3 Intriguing Storylines for Vikings Mandatory Minicamp
The mandatory minicamp begins on Tuesday for the Minnesota Vikings. Some teams had theirs last week, and the Jets canceled their minicamp because they have more time in training camp as they play the Hall of Fame game. It will be the last time the Vikings players will be on the field until training camp arrives in late July.
3 Intriguing Storylines for Vikings Mandatory Minicamp
The minicamp will take place on June 13 and 14. There are a few questions that will be answered during the two days.
Who Will Show Up?
It has already been reported that Danielle Hunter will not be present for the two days. He is unlikely to show up before he received a contract extension with a significant pay raise, and a trade is also possible.
Justin Jefferson is in a somewhat similar situation, minus the trade, of course. The wide receiver skipped OTAs, but different than minicamp, those were voluntary. Jefferson is waiting on a deserved new contract after setting the league on fire to start his career. The goal of the potential holdouts is not exclusively to send a message. It is more to protect themselves from injuries they could suffer, which would undoubtedly cost them a lot of money.
Another situation to monitor is Jordan Addison, who was held out of the later portions of OTAs as a safety measure because of a minor injury. Coaches told the media that it is nothing serious and that OTAs are not worth risking him missing significant parts of the preparation for the season. It is unclear when he will come back onto the field after his absence.
Team Needs New Leaders
The Vikings lost four team captains in the 2023 offseason. Eric Kendricks, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook were released, while Patrick Peterson left after his contract expired. Someone needs to fill that void. Leadership is one of the most underrated parts of a football team.
Kirk Cousins, Brian O’Neill, Harrison Smith, and C.J. Ham are the four returning team captains. O’Neill is still recovering from a partially torn Achilles tendon suffered in Week 17 of last season.
Potential players who could step up and take leadership roles are linebacker Jordan Hicks, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, and cornerback Byron Murphy on defense. None of them have been a part of the Vikings for long, but they are veterans in the league with much experience under their belt.
Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn are now the veterans in the wide receiver room. Alexander Mattison has always been praised for his contributions to a functioning locker room, and tight end T.J. Hockenson is entering Year 5 of his career and has played a lot of football.
As always, whenever players depart, others must step up.
Rookie Headlines
It will be another opportunity for coaches and athletes to see the new guys in action. The minicamp is usually when some cautious reports surface about how some first-year players are wowing everyone.
That could be Addison if he is practicing, but also running back DeWayne McBride, who is a skilled runner, or third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon, a feisty cornerback. Fifth-round quarterback Jaren Hall will also be in the spotlight once again, and coaches can evaluate further what he brings to the table.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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