explosiveness to agility to strength. Splits double teams as a nose tackle.

Weaknesses: Length can be a double-edged sword; extremely tall for a defensive tackle and can struggle to maintain leverage and get underneath guards. Was late to react to the snap in 2019, though that wasn’t a big issue in college — mitigated his first step, as did his wider stance to accommodate his height. Significant problems getting to the lane against wide zone; linemen beat him to the edge and gain pivot leverage. Falls significantly far behind if he doesn’t anticipate the play. Much better as a pro-active player than reactive but put himself in a position to react much more often. Also better attacking the runner than sitting anchor against double teams to clean things up for linebackers. Played well at nose in 2019 but might be more suited to three-technique where height and weight aren’t as big of a concern — but athleticism may not translate there as easily as it did at nose tackle, where he outpaced his peers.

Jaleel Johnson (Steven Bisig / USA Today) Jaleel Johnson Fitting the Vikings pattern of players playing different positions than they did in college, Johnson arrived in Minnesota having played the pass-rushing under-tackle position at Iowa. His time in Minnesota seems to have placed him at nose tackle, however, and he might be falling behind Watts in that respect. There’s value to having Johnson on the roster, but it’s also easy to see how this could be his last year on the team, what with the significant number of bodies meant to compete for his job. The potential saving grace for Johnson is that he’s now, unambiguously, the largest defensive tackle on the roster and could play the vacated nose tackle position in a way that hybrid players like Watts and Stephen can’t.

MIN - NTJaleel Johnson FOURTH YEAR WITH VIKINGS AGE 26

HT 6-3

WT 316

YRS 4

Strengths: Surprising ability to get skinny, especially to split double teams. Great balance; doesn’t appear on the ground too often. Good sustain and anchor when stuffing the run against double teams — doesn’t lose ground. Has done significantly more to master technical and mental side of the game — does a great job recognizing run/pass keys and adjusting appropriately. Technical ability allows him to generate leverage from the first step, and his hand timing and placement are at a high level. Significant strength, both upper- and lower-body.

Weaknesses: Most recent run of significant snaps (2018) saw him at the bottom in production metrics, including pressure rate as a pass-rusher and run stop rate. Limited as an athlete — reliant on first step but doesn’t have significant closing ability, flexibility or agility to get around the edge of guards. Has difficulty beating offensive linemen to landmarks on wide zone. Exacerbated issues with snap timing — doesn’t react well or anticipate the beginning of the play. Limited athletic capability means limited tackle radius.

Jalyn Holmes (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Holmes has had a few years to complete his transformation to full-time defensive tackle, but he hasn’t done enough to impress the Vikings as a long-term solution at the position — and Holmes is in an unusual spot where he seems just as likely to win the starting job as he is to miss the cut for the final 53. He might have a bit of an advantage without a preseason given that the Vikings know what they have in him, but he’ll still need to prove he can do more than the new set of tackles the Vikings have brought in.

MIN - DTJalyn Holmes THIRD YEAR WITH VIKINGS AGE 24

HT 6-5

WT 283

YRS 3

Strengths: Like Watts, Stephen and James Lynch, has a lot of length to work with. Also has an impressive wingspan to complement his height. Has a good history of using his length well, especially when out-levering on swim moves. Good balance and can recover from awkward angles. Has done a good job distinguishing run/pass keys. Ability to hit the shoulders and slither through gaps can be stunning. Played some edge rusher against Chicago and looked fairly good there — especially with hand placement and using length to create distance and disengaging. Ability to flex outside hasn’t been hurt by his transition and could provide shadow depth at the position. Can hit the outside of wide zone runs and meets landmarks.

Weaknesses: Extremely poor production when he saw the field, and the Vikings didn’t see fit to give him those opportunities over other lacking options in the first place — half his snaps were in the Week 17 game against Chicago. Strength doesn’t match other defensive tackles — while he can power through offensive tackles, guards in tight spaces give him more fits, especially when his upper-body strength is challenged. Lower body strength also an issue — decent get-off but not much sustain against base blocks in the run game. Doesn’t balance the advantages of length with the disadvantages of height, especially with regard to leverage off the snap; pops up too high and gets pushed off the ball. Tackle radius generally good but can miss tackles in short spaces.

James Lynch (Jerome Miron / USA Today) James Lynch An incredibly productive edge rusher for Baylor, Lynch was originally listed as a defensive tackle recruit — the role he’ll end up playing for the Vikings. As the premier edge defender for Baylor, he led the FBS in pressures by a substantial margin and posted one of the most impressive production profiles we’ve seen at the position. Now the Vikings are asking him to take that and switch positions, somewhat a product of his playing style and somewhat a product of his frame, generally regarded as not ideal for the edge position in the NFL. If he can take what made him so successful in the Big 12 into the NFL, he’ll be a fantastic pick out of the fourth round.

