EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings strapped on the pads Tuesday and put in a strong day of work at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
Kicker Riley Patterson and offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw and Cole Cabral were at practice but did not participate for the sixth straight day. Patterson is on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List and cannot practice until taken off that list.
Offensive lineman Wyatt Davis and tight end Tyler Conklin also didn't practice.
The Vikings announced during practice that they released cornerback Jeff Gladney.
Here are three observations from Tuesday's session presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud Ophthalmology Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
1. The pads were popping
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer wasted no time in making sure his players got in good work during their first day in pads, as Minnesota did multiple goal-line drills in the first half of practice.
Tight end Irv Smith, Jr., continued his stellar camp with a pair of touchdown catches, including a one-handed snag from Jake Browning.
Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison also had touchdown runs, and Chad Beebe had a nice leaping score in the back of the end zone.
Fullback Jake Bargas ended the drill the first time around with a touchdown catch after securing the ball in the flat after a play fake.
Defensively, Patrick Peterson forced an incompletion on a fade route to Justin Jefferson, while Mackensie Alexander denied a score on a pass to rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the corner of the end zone.
2. Joseph continues strong camp
Vikings kicker Greg Joseph has now made 17 of 20 field goals in team drills so far in camp after an impressive performance Tuesday.
The lone kicker available due to Patterson being on the PUP list, Joseph came through in the clutch at the end of a game-like situation.
With the game tied at 17, Browning led the offense down the field to get in field goal range, with help from a beautiful sideline catch from Adam Thielen that gained roughly 35 yards.
Joseph soon stepped in an drilled a 52-yarder to break the tie and give the offense the win.
Joseph then stepped in to kick in more team drills, and his success continued as he hit five of six field goals.
He was good from 33, 39, 42, 44 and 51 yards, but pushed his 47-yard try wide to the right.
Andrew DePaola snapped on the field goal for the game-like situation and on the first three kicks before Turner Bernard snapped for the final three kicks.
3. Browning gets nearly all of the work
Minnesota now has three quarterbacks on the active roster. Chase Cookus practiced for a second consecutive day, and Danny Etling, who was claimed off waivers Monday, hit the field for the first time.
And while both were on the practice field, their limited knowledge of the playbook meant a ton of work for Browning.
The former undrafted free agent took all but one rep in 11-on-11 drills, with Cookus stepping in to hand off on a play later in practice.
Vikings Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak had praise for Browning earlier Tuesday.
"He's been putting the work in for two years and had a chance to prove it to his teammates," Kubiak said. "He hasn't arrived, and he knows that, so we're challenging him to get better."
The three quarterbacks on the Reserve/COVID-19 List — Kirk Cousins, Nate Stanley and rookie Kellen Mond — might be able to return later this week, depending on protocols agreed to by the NFL and NFLPA.
