EAGAN, Minn. — There's a big difference between the starting line and the end line of an NFL offseason.

Vikings 2026 draftees, undrafted rookies, and some veteran and first-year try-out players enjoyed a little sun peeking through puffy clouds and a breeze on one of the nicer days so far this calendar.

Minnesota eased into on-field activities by the design of Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.

Eight of Minnesota's nine draft picks participated in position drills, installs and a few team plays.

Vikings first-round pick Caleb Banks' foot injury is recovering, and O'Connell said the team received encouraging news about his progress. The 6-foot-6 defensive lineman with twitch spent some of the session on an exercise bike and other parts observing with his position group.

"Caleb Banks is doing great. Got some more positive information here as he reported to Eagan in the last couple of days and very much looking forward to him establishing a real great plan with our medical staff and the coaching staff," O'Connell said. "Obviously, on the medical side getting healthy and on the coaching staff side, how can we push Caleb from an above-the-neck standpoint to be that much more comfortable when he does get healthy? But he gets a great chance this spring and summer to get strong and build himself up for the multiple aspects we think he can help our team in the fall."

O'Connell was asked if the news on Banks potentially changes any timetable for him. He said the end-of-July start of training camp is what most interests the Vikings "so he can hopefully have a seamless transition in training camp and work backwards from there."

Here are three observations from the practice session, which lasted approximately 90 minutes:

1. Formatting with a purpose

O'Connell opted for one day of practice this weekend instead of having a second session on Saturday, with his mind focused on newcomers joining returning veterans Monday for the offseason.

"I'm a big data guy, and the data was telling me over the years the stress we were putting on these guys going Friday, Saturday, and then they tend to run a little hot on Monday when they're out there with the veterans for the first time," O'Connell said. "We've just had some kind of little things bump up from a soft tissue perspective. So I wanted to get a little bit longer of a practice today. I thought the guys handled it really well. We got some good work in. Now they'll start preparing to join the big group on Monday."

There also was an emphasis on maximizing time by progressing from position drills to minor installs at walk-through speed to taking a few reps.

"My philosophy on this camp is really designed to do a lot of things at once," O'Connell explained. "We want to give opportunity to guys that had not been signed on a tryout basis. We always have some veterans that are willing to join us for this time and then we have our college free agents we signed, and then ultimately this is the first chance we get to get on the grass with many of our draft picks and at least get them going in the offseason program."

2. QB participants

Speaking of veterans, quarterback Cooper Rush was one of three invited on a pro tryout basis, along with receiver Trenton Irwin and offensive lineman Brandon Walton.

Rush, who has started 16 of 42 games played with Dallas and Baltimore since 2017, donned a red, no-contact No. 5.

He was joined at the position by left-hander Aidan Bouman in a No. 6. Bouman, who grew up in Buffalo, Minnesota, and played at South Dakota is son of former Vikings QB Todd Bouman.

O'Connell said he appreciated Rush's willingness to come in for the camp even though the Vikings have four quarterbacks. The coach added Rush's experience helped the practice, and he also liked the way Bouman threw the football. Both, he said, helped the rest of the players have a productive day.

"I told Cooper is a great, it's almost like a free agent visit. He gets to know us; we get to know him. He's played a lot of football over the years in the National Football League and had very productive times in his journey, and we get him for our time here," O'Connell said. "I told him there's nothing that ever can come out of this from a negative standpoint, getting to step on the grass and put on a Vikings helmet. We now know Cooper; he knows a very, very small portion of some of the things we do offensively, but I think it can open up that world to him if there's an opportunity in the future, he can make that a very positive situation for himself and become our first phone call. So I thought it was a real positive thing.

"Aidan, what a cool story to have him here. I thought he threw the ball well, too, once I got past the lefty spin of the football," O'Connell added.

Bouman had participated in the Packers rookie minicamp last weekend.

After growing up around the Vikings, Bouman said he appreciated the opportunity to wear Vikings practice gear.

"Unbelievable coaching staff here, just the staff in general. I can't say enough good things about this organization," Bouman said. "I'm beyond blessed that I had an opportunity to come here."

3. Tip drill pick

Second-round pick Jake Golday was able to snare an interception in a passing drill.

The linebacker dropped deep down the middle of the field and made the most of a kind bounce off the outstretched hand of safety Jacob Thomas, an undrafted free agent out of James Madison.

Thomas and safety Jakobe Thomas, who was drafted in the third round out of Miami, each wore yellow gloves. The former is No. 39, and the latter is No. 8.

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