MIN - DTJames Lynch FOURTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK AGE 21

HT 6-4

WT 289

YRS 0

Strengths: Great instincts for run/pass keys; doesn’t get fooled by play-action and reacts to plays instantly. Great flexibility for his size. Extremely physical player; combines play awareness with toughness to effectively set the edge — forces runs to bounce inside. Complements physicality with strength — upper-body strength good enough to push players into rush lanes and powerful punch allows him to win hand-fighting battles. Great bull-rusher, somewhat reminiscent of Odenigbo. Good use of hands at the point of attack and a variety of pass-rush moves. Does a good job controlling offensive linemen’s hands. Good instinct for batting passes; often turns dead pass-rushes into opportunities to get hands on the ball. Aced Vikings psychological tests for defensive tackles. Age (turns 22 in January) is an asset.

Weaknesses: Position transitions are always a concern and his production dropped off tremendously when rushing from the inside, especially on third-down plays. An extremely high rate of missed or broken tackles — while he does an excellent job getting to the ball-carrier, missing those tackles is a concern. Limited tackle radius wasn’t an enormous issue in college but did appear from time to time, and projects to be a much bigger problem in the NFL. Explosion and acceleration are both concerns. Doesn’t fire off the snap and can lose the timing battle. Won’t beat athletic tackles to the edge and speed concerns force him to play as a finesse or power rusher. Speed not as big an issue inside but will still impact pursuit and ability to get to zone run landmarks. Will get pushed off the ball on the inside against double teams.

Hercules Mata'afa (Dan Powers / USA Today Network-Wisconsin via USA Today) Hercules Mata’afa After some off-hand praise for Mata’afa from Zimmer early last offseason, the hype train seemingly took off for the undersized tackle once tabbed as a potential linebacker for the Vikings. His college capability and production were too much to ignore, and the Vikings let the former Washington State defensive tackle add weight and reprise his college role. His brief appearance in the NFL wasn’t spectacular, however, and now he’ll have to prove — without a preseason — that he can earn the job outright against equally uncertain competition.

MIN - DTHercules Mata'afa THIRD YEAR WITH VIKINGS AGE 24

HT 6-2

WT 254

YRS 3

Strengths: Extremely high motor; doesn’t quit on plays and engages in long pursuit on a regular basis. Extremely quick off the snap and great attack speed. Active hands, consistently finding ways to keep the pass rush going. Good arsenal of pass-rush moves, including swim, chop, dip/rips and more. Fantastic balance, difficult to put on the ground. Generally good leverage, can find his way under pads consistently. Breaks down run/pass reads well.

Weaknesses: Blown off the ball in the run game on a consistent basis — overwhelmed at the point of attack. Doesn’t have power moves in his arsenal at the moment. Can’t push players into the pocket if he doesn’t have a pass-rush angle. Won’t squeeze run lanes. Poor bend; attacking half-shoulders doesn’t always result in space — needs to win the entire angle before threatening the . Poor timing — doesn’t always hit the jersey or hands as a result. Length concerns magnify timing issues, and he can lunge too far forward, robbing him of power. Doesn’t have a response to longer guards who get in his chest. Added size in offseason, but unclear what impact this will have on his best assets, like quickness, or whether it will genuinely add strength — which is below an NFL baseline level and likely why he didn’t get many snaps after Week 1.

David Moa (Brian Losness / USA Today) David Moa Moa, a former Boise State defensive tackle with six years of college under his belt, will be another longshot defensive tackle aiming for the three-technique spot, really crowding the available bodies at the position. Listed at 300 pounds, he played a lot of his career at 249 pounds and reported an informal weigh-in of 293 pounds in the pre-draft process. With his relatively advanced age, injury concerns and unusual college playing weight, Moa has a large hill to climb to make the team.

MIN - DTDavid Moa UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT AGE 24

HT 6-3

WT 296

YRS 0

Strengths: Comfortable splitting double teams. Great ability to get skinny and get between offensive linemen. Good quickness, especially with fast and violent hands. Tends to land punch first. Good disengage when latched on to, product of technical skill and great upper body strength for his size. Torques well. Variety of pass-rush moves — uses dip-and-rip, swims, spins, chops and more. Very comfortable on twists and stunts — good lateral agility to cross gaps and attack other lanes. Experience in every gap. Good balance, hard to put on the ground. Consistently plays low and wins the leverage game.

