Training Camp Diary: August 14

Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Diary! Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Vikings’ training camp practice on August 14 in an easy-to-read bullet form.

Injury updates

• Stacy Coley and Jalyn Holmes were both present at walk-through this morning after leaving practice yesterday with injuries. They did not participate in any of the action today.
• Those two, along with Brandon Zylstra, Mack Brown and Tashawn Bower did not participate in the afternoon practice. Bower had his right knee wrapped.
• Everson Griffen was again absent from practice Tuesday. According to a report by Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, it is not related to a football injury. He’s expected to be back to practice in a couple of days.
• Rashod Hill was also missing from practice today.
• Brian O’Neill took first-team reps at right tackle with Hill out.
• Stefon Diggs returned to practice Tuesday. He was a full participant in the morning walk-through and was in pads for the afternoon session as well.

No cameras allowed

• Speaking of the afternoon practice, players were not in full pads and the media was not allowed to take photographs or video during the 11-on-11 drills.

• During 11-on-11 drills the offense had a tough go of things. On three separate occasions there were either botched or fumbled snaps, leading to an outburst by offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. He screamed “Stop with the wasted plays! Let’s go!”
• Diggs was overthrown on a deep pass by Kirk Cousins and later had a fastball go right through his hands on a button hook route. The pass was right into his chest. It happens.

Rookie phenom?

• Rookie cornerback Mike Hughes was already looking good, but he appears to be getting better. Diggs had a tough time getting any separation from Hughes during team drills.

• Mackensie Alexander also looked solid. During 11-on-11’s he undercut a Siemian pass for an interception. Alexander took second-team reps as Hughes spent time with the starters.
• Wide receiver Tavarres King had an impressive day. He ran crisp routes, caught everything that was thrown his way and showed off his speed in the open field.
• The same can be said for Chad Beebe, who is a sharp route runner and looks to be in complete control of his body at all times.
• Quarterback Trevor Siemian struggled again today. Many of his throws were wildly off target and for whatever reason he had trouble receiving the snap and hanging onto the ball. That’s not all on him but that’ll need to be fixed with one of the league’s top defenses coming into town tomorrow.
• Laquon Treadwell made the most of his opportunities in red zone drills and made multiple plays throughout the day. Cousins is definitely developing a rapport with the 23 year-old wideout.

• Both Kai Forbath and Daniel Carlson went 6 for 6 in an impressive display of field goal kicking today. The wind was sailing from right to left and into the players’ faces. It’s clear that neither one of the kickers wants to give up an inch in this competition, and up to this point neither of them has.
• The joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars begin tomorrow. Stay tuned to VT and Sean Borman’s twitter account for updates.
• We’ll leave you with this: