There were special plays in all three phases of Minnesota's comeback win Sunday against Green Bay. But which players attained "All-Star" status? Two Vikings appeared on FOX Sports' Week 1 list.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel received the distinction.

Jefferson began his bounce-back campaign with a bang, snaring eight of nine targets for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns to already tie his 2025 total in that department. His 39-yard TD featured a brilliant instance of toe-drag swag. He also caught a clutch 2-point conversion and added a 9-yard TD that iced the win and demonstrated his extreme competitiveness as he stretched for the pylon.

So, yeah, his All-Star nomination tracks, as does the one for Van Ginkel.

The long-haired Viking provided one of the loudest crowd pops when he rocked the ball free from Jordan Love in the fourth quarter as Blake Cashman wrapped up the Packers quarterback. Gink' nearly scored when he recovered it but was tackled at the 1. He had another fourth-quarter sack, too, and bookended, with Dallas Turner, a defensive front that applied constant pressure on Love.

Other Vikings, like Cash', Turner, and Carson Wentz, who came off the bench in relief of Kyler Murray, who sustained a concussion on his second series, could have vied for All-Star attention, but two for the opener shall suffice. No other team had multiple entries, for what it's worth.

We'll note that Chicago's offensive line got the nod from Greg Auman for their effort in thumping Carolina 59-37. That heightens the intrigue factor for the Vikings defense at Soldier Field in Week 2.

Also, third-year Panthers receiver Jalen Coker joined Jefferson as the other All-Star at their position after posting eight receptions on nine targets for 138 yards and two scores vs. the Bears secondary.

The complete All-Star lineup is below, and you can read Auman's article for FOX Sports here.

QB: Josh Allen | Bills

RB: Derrick Henry | Ravens

RB: Kenneth Walker III | Chiefs

WR: Justin Jefferson | Vikings

WR: Jalen Coker | Panthers

TE: Isaiah Likely | Giants

OL: Chicago Bears

Edge: T.J. Watt | Steelers

Edge: Andrew Van Ginkel | Vikings

LB: Josiah Trotter | Buccaneers

DB: Josh Jobe | Seahawks

ST: Tyler Owens | Commanders

Will Fries' drive & training regimen

We want to preface this next story with a take (some may consider hot): beef in oatmeal is bomb.

If it's prepared the right way, of course. A little cinnamon can go a long way in camouflaging taste!

We digress.

The Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer this week rolled out an insightful feature on Vikings right guard Will Fries, who was the lone lineman to play all 17 games last season (after rehabbing a broken leg nonetheless) and is feeling like a more athletic version of himself and wants to elevate himself now.

"It's something I take a lot of pride in," he said. "Coming into the league as a (2021) seventh-round draft pick, I kind of feel like that's the way I was made. Always take advantage of your opportunities and work to get there. It's really the only way I know. I feel like I'm always trying to prove myself."

In the story, Krammer notes Fries' drive standing out from his childhood through his Penn State career. At a young age, his workouts included hitting tires with sledgehammers and doing push-ups with chains on his back. "All kinds of crazy stuff" is how his father Harold described it to Krammer.

Here is an excerpt from Krammer's article:

He accumulated over 20 scholarship offers before choosing Penn State. [His high school coach Erik] Rosenmeier had a simple recruiting pitch to schools looking at Fries.

"I'll make this easy for you," Rosenmeier said. "All you have to decide is whether he's good enough because all the other things are unquestionable: his toughness, character, work ethic, love of the game; all that stuff is off the charts."

Fries affirmed that with a recent visit to his old high school, where he spoke to the team after a weightlifting session. Rosenmeier then told the kids to clean up.

"I turn around and Will is putting weights away," Rosenmeier said. "I go, 'I didn't mean you.' But that's just who he is."

Fries' intrinsic motivation doesn't stop at physical exertion. He also goes above and beyond to ensure that he treats his body the best — with food, supplements and recovery methods. It's why his former teammate on the Colts and Vikings, Ryan Kelly, nicknamed him the "Scientist," and it's why his current linemate Brian O'Neill joked "Can't this guy enjoy a glass of wine?" while Fries was on his honeymoon with his wife Isabella, and working out in an electrical muscle stimulation suit.

Oh, yeah, and it's why there was a time that Fries was putting beef in his oatmeal for extra protein.

Click here to check out Krammer's story. It's absolutely worth reading.