Weaknesses: Moved really easily out of his lane in the run game, against single- and double-teams. Lower-body strength doesn’t quite match upper-body strength. Has some difficulty recognizing screens and play-action — late to react. Pass-rush can be too deliberate at times, especially counters — doesn’t tend to win his second move. Not much flexibility or bend to slip under or around offensive linemen. Length is lacking and problem shows up both in limited tackle radius and inability to generate more leverage with pass-rush moves. Limited athleticism aside from lateral agility; not much burst or pursuit speed. Age is a significant concern; turned 25 in June — was enrolled for six years after NCAA granted him a medical redshirt for missing most of the 2018 season. That Achilles injury could linger and remains a concern — already a product of reinjury after repair in January 2018. Never repeated astounding 2016 performance (10.5 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections). Remains to be seen if he can maintain physical capabilities at a much higher weight. PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings place Ifeadi Odenigbo, two others, on Reserve/COVID-19 list

By Judd Zulgad

Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, meaning seven players from the team are on the list.

Odenigbo was third on the Vikings with seven sacks last season and is expected to replace Everson Griffen as the team’s starting right end. The Vikings also put second-year linebacker Cameron Smith and second-year offensive tackle Oli Udoh on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The Vikings’ veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday.

The three players join four rookies who also are on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, including first-round wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The others are tackle Blake Brandel, safety Brian Cole II and offensive lineman Tyler Higby.

The Vikings, and other NFL teams, aren’t saying whether players placed on the list actually have COVID-19 or have been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player is in one of these categories, their team is is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 7/30/20

Quantifying the loss of Michael Pierce

By Matthew Coller

Nose tackle is one of those positions that football people love to talk about because there isn’t an easy statistic to quantify their impact.

They don’t pick up tons of tackles or sacks and Pro Football Focus grades can tell us about their individual performance but grades alone do not give us the entire picture. There is a domino effect when a giant man in the middle plugs up offensive linemen to create gaps.

“When you have a big nose tackle or inside defender they are really a wild card,” Minnesota native and former NFL offensive lineman Ryan Harris said on the Purple Insider Podcast. “Their penetration ruins zone runs and gap schemes and if you stunt them at all they can cover three gaps depending on if they guess right. Mike Tomlin always said if he was building a defense I want a big nose tackle up front.”

But if we can’t easily put a number on the nose tackle’s value, how can we figure out what type of blow the took on Tuesday when Michael Pierce opted out of the 2020 season because of health concerns?

We can start by looking at what type of role Pierce was expected to play with the Vikings.

While he is replacing Linval Joseph, the former Raven is not exactly like Linval Joseph. The former Vikings Pro Bowler had a different size, using his height (6-foot-4) and length to go along with his power and stunning quickness in his prime years. He could rush the passer effectively and chase down running backs on screen passes or track runners all the way out of bounds on outside runs.

Because of that extra gear, Joseph’s role during his best seasons was more robust than what was expected for Pierce. Joseph played more than 650 snaps in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2017 Joseph graded by PFF as the fifth best run stuffer and 10th best pass rusher among all defensive tackles. Only Kawaan Short from Carolina achieved top-10 grades in both in 2017.

On a per snap basis, Joseph was impacting the game in some way or another on a consistent basis. He either registered a tackle or QB pressure on 12% of his snaps in 2017. Other defensive tackles in the same range include Jurrell Casey (12%), Akiem Hicks (10%), Kenny Clark (10%), DeForest Buckner (11%) — you get the picture.

We wouldn’t have expected Pierce to play as much as Joseph, especially in third down situations. He did not clear 600 snaps in any of his four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and ranked 32nd, 19th and 37th among DTs in pass rush grade.

Stylistically speaking, he’s much more of a fire hydrant than Joseph at 6-foot, 340?-pounds. But in the snaps he was given, Pierce’s involvement in plays was not far behind. He had a tackle or pressure on 10% of plays over the last three seasons. In 2017 he totaled the fourth most run stops of any DT.

Replacing the sheer amount of plays made from the nose tackle position will be tough. Jaleel Johnson, who filled in for Joseph last season, picked up a tackle or pressure on just 7% of his 408 snaps. Shamar Stephen had a similar playmaking rate in 2016 when he briefly took over for Joseph and only made 22 plays in 580 snaps at three technique last year. Both are viable options but neither is likely to move the needle.

In a small sample of only 121 snaps, Armon Watts had 12 combined pressures or tackles, putting him at least in the ballpark. Watts played almost exclusively nose tackle in Week 17 and was PFF’s highest graded Vikings defender. He isn’t large enough to stuff the run in the same way as someone like Pierce but his quickness and bevy of pass rush moves were on display against Chicago’s starters.

If the Vikings elect to bring in a free agent defensive tackle, the options are mostly underwhelming. Brandon Mebane and Akeem Spence both ranked in the bottom five in the league by PFF grades, Marcell Dareus was 87th of 125, Damon Harrison struggled last year ranking 84th and Domata Peko was 98th.

Dareus and Harrison have both been dominating forces in the past but those days may be past them. Taking a flier on either one would have the highest potential ceiling but there is also a good chance neither returns to their best days.

Quantifying the team impact that was expected from Pierce is more challenging. Since 2017 the Vikings rank eighth and Ravens seventh in yards per rushing attempt against and both rank in the top 10 in yards per play allowed on first down and second/third respectively in first down percentage allowed on first down.

