EAGAN, Minn. — Football is more fun with fans.

The atmosphere at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center was delightful Saturday for Back Together Weekend. Crowds packed the stands, Vikings Legends strolled the sidelines and there was a special remembrance of offensive lineman Korey Stringer, who tragically passed away 25 years ago due to heat stroke during a training camp practice. Stringer's wife Kelci and son Kodie attended and received an outpouring of support from the organization, as well as former Vikings who teamed with "Big K."

Before wrapping the first week of camp with 2 hours on the grass, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell noted how important it is to the Wilf family to maintain community for Vikings Legends. He also highlighted the Korey Stringer Institute and heat safety improvements across the sports landscape. "A major foundation of what I believe is preparing players, but always with the mindset of player health and safety," he said.

O'Connell then rehashed the team's work so far, excited for what's ahead.

"Proud of our players, the start we've gotten off to, the energy at camp, the focus," the coach remarked. "There's a level of conviction at which we're doing everything, much of which is player-driven, as the best teams are always player owned and operated. But I'm proud of our guys. And now the challenge is can we be consistent with that every single day and really establish that standard and those habits that will last us all the way through the season."

Everyone participated Saturday except for rookie running back Demond Claiborne.

Here are three observations from the fourth practice overall, and the most competitive yet.

1. Rookie impacts

More than the following three first-year players have flashed in some way, but it was impossible not to appreciate the weekend playmaking by LB Jake Golday, DL Domonique Orange and CB Chuck Demmings.

Among his deeds, Golday had an awesome, instinctive rep to end the initial team period. On a play-fake rollout by J.J. McCarthy, the second-round LB gained width in his coverage drop and shot his arm into the air as soon as McCarthy released his pass. Golday's hand blasted the ball, and Blake Cashman was a few yards behind him to nab the ricochet for an interception. It looked just like the tip drill they run in practice.

And Golday was not far off the prescience we've seen from the uber-versatile Andrew Van Ginkel.

"He's always around the ball, so I'm just trying to take after him a little on that. He told me good job after," Golday said. "[Gink's] the nicest guy on the planet, but you get out here, he's all-business. I just try to pick his brain every now and then, and every time I ask him a question, he's always there for me."

A couple players earlier, "Big Citrus" (and second-year DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins) mixed in with the first defense and broke through the second-team offensive line for a walloping tackle for loss on Zavier Scott.

The true rookie spotlight of the afternoon belonged to Demmings, who pocketed a pair of PBUs. The first occurred in a low-red zone 7-on-7 period with Kyler Murray quarterbacking with the starters. Murray tried connecting with Justin Jefferson across the back-middle of the end zone, but Demmings didn't allow him any room. Jefferson signaled for a flag (he didn't get one) and defensive teammates yelled "Yeah, Chuck! Yeah, Chuck!" He landed his second breakup in the same period, this time with McCarthy at the controls and him going for second-year receiver Tai Felton toward the back-left pylon. Thumbs down from Chuck!

That was a poor Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story reference.

2. Quarterback quartet

The first "shells" practice in front of fans featured nearly an hour's worth of competitive periods. The snaps – in either 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 formats – also provided looks at all four Vikings quarterbacks.

A few were notable, for some reason or another.

Veteran backup Carson Wentz made one special throw to the back-left corner of the end zone that undrafted rookie Marcus Sanders, Jr., couldn't bring down. It was located only where Sanders could get – high and outside, and away from safety Kahlef Hailassie. Wentz later secured six in a different period on a low crosser to second-year tight end Ben Yurosek. The developing Max Brosmer didn't fare as well. He was flustered on two out of three reps in one period, resulting in a throwaway and a Dallas Turner sack.

McCarthy had his fastball dialed, finding TE Gavin Bartholomew in the front-right middle of the end zone on one play, and connecting on back-to-back snaps with WR Jeshaun Jones during a move-the-ball series at the end of practice. The first, a roped corner pass, converted a third-and-5, and the follow-up was good for a chunk gain. On another sharp rep, McCarthy scanned the left side of the defense and fixed his eyes to the right to find undrafted receiver Dillon Bell zooming across the back of the paint for six points.

Murray, meanwhile, seemed to make his fewest mistakes in a practice to date and produced several nice throws. Early on, he synced with Jefferson on an explosive over route. They matched, again, on one in the seam that Jefferson adjusted to secure, and on a quick slant – but Eric Wilson was nearby and would have delivered a big hit if the action was live. Murray's favorite play might've been a pump-fake to TE Josh Oliver and flick to "Jets," who picked up a first down as the offense simulated a drive. Murray also made a quality touch pass over the defense to Myles Price in the slot, but Price failed to complete the catch going to the grass.

​

3. Fresh legs in the run game

Claiborne's lightning bolt speed was missing (we've been struck by it since the spring), so the first, second and third offensive units cycled through Aaron Jones, Sr., Jordan Mason, Scott and Jordan Mims.

And each back impressed in some fashion, whether it was splitting creases with urgency, cutting in and out of congested areas or reeling in passes in the flat or on screens. Fullback Max Bredeson caught a pass for the umpteenth day in a row, too. It's always fun seeing him in the open field after leading blocks.

Scott had a supremely sweet setup in the low-red 7-on-7 period, gearing down as he closed the distance between him a covering linebacker before hastening his step and angling across the middle to snag a TD.

We feel obligated to add that after the first week, Mason and Jones look like they're in game-shape.