4 Takeaways from Day 7 of Vikings Training Camp

  |  
Aug 5, 2021
Chad Beebe
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

The temperature lowered a few degrees on Wednesday for the Minnesota Vikings who were suddenly beset by COVID vaccination controversy since last weekend.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins will return Thursday, so the fervency of the vaccine riffraff will die down – until another player misses time for the same reason.

Here are the four notable takeaways from Day Seven of the Vikings 2021 training camp.

1. Rookie O-Linemen at Camp

Alas, Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis – men perceived as mini-saviors for the Vikings offensive line – are at training camp. Darrisaw was selected in the 1st Round of the 2021 NFL Draft while Davis was plucked out of the 3rd Round. Both men are byproducts of a draft-night trade by general manager Rick Spielman with the New York Jets.

The two rookies are the final pieces, in theory, to the gradual reconstruction of the Vikings offensive trenches. Darrisaw and Davis will join Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, and Brian O’Neill to formulate a youthful and credible offensive line. For too long, the hodgepodge of Minnesota OL group seems makeshift and underwhelming. If this set of five can live up to their respective reputations, the pass-protection doldrums should diminish.

Barring more setbacks, Darrisaw and Davis only missed one day of padded practices altogether – which is not the end of the world.

2. Another Fight

On Day Three of training camp, center Garrett Bradbury and defensive tackle Armon Watts scuffled. We’re at it again.

 

If these matter to you, pump the brakes on their impact. Training camp dustups are as old as the hills. Sometimes, they’re a good thing – they vivify the competitive juices in a setting where punishments aren’t normally doled out as a result. Consider them with “boys will be boys” vibes.

Interestingly, these fisticuffs involved the aforementioned Davis and Tuf Borland – men that played for the same team in college, Ohio State. Perhaps they have a miniature history.

3. Dede Westbrook Still on the Shelf

Spielman made Vikings fans universally happy when he signed Westbrook, who is viewed was the best WR3 available in free agency over the last month. Some would have preferred Larry Fitzgerald for warm fuzzies, but Westbrook is entering the prime of his career.

Eventually, Westbrook must get some action with the offense. But it really hasn’t occurred yet. The ex-Jacksonville Jaguar tore his ACL in 2020, ending his career with that franchise. Then, he followed his wide receivers coach, Keenan McCardell, to Minnesota.

Westbrook is the frontrunner to win the WR3 job, landing the Vikings its first bonafide third wide receiver since Jarius Wright left in 2018. Other wideouts are making a splash at camp – K.J. Osborn, Whop Philyor, and Chad Beebe – and that heightens the competition for Westbrook.

It will be refreshing to see the full skillset from Westbrook once he’s ready as his speed is quite dazzling. To date, Westbrook’s participation at camp is limited.

4. Zimmer is Done Talking about Vaccines

Nope, not gonna do it – is the mantra going forward for Zimmer and vaccines.

Zimmer spent a few days publicly promoting the efficacy of the vaccination, encouraging all of his players to safeguard from the possible grim effects of the coronavirus. Still, some of Zimmer’s prominent players are skeptical.

So, the head coach is done. He isn’t speaking on the matter anymore.

Never a man to mince words, Zimmer now feels his best approach is to let it be – at least in front of the microphones.

The Vikings were revealed this week as the team with the fewest COVID vaccinations in the NFL.