No team stat is going to tell us everything about an individual, especially when both teams have been stacked on defense recently, but both Joseph and Pierce’s biggest contributions come on first down.

If the Vikings lose that advantage, it opens the door to more second-and-short or medium opportunities for opponents to either run the ball for first downs or use play-action.

Figuring out how players make those around them is difficult but the Vikings have ranked as a top five tackling team every year except 2016 under Zimmer. Tackling becomes easier for linebackers and safeties when they aren’t often in space against running backs.

With all that said, Pro Football Focus has started releasing some of their Wins Above Replacement data and defensive tackle does not have the same connection to winning as cornerback or safety. Over the last three seasons, PFF credits Pierce and Joseph both with 0.28 WAR. Cornerback Trae Waynes, in comparison, was worth 0.62 WAR since 2017 — and he is only considered a league average player.

The truth is probably somewhere between coaches’ love for nose tackles and the data. The Vikings’ 2020 defense will not be decided by Pierce’s absence. It will be determined more so on the performance of the three young starting cornerbacks and whether the D-line can create pressure in big situations with rotational players like rookie James Lynch or Jalyn Holmes or Hercules Mata’afa etc. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings' Mike Zimmer has luxury of patience, but that's not stopping him

By Courtney Cronin

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer's contract extension took longer to get finalized than he anticipated. Though there wasn't ever a point when he thought an agreement wouldn't be reached, as the start of training camp grew closer, Zimmer was getting antsy.

It's a similar sentiment with how he feels about the 2020 NFL season amid a time of uncertainty with new challenges at every turn.

Days after Zimmer signed his extension, the Vikings were hit with a major COVID-19 curveball. Head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, who is also the team's infection control officer, tested positive for the virus, and four rookies, including first-round receiver Justin Jefferson, were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On the day veterans reported to camp, nose tackle Michael Pierce, the Vikings' biggest free-agent acquisition of the offseason who was set to replace Linval Joseph, opted out of the 2020 season due to respiratory concerns.

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And while did show up for training camp after threatening a hold out, his contract situation is far from resolved.

These incidents seem par for the course for the calamity Zimmer has dealt with during his time in Minnesota, including losing two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries, rotating through five offensive coordinators since 2016 and undergoing eight eye surgeries after his retina detached almost four years ago.

Zimmer, who has a 57-38-1 record, has learned how to navigate challenging times while keeping his team on the winning edge. But the difficulties posed in a season threatened by a global pandemic might be unlike anything he has ever faced.

The three-year contract extension that keeps Zimmer in Minnesota through the 2023 season -- one year after quarterback ' deal is set to expire -- was one he felt compelled to push for. Zimmer, 64, has never been fired in his 41-year coaching career, but he has said it has always been in the back of his mind.

"When we started talking about negotiations we felt like that was very, very important to me, partly because of my age," Zimmer said. "If I go one more year [after the 2021 season] I'll be 66 or something. My chance of being a head coach somewhere else would probably be not as good, so I wanted to be here with the Vikings. I wanted to be here with the group that we've put together, the front office, the coaches and the players, so that was important to me that we were able to do that."

A new contract extension will keep coach Mike Zimmer in Minnesota through the 2023 season. Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports Zimmer's extension is also important for the health of the franchise. With so much roster turnover, particularly on defense, and a 15-player draft class with many who will have to make an expedited jump from college to the NFL and play meaningful snaps right away, another one-year extension wasn't going to cut it.

Zimmer was given a luxury rare for coaches: time.

He has the opportunity to make this season about player development and see the adjustments he wants to make while focusing on growing his team amid a roster revamp. But Zimmer doesn't have time to worry about having time.

"I'm not very patient," Zimmer said. "I don't know if we're going to worry about that too much. We're going to get these guys ready to go very, very fast. Patience probably isn't my best virtue."

Though Minnesota has the pieces in place to contend for an NFC North title this season and keep its status among the conference's heavyweights, the team has been constructed for the future. Outside expectations for 2020 can be tapered for several reasons. In 2021, after a year of reworking his defensive line and cornerback units along with the offensive line, expectations for the Vikings should take off.

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In a 2020 season that will require patience, Zimmer doesn't have much to go around.

"It's obviously going to be a different offseason, different season, different practice, but it's a different world, too," Zimmer said. "Trying to come up with some innovative ways, how we can incorporate within the rules the things that we can do and still maintain a healthy environment for our players, and our coaches, I think is the most important thing. Trying to figure out what's the best way to take advantage of the rules and be successful on the field, at the same time still staying safe."

But throughout his career, very little has fallen into that category for Zimmer. The notion of being comfortable while being uncomfortable is one he knows well, and it has allowed him to thrive over his first six years in Minnesota.

