EAGAN, Minn. — Summer hasn't started but it felt a little like fall out on the grass at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center as the Vikings continued voluntary Organized Team Activity practices.

Cloud coverage, wind gusts, intermittent rain sprinkles and basic Minnesota humidity provided a pleasant backdrop for Thursday's 2-hour practice, the first of the offseason program attended by new General Manager Nolan Teasley.

Afterward, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell addressed local media members and paid his respects to Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., "a mainstay in the market for such a long time." The father of 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald covered the organization for numerous decades as a beat reporter and died peacefully at the age of 71 on Monday.

O'Connell is pleased so far with the way players have gone about their business throughout the spring.

"Our guys have totally attacked [practices] with the intentionality of what we're trying to get done — schematical emphasis, fundamentals and technique emphasis, and then obviously the early stages of what's going to be a very competitive football team across the board," he said. "It was good to have Nolan out for his first practice today, first of many, and awesome to have seen him introduced in such a positive way yesterday. Really excited about having him aboard and everything that there is to come."

Here are three observations from OTA No. 6, the last practice before mandatory minicamp June 9-11:

1. Big Man finesse

It's tough for the trenches to really shine during this part of the offseason program since players are in shorts and helmets, but that makes it easier to notice them in other ways, like winning with athleticism.

Last season's breakout star, Jalen Redmond, secured a "thick six" after a pass by Kyler Murray was tipped. Joshua Metellus was in the area. Redmond tucked it into his No. 61 jersey like an oversized running back and headed for the clear. Even if someone interfered on his runback, Redmond looks like a tackle-slipper.

Rookie defensive lineman Domonique Orange also flashed light feet and a heads-up play style on a WR run by Jordan Addison. From the interior, Orange darted outside the numbers to stall Addison as several other defenders converged on him. It was the kind of effort that is rewarded by a "Big Citrus" refreshment.

On the flip side of the ball, Vikings quarterbacks consistently located the tight ends in 7-on-7 and team periods. On one rep, elite run blocker Josh Oliver split out as the farthest player of three eligibles to his side. Oliver burst upfield, and then cut underneath to haul in a zippy pass from Murray.

2. Specialist sightings

Early in practice, All-Pro kicker Will Reichard lined up with his unit and drilled a series of field goals.

His focus was followed by the punt team, which featured veteran Johnny Hekker and rookie Brett Thorson booming balls to five different returners: incumbent third-phase ace Myles Price, familiar faces Dontae Fleming and Jeshaun Jones, and sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne, in addition to receiver Trayvon Rudolph, who started the offseason with Seattle and was one of Teasley's first signings in Minnesota.

Price is the presumable favorite to field punts in 2026 after smashing the Vikings all-time record for kickoff/punt return yardage in a single season. There's plenty of intrigue, however, around Claiborne, who has college kick return experience (two TDs) and will factor into the rushing/receiving attack as a rookie. If touches are hard to come by, it's not crazy to wonder about Claiborne's chances in the return sector.

Occasionally rotating in during competitive periods, Claiborne snagged a pass along the left sideline on one instance and breezed forward. It was a true jog, but Claiborne gained ground quicker than a hiccup.

The competition between Hekker (four-time All-Pro) and Thorson (Ray Guy Award winner) is going to be fun to track because of their top-notch résumés and 10-year age gap. Two things to keep in mind are the starting punter must be a great holder for Reichard, and Thorson doesn't count toward roster limits because the Australia native is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program.

3. Rhythm & timing

All four Vikings QBs delivered nice passes, but, again, Murray and J.J. McCarthy handled the bulk of snaps. Murray, the two-time Pro Bowl choice with Arizona, looked the part with new teammates.

Some of McCarthy's sharpest throws were a heat-seeking missile to Jones on an out-breaking route toeing the right sideline, a pitch and catch with Jauan Jennings on the same side, and a precise toss to Price to his left that kept the shifty slot in bounds and with enough space to gain yards after the catch.

Murray had ideal strikes, too, including one over the middle to Jones that displayed great anticipation — tight window, receiver appeared to be covered, Murray threw him open — and a couple to UDFA Dillon Bell, who has continued to flash throughout practices attended by the media. One of the Murray-Bell connections squeaked past rookies Jake Golday and Jakobe Thomas adjacent to the left sideline.

Unsurprisingly, the secondary had its moments, as well (that's usually how it goes; the defense clicks more quickly than the offense during the offseason because QB-WR chemistry takes time to develop).

Fifth-round rookie cornerback Charles Demmings broke up a pass from McCarthy intended for Jennings that the veteran wideout nearly corralled with one hand in an impressive attempt to beat tight coverage.

Second-year UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn had the smoothest play on defense, baiting Murray into a deep shot to Bell that ended up being slightly underthrown. Vaughn elevated with grace and picked off the downfield launch.

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