EAGAN, Minn. — Dillon Bell walked off the practice field on a hot, humid afternoon and pivoted toward the JUGS machine for some extra work.

The rookie wide receiver stood at different angles as Vikings Equipment Assistant Blake Schroeder fed footballs into the machine that spit them at Bell. After about five minutes, linebacker Eric Wilson came up behind Bell to add an extra challenge, swatting at his arms and swiping across the back of his jersey.

Bell stayed locked in, making a handful of additional catches before seeming satisfied.

Despite a jersey soaked through and sweat dripping from his brow, Bell smiled through his facemask upon sitting down for this interview.

"It's been a learning experience," Bell says of making the jump from college at Georgia to the pro level. "There's a lot of similarity but more plays, different concepts, gotta learn every position. But as time's going on, we're learning the playbook and it's getting easier, getting a lot better. Especially getting in all these reps and all the study sessions they have for the rooks, all these meetings.

"It's been a slow journey, but hey — I'm getting there day-by-day," he added with a grin.

Bell played four seasons for the Bulldogs, during which he totaled 119 catches for 1,269 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, as well as 51 carries for 373 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Though Bell acknowledges disappointment after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft (he was projected by some as a Day 3 pick), he's deeply motivated to leave his mark at the pro level and is grateful to be in Minnesota.

Bell opted to sign with the Vikings largely due to his familiarity with receivers coach Keenan McCardell after attending high school with McCardell's daughter. Bell has long since admired the former WR who spent 16 seasons in the NFL prior to coaching.

"It's great. He has so much experience," Bell said. "If we get confused about something he's saying, he's got the film for it and will show us that. And he's also a Houston guy, like me. When people are kind of from the same area, they can click with each other a little easier, and that's been great.

"We also wore purple and gold at The Kinkaid (High School)," he added, "So those colors were my first love."

Bell also grew up watching now-teammate Justin Jefferson starring at LSU before being drafted in 2020 by the Vikings.

"I was always a fan of his Griddy; I used to hit that, too," Bell laughed. "But it's great being in the room with him, seeing how he learns and how he approaches every day. Seeing how he coaches us on the smaller details — and those small details are what make him the player that he is."

Bell knows what he can do with the ball in his hands. He also prides himself, however, on being a receiver who's willing to block and put in the dirty work.

He credited his time at Georgia for increasing his physicality as a player and teaching him to improve in that aspect.

"Not many people want to tackle a big, physical guy running with the ball in his hands. And when it comes to blocking, that was the number-one thing [to work on], and I love it," Bell said. "That feels better than scoring a touchdown, personally. Being a selfless teammate, being at Georgia, that was one of the biggest things I took away from my time there."

Last week at New York, Bell was targeted once, but the play didn't result in a catch. He did, however, flash his running ability with two carries for 27 yards.

As Bell now looks ahead to Minnesota's final two preseason games, he's focused on taking things a day at a time and leaving a positive impression however he can.

"I want to get out there and make no mistakes, play fast, be physical, play free," he said. "Make plays when my name is called and be there for my teammates, bring that energy even on the sidelines."

Fun fact people might not know:

"I've got two big dogs, a Cane Corse named Hazel who just turned 1 on Aug. 2, and a boy named Tank. He's an XL [American] Bully and is 4 years old. Those two are like my kids."

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Meal: Salmon and rice

Exercise/workout/lift: Traps

Board game or card game: Dominoes

Childhood movie: Cars

NFL Legend: Adrian Peterson

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