This season isn't about conceding anything for Zimmer. If anything, the extension he received just reenergized him to push his foot down even harder on the gas. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 7/30/20

Vikings put DE Ifeadi Odenigbo on COVID reserve; 7 players on list

By Associated Press

The Minnesota Vikings put three more players, including defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, on their reserve list for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Linebacker Cameron Smith and offensive tackle Oli Udoh were also placed on COVID-19 reserve, bringing the team's total on the list to seven players. Smith and Udoh were 2019 draft picks. Odenigbo is in line to take over as a starter, with the departure of 10-year veteran Everson Griffen.

The reserve list was created by the NFL for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. Clubs are not permitted to disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/30/20

Joey Bosa's Deal is a Reminder That Danielle Hunter is a Massive Bargain

By Will Ragatz

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Chargers signed defensive end Joey Bosa to a five-year, $135 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. The massive deal comes two weeks after Browns defensive end Myles Garrett signed an extension for $125 million over five years, and continues a trend of marquee edge rushers breaking the bank.

Bosa and Garrett are now two of seven edge rushers in the league with deals worth over $100 million in total. DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark signed their massive extensions last offseason, joining Khalil Mack (2018), Von Miller (2016), and J.J. Watt (2014). Defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox are also above the $100 million threshold.

In that context, it's becoming more and more clear that Vikings star Danielle Hunter is one of the biggest bargains in the entire NFL. Back in the 2018 offseason, the Vikings signed a then-23-year-old Hunter to a five-year, $72 million deal that keeps him with the franchise through the 2023 season.

All Hunter has done over the two seasons since inking that extension is put up back to back seasons with 14.5 sacks, make two Pro Bowls, and generally establish himself as one of the most physically dominant edge rushers in the league. Still just 25, the former third-round pick out of LSU became the youngest player in the history of the NFL to reach 50 career sacks.

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Arif Hasan of The Athletic provided a great summary of Hunter's dominance and production over the past two seasons in a recent article:

Among the 50 players with the most sacks over the past two years, Hunter ranks first in tackles, second in pressures (per Pro Football Focus), second in tackles-for-loss, third in quarterback hits, third in sacks (and sacks per game) and fifth in pressure rate. Take Aaron Donald out of the equation and Hunter moves up in each category — meaning that there have been virtually no edge rushers that have rivaled Hunter’s overall production in the past two years despite the fact that he hasn’t hit his prime yet.

Hunter trails only in sacks among edge rushers over the past two years, and is also an outstanding run defender. He's an athletic freak of nature who has continued to advance his game every year under the tutelage of defensive line coach Andre Patterson.

And yet, the $14.4 million average annual value of his current contract ranks 21st among NFL edge rushers. Bosa's $27 million AAV is nearly double that, and the Chargers star has just 17 sacks over the past two years (albeit in only 23 games). Other edge rushers with higher AAVs than Hunter include Dante Fowler, Melvin Ingram, and Arik Armstead, as well as franchise-tagged players like Bud Dupree, Leonard Williams, and Matt Judon.

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Hunter will be an especially big bargain for the Vikings in 2020. After restructuring his deal this offseason to help the team create cap space, his cap hit for this season is just $9 million. That ranks 33rd among all edge rushers. Hunter's cap hit will grow to $17.75 million for 2021 and $17 million for 2022, but even that will be phenomenal value for the Vikings if he continues to produce at a similar level.

Still just 25 years old, Hunter has plenty of prime years ahead of him, which is a scary thought for the rest of the NFL. And in a time where teams are handing out $25-27 million a year to players like Garrett and Bosa, the Vikings should feel very fortunate to have one of the league's best pass rushers on a very team-friendly contract.

Signing Hunter to that $72 million extension back in 2018 is looking like a savvier more from Rick Spielman every day. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/30/20

Ifeadi Odenigbo, Two Other Vikings Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List

By Will Ragatz

Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, linebacker Cameron Smith, and offensive tackle Oli Udoh have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the Vikings announced Wednesday afternoon. That makes seven total players on the newly- created list after rookies Justin Jefferson, Blake Brandel, Brian Cole II, and Tyler Higby were added last week.

Rookies reported to TCO Performance Center to begin COVID-19 testing last Thursday, and veterans joined them on Tuesday. It's not surprising that several more players have been placed on the list after veterans reported to camp, but it's worth reiterating that this doesn't mean any or all of those players have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Here's a reminder of the official explanation from the Vikings:

This new reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL- NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on player's medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

The Vikings aren't permitted to disclose whether a player has tested positive or been exposed to someone who has.

Odenigbo is expected to take over Everson Griffen's starting job in 2020, though we can't entirely rule out Griffen – who still is without a team – returning in free agency. Smith will compete to make the roster as the fourth or fifth linebacker, and Udoh seems like a lock to make the team as a backup tackle who could potentially move to guard.

