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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Hill: Preparing 'Exact Same Way'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Shaun Hill waited nearly 40 percent of his life to make his first start for the Vikings, but not much has changed for Hill in the aftermath.

Sunday's season-opening win by Minnesota at Tennessee was Hill's first start out of 81 total games on the Vikings active roster in two runs with the team (2002-05 and 2015-present).

Hill filled in for Teddy Bridgewater, who is out for the season, completed 18 of 33 passes for 236 yards that included a late 33-yard toss to Stefon Diggs for a passer rating of 77.3. The Vikings didn't suffer a sack or commit a turnover, and their defense forced three turnovers and scored two touchdowns in the 25-16 victory.

The team Vikings focus has shifted to the Packers, and Hill vowed more of the same in how he approaches this week with Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer not announcing whether Hill or Sam Bradford will start in the first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"We try to approach every week the same, put in the same preparation," Hill said. "Even though this is an opponent we know and they know us, it's very important to prepare the exact same way."

Hill and Bradford have been working extra with Vikings receivers and did a round of film study on Tuesday, which is the off day for players.

Six players caught passes Sunday, led by Stefon Diggs with seven catches for 103 yards. Kyle Rudolph added four catches for 65 yards, and Adam Thielen totaled 54 yards on four receptions.

"It's best to have multiple weapons in the pass game, just so they can't key on one guy, and we do have a lot of depth and a lot of guys that can make plays for us in the passing game," Hill said. "A lot of that showed up last week, and we need that to continue to happen."

Hill has been working with Bradford, whom he backed up in 2014 in St. Louis, helping the player who joined the Vikings on Sept. 3 catch up with the offense. Hill said Bradford is progressing "wonderfully."

"He's a very bright guy," Hill said. "Unfortunately for him, he's been in a situation where he's had to learn offenses quickly in the last few years. He obviously knows how to learn."

Bradford discussed his **progression** through the offense on Wednesday and said he's gaining comfort.

"Being here going on my second week, obviously that's not a ton of time but I felt comfortable with the game plan last week," Bradford said. "It's not the same game plan but there are some similarities. Just hearing the language last week, being around the game planning process, understanding how it goes here, I think we can definitely have a full plan."

View images from the Wednesday, Sept. 14 practice at Winter Park.

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