Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) celebrates after making a stop against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings football is back as training camp kicked off this week in Eagan.
Ninety-one players vie for 53 regular season roster spots, with 16 others eventually headed for the practice squad.
The Vikings have three practices in the books — with more on the way this weekend — and here are four early risers at camp listed alphabetically.
This man had a tumultuous week and a half.
He was charged with reckless driving nine days ago, apologized, explained his sickly dog was the reason for speeding, and then balled out at training camp. That’s the Addison news in a nutshell.
Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson tweeted about Addison on Wednesday, “Jordan Addison BELONGS‼️ Route running, poise & natural playmaking ability were all on display today.”
It’s safe to say Addison’s mini-reclamation tour is humming along.
A candidate for the Vikings ‘quarterback of the future’ opening when Kirk Cousins eventually departs, Hall didn’t disappoint in a few early appearances.
His arm strength impressed, and some even reacted as if they didn’t know Hall could fling it. Well, he flung it at BYU, and the pros are no different, at least not on a practice field.
Hall’s performance will be the Vikings most interesting aspect of preseason games, especially because folks are accustomed to Sean Mannion underwhelming the masses in exhibition showdowns. Not this time, though, as Hall will be front and center during the preseason. Also remember — under head coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings don’t really play starters in the preseason.
It’ll be the Nick Mullens + Jaren Hall show in three preseason games.
Arguably the week’s overall winner, Nailor dazzled on the first day of Vikings training camp.
And this was a continuation of Nailor’s performance to end the 2022 season. In ‘garbage time’ — which was not his fault — the Michigan State alumnus excelled late last year against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Now at training camp, Nailor has picked up like the end of 2022 never stopped. His theatrics prompted The Athletic’s Alec Lewis to tweet Wednesday, “Lots of training camp thoughts coming, but we’ll start here: Jalen Nailor looks goooooood.”
This is the guy who scolded the NFL for not drafting him in April.
The Vikings found Pace Jr. right after the event and signed the Bearcat to a sizable undrafted free-agent contract. Now, Pace Jr. is already running with the second-team defense, meaning he’s probably not a fringe roster-bubble guy.
He’s shown the intensity and tenacity to prove 31 general managers wrong. Meanwhile, the Vikings linebacker corps is not stuffed to the gills with experienced performers. Pace Jr. does not have to beat out a ton of upper-echelon veterans for a roster spot.
His placement with the second team suggests he’ll make the 53-man roster with relative ease.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.