The Vikings' active camp roster was at 87 prior to players reporting last week. With seven players currently on the COVID-19 list and Michael Pierce on the opt-out reserve list, the roster is currently at just 79 players. UDFA rookies Quartney Davis and Nevelle Clarke were recently added to the Non-Football Injury list, but they still count towards the active roster.

All of that is important to note because rosters are expected to be trimmed down to 80 once practices start. The Vikings won't need to cut players until everyone on an inactive list gets healthy or is otherwise cleared to return. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/30/20

Minnesota Vikings Player Updates On Reserve/COVID-19 List

By Vikings PR

The Minnesota Vikings have announced the following roster moves:

JULY 29 PLACED ON RESERVE/COVID-19:

NO...... PLAYER...... POS.... EXP...... COLLEGE

95...... Ifeadi Odenigbo... DE...... 3...... Northwestern

59...... Cameron Smith.... LB...... 2.. Southern California

74...... Oli Udoh...... T...... 2...... Elon

JULY 28 PLACED ON RESERVE/OPT-OUT:

NO...... PLAYER...... POS..... EXP...... COLLEGE

98……Michael Pierce.... DT...... 5...... Samford

JULY 28 PLACED ON ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY:

NO...... PLAYER...... POS.... EXP...... COLLEGE

34……Nevelle Clarke..... CB...... R...... UCF

14……Quartney Davis... WR...... R.... Texas A&M

JULY 27 PLACED ON RESERVE/COVID-19:

NO. PLAYER POS. COLLEGE

64…..Blake Brandel...... T...... Oregon State

39…..Brian Cole II...... S...... Mississippi State

62…..Tyler Higby...... OL...... Michigan State

18…..Justin Jefferson.... WR...... LSU

This new reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL- NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on player's medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/30/20

Past Experiences with Adversity Prep Vikings & Zimmer for 2020

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – "Adversity" seems to be a consistent word in Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's vocabulary.

It would be unrealistic to say that the Vikings are explicitly unique in the number of hurdles they've faced in recent years, but it does seem that curveball after curveball has been pitched at the organization since Zimmer took the helm in 2014.

Heading into 2020, of course, Zimmer and the Vikings – along with 31 other teams – are faced with navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of proceeding with a regular (but certainly not normal) season.

Zimmer spoke with media members after signing a three-year extension with Minnesota and was asked how he'll manage such a difficult circumstance.

"Probably the way I deal with everything else," said Zimmer, who proceeded to list a number of the challenges he's encountered during his tenure.

Ad : (0:09) In 2014 during his first season as a head coach, he weathered the suspension of star running back Adrian Peterson.

Just before the start of the 2016 season, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury, after which the Vikings made a last-minute, blockbuster trade for Sam Bradford, who made his first start in Week 2 during Minnesota's inaugural game at U.S. Bank Stadium (unmentioned by Zimmer, but of note, Peterson suffered a torn meniscus in that game).

In November 2016, Norv Turner resigned as the Vikings offensive coordinator. That same month, Zimmer suffered a torn retina in his right eye and underwent multiple eye surgeries, including an emergency procedure that sidelined him for the Vikings Thursday Night Football game against Dallas on Dec. 1.

In 2017, Bradford battled a nagging, season-long injury. Although worth noting, of course, is that Case Keenum filled in admirably and helped lead Minnesota to the NFC Championship game. After a 2-2 start during which phenom Dalvin Cook was lost for the season, the Vikings rallied with eight wins in a row and 11 of 12 to finish the regular season.

In July of 2018, the Vikings mourned the tragic and sudden death of offensive line coach Tony Sparano, a longtime friend and colleague of Zimmer's.

That September, veteran defensive end Everson Griffen spent five weeks away from the team to work through a personal matter.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer in Photos View photos of Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer who signed a 3-year contract extension with the team.

So ask Zimmer about a global pandemic, and while he's absolutely taking the situation seriously, he isn't making excuses for himself or his team.

Zimmer acknowledged the "different offseason, different season and different practice" scenarios NFL teams are working through right now. He reminded, "It's a different world, too.," and emphasized the importance of adapting and rolling with the punches, like he's done throughout his career.

"Trying to come up with some innovative ways, how we can incorporate within the rules the things that we can do and still maintain a healthy environment for our players and our coaches, I think is the most important thing," Zimmer said. "Trying to figure out what's the best way to take advantage of the rules and be successful on the field, and at the same time still staying safe.

"We don't want any of our players to get this, or any of our coaches, or really anybody," he added.

Veteran Players Arrive to Training Camp View photos of Vikings veteran players returning to TCO Performance Center to kick off 2020 training camp.

Zimmer has led the Vikings through every unexpected plot twist, and he will continue to do so with the same resolve fans have come to recognize and appreciate.

"There's so many things that happen that kind of callous you to whatever [comes along]," Zimmer said. "Like Coach [Bill] Parcells says all the time, 'They're not going to cancel the game, so you've got to go out and figure out how to win it.' That's kind of what we have to do.

"All these things that have happened over the six years I've been here … you just have to keep your head down and go," Zimmer added. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/30/20

Lunchbreak: PFF Ranks Vikings Backfield 7th Heading Into 2020 Season

By Eric Smith

The Vikings finished sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game in 2019, averaging 133.3 yards each week on the ground.

That's a similar ranking to where Pro Football Focus has Minnesota's backfield heading into the 2020 season, as the analytics website recently slotted the Vikings at No. 7 on that list.

PFF writer Steve Palazzolo noted that the group, led by running back Dalvin Cook, should be among the league's most productive units again this season.

Palazzolo wrote:

Last season, Dalvin Cook showed what he's capable of when healthy, generating an 83.5 rushing grade that ranked fourth in the league during the regular season. He has one of the league's best combinations of power and burst, evident in his 4.5 yards per carry average over three years in the league. Cook is effective in the pass game, too, ranking second among running backs in screen yards in 2019. However, his eight drops and two fumbles marred his receiving grade for the year.

When healthy, Cook is right there with the top runners in the league. Behind him, 2019 third-rounder posted a 69.2 rushing grade and 4.6 yards per carry, while preseason sensation Mike Boone got into the action with 5.6 yards per carry on 49 attempts. The trio returns to give the Vikings one of the NFL's better backfields in 2020, led by Cook's big-play potential.

Cook rushed for a career-best 1,135 yards and scored 13 in 2019, adding 53 receptions and 519 yards in the passing game on the way to his first Pro Bowl. Cook also made his first appearance on NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2020 list and landed at No. 21 overall.

Mattison was a 2019 third-round pick out of Boise State who showed plenty of flashes in his rookie year. He rushed for 462 yards and a score, hurdling over multiple defenders along the way.

Boone ran for 273 yards in his second season, 148 of which came in the season finale against Chicago when Minnesota rested the majority of its starters. He also had a pair of rushing touchdowns in Week 15 against the Chargers when Cook and Mattison left the game with injuries.

And while he wasn't mentioned by Palazzolo, Vikings fullback C.J. Ham is also a key piece of the Vikings backfield. The Minnesota native cleared defenders out of the way on the way to his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2019.

Veteran Players Arrive to Training Camp View photos of Vikings veteran players returning to TCO Performance Center to kick off 2020 training camp.

ESPN's Cronin offers 'bold prediction' for training camp

Verizon Vikings Training Camp is ramping up, as players have reported to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center for the first time since mid-January.

And while things may look a little bit different on and off the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a semblance of football will take shape soon.

That means roster battles and position breakdowns as players work to make the 53-man roster.

ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin recently offered a "bold prediction" for camp, and opined that she believes the team will add depth to its cornerback unit by signing Logan Ryan.

Ryan, who has spent the last seven seasons with New England and Tennessee, is currently a free agent.

Cronin wrote:

Minnesota needs a veteran presence among its crop of young defensive backs given the current most-experienced corner is Mike Hughes, who has played in a total of 20 games over the first two years of his career. Ryan will play nickel corner in the Vikings defense, thus allowing Hughes and first-round rookie Jeff Gladney to occupy both outside spots. Minnesota is operating with less than $10 million in cap space, and when the team inks an extension with running back Dalvin Cook (another bold prediction!), Ryan will end up taking a significant pay cut on a one-year prove-it deal.

Ryan has 17 career , four of which came in 2019 with the Titans. He also recorded four forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks this past season.

Hughes has played 20 career games with five starts, while Holton Hill has played 24 career games with four starts. Kris Boyd played in all 16 games as a rookie in 2019, the majority of which was on special teams. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/30/20

Peter King Offers Predictions for 2020 Vikings

By Craig Peters

National journalist Peter King attended training camps of 21 different NFL teams in 2019, filling his voluminous "Football Morning in America" columns after conducting deep dives with coaches and players.

Earlier this month, King visited Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center to report on all of the changes that have been implemented to prepare the Vikings headquarters for Verizon Vikings Training Camp during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Rookies, quarterbacks and select players reported July 23, and the remainder of the roster arrived Tuesday, starting the ball rolling after a virtual offseason program.

Ad : (0:06) King spoke with Vikings Entertainment Network's Gabe Henderson and outlined what he expects from the Vikings in 2020.

In homage to his column's recurring feature "10 Things I Think I Think," here seven big thoughts King shared.

1. Expecting an explosive offense?

King said the Vikings "have a chance to be an explosive offense" because he likes the combination of QB Kirk Cousins and RB Dalvin Cook.

"If I was a Vikings fan, what I'd be really excited about is a healthy Dalvin Cook, theoretically for a full season. Dalvin Cook is what Kirk Cousins really, really needs," King said. "He can definitely be a quarterback's best friend.

"The one thing that you saw last year that the Vikings handled well is an offense that basically threw the ball 10 times a game less in 2019 than in 2018," King later added. "It was actually a better offense, so I do think if they can have that good 1-2 punch at the running back position [with Cook and Alexander Mattison] that they had last year, I really like what I'm going to see out of the Vikings."

Ad : (0:07) 2. A good investment

Even if the Vikings lean heavily on the run game under Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, but it's still a quarterback- driven league.

"I can't think of a single team out there that's a contender to play deep into January that doesn't have a quarterback that's a top-10-or-12 quarterback in the NFL," King said.

"I think Kirk Cousins is going to have a very good year," he added. "I think he's going to prove that the Vikings made the right decision in investing in him, even though it's more for the mid-term future. I think they did a smart thing in investing in him so that he can be the quarterback going forward for the next three years."

3. Replacing Diggs' production

Stefon Diggs was traded to Buffalo in March after totaling 4,623 yards and 30 catches in his first five pro seasons. He led Minnesota with 1,130 yards and six scores on 63 receptions and 94 targets in 2019.

Adam Thielen missed all of six games and parts of two others because of a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 7 at Detroit. He opened 2019 ablaze with six scores in the first seven weeks of the season.

" ', is he going to be healthier than he was a year ago?' Even though they're without Stefon Diggs, you look at it and say, 'Have they replaced Stefon Diggs in this lineup?' I think they have, maybe not exactly the production, but you also remember that, theoretically, Thielen is there more and plays more effectively than a year ago, I think that is also going to make up for some of the loss of Diggs," King said.

Veteran Players Arrive to Training Camp View photos of Vikings veteran players returning to TCO Performance Center to kick off 2020 training camp.

4. More help on the way

King said he thinks the Vikings "drafted well and drafted smart." That begins with receiver Justin Jefferson, who was drafted at No. 22 with one of the picks obtained for Diggs.

"I'm not a huge watcher, but last year I watched two LSU games from start to finish, the Alabama game and the [FBS] National Championship Game, and Justin Jefferson looks to me like an NFL receiver, or he looked like an NFL receiver last year," King said. "I think he's a precise route runner, I think he's got very good hands and I think he's fearless. I think a lot of people will look at him and say, 'Maybe he's not as fast as a [Henry] Ruggs, maybe he doesn't have some of the experience of a Stefon Diggs,' but I thought, you can always say this about players in the draft, I thought he would be gone by 15 or 17, somewhere around there."

5. Eyes on Gladney

The Vikings drafted twice in the first round for the first time since 2014. After picking Jefferson, Minnesota traded down from its initial position at 25 to 31 and tabbed cornerback Jeff Gladney.

"I think as much as you question how Justin Jefferson is going to do and how important he is to this team this year, I'll tell you, Gladney is huge to this team this year," King said. "He's huge, because if you are in a division where Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, both of them have a good chance to throw for over 4,500 yards, one quarter of your season schedule is against two quarterbacks who are top five in the league in yards by the end of the year. You know that both of those guys are going to be looking at this young Minnesota secondary and are going to be testing a guy like Gladney very early and very often."

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 roster as of July 29, 2020.

6. Hand in hand

Those tasked with covering opponents can get a big help from a good pass rush, which generations of Vikings fans have observed over decades.

The seventh decade in franchise history has a new look up front.

Sure, pass-rush prodigy Danielle Hunter is returning after back-to-back seasons with 14.5 sacks, but longtime veteran Everson Griffen opted to void his contract and become a free agent. He remains unsigned.

"The one other thing about the Vikings that I wonder about ... I'm going to be interested to see what happens now with Danielle Hunter with or without Everson Griffen," King said. "I've always thought Everson Griffen is potentially such a difference maker in almost every game he plays."

7. The effects of expanded playoffs

Heading into Week 17 of the 2019 season, the Vikings were locked in at the No. 6 seed in the NFC.

Zimmer deliberated which starters should play and how much, opting to rest most in a decision that may or may not have helped Minnesota upset New Orleans as a road underdog in the Wild Card round.

The playoffs have now been expanded by one slot for the NFC and AFC in 2020. Rather than earning a bye and hosting a Divisional game (like the 2017 Vikings did), the No. 2 seed in each conference will now host the No. 7 seed in the opening weekend of the playoffs.

Aside from adding an extra bonus to being the No. 1 seed, what does King think the expansion will cause?

"I think there's a better chance that every team is going to have to play 16 games than maybe two or three teams saying, 'Well, we're locked in to where we are, so we don't have to play in Week 17,' " King said. "One of the other really interesting things is over the years, obviously teams want that No. 1 seed, but in essence, if they already have one of those two seeds clinched, most coaches are going to lean toward resting a few players if these coaches can. I think that's probably going to change. You're probably going to see more meaningful football played in Week 17."

Sounds great, except for the No. 2 seeds.