Vikings Roster Refresher as Training Camp Kicks Off

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — It’s one last hurrah in Mankato. The Vikings announced earlier this week that they will move Verizon Vikings Training Camp to their new team facility in Eagan beginning in the summer of 2018, meaning this will be the 52nd and final season on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. But while the organization celebrates the history and tradition in Mankato, players and coaches will use the next few weeks to get tuned up for the 2017 season. Select quarterbacks, rookies, players who have yet to accrue a season and select injured players will report to camp on Sunday. The remaining players will report on Wednesday, July 26. With training camp on the horizon, here’s a quick refresher on the 90 players listed on the Vikings roster (players listed in alphabetical order):Quarterbacks: Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater, Taylor Heinicke, Case Keenum, Wes Lunt Bradford took command of the offense with a full offseason in Minnesota. In 2016, he threw for 3,877 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, and set an NFL record for completion percentage at 71.6. Bridgewater continues to rehab from a knee injury and was able to hit the field for rehab exercises during spring practices. Keenum and Heinicke put on a solid battle for the backup job, a duel that will be a storyline to watch in camp. Lunt joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois.Running backs: Dalvin Cook, C.J. Ham, Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray, Terrell Newby, Bishop Sankey Murray signed with Minnesota as a free agent after previously playing in Oakland, but did not practice this spring while rehabbing from an ankle injury. McKinnon took the majority of the first-team reps this spring, but Cook also showed flashes of the athleticism that helped him total 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns on 687 carries (6.5 yards per carry) while at Florida State. Ham has transitioned to fullback after spending most of 2016 on the practice squad. Sankey and Newby are also in the mix.Tight ends: Kyle Carter, Bucky Hodges, David Morgan, Josiah Price, Kyle Rudolph, Nick Truesdell Rudolph has established himself as a leader on offense after setting career highs in catches (83) and yards (840) while adding a team-high seven receiving touchdowns in 2016. Morgan, a sixth-round pick in 2016, could be primed for a breakout year with a bigger role in the offense. Hodges displayed the skills that helped him catch 20 touchdowns in three seasons at Virginia Tech, but he is still learning the true tight end spot. Carter spent time on Minnesota’s practice squad in 2016. Truesdell was signed in late March. Price, an undrafted free agent, had 19 touchdowns in four seasons at Michigan State.Wide receivers: Rodney Adams, Moritz Böhringer, Stacy Coley, Stefon Diggs, Michael Floyd, Isaac Fruechte, Cayleb Jones, RJ Shelton, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, Jarius Wright. Thielen and Diggs are Minnesota top two receiving threats as they each topped 900 yards in 2016. Treadwell drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates this spring as he looked like the talent that was a first-round pick in 2016. Wright played in eight games and had a touchdown catch, and Floyd is suspended for the first four games of the season. Fruechte spent most of the year on the practice squad before being added to the active roster. Böhringer spent the entire season on the practice squad. Adams and Coley are 2017 draft picks who could make an initial impact on special teams. Each has the ability to return kickoffs. Jones was added to the practice squad late in the season. Shelton was added as an undrafted free agent after the draft.Offensive linemen: Willie Beavers, Joe Berger, Alex Boone, Aviante Collins, T.J. Clemmings, Nick Easton, Pat Elflein, Reid Fragel, Rashod Hill, Danny Isidora, Zac Kerin, Riley Reiff, Mike Remmers, Austin Shepherd, Jeremiah Sirles, Freddie Tagaloa, Arturo Uzdavinis. Reiff and Remmers signed as offseason free agents and look to be Minnesota’s new starting tackles in an effort to boost pass protection and run blocking. Boone is penciled in at the left guard spot while Berger, who started all 16 games at center in 2015, appeared at right guard throughout spring drills. Easton ran with the first-team offense, and Elflein manned the same spot for the second team. Clemmings has moved inside to guard while Sirles has versatility and can play a variety of spots. Isidora drew praise as a guard, and Kerin provides interior depth along the line. Beavers was a fourth-round pick in 2016, Fragel was signed this offseason, Hill appeared in one game in 2016, and Shepherd spent parts of the 2016 season on the practice squad. Collins and Tagaloa were added as undrafted free agents after the draft. Minnesota added Uzdavinis to its roster on Monday.Defensive linemen: Tashawn Bower, Dylan Bradley, Chunky Clements, Sharrif Floyd, Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Jaleel Johnson, Tom Johnson, Datone Jones, Linval Joseph, Sam McCaskill, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Brian Robison, Shamar Stephen, Will Sutton, Stephen Weatherly Griffen is one of Minnesota’s starting defensive ends, and Hunter is making a push for the other spot where Robison has opened 65 in a row. The tri combined to record 28 sacks in 2016. Joseph will man the middle of the line while Tom Johnson or Datone Jones could fill the void next to him. Robison will likely see less snaps but is still revered for his leadership and technique. Weatherly was added to the active roster late in the season. Floyd is looking to return from injuries that wiped out most of his season. Sutton and Jaleel Johnson, a fourth-round selection out of Iowa, will provide strong depth along the line. Odenigbo ranks second in Northwestern history with 23.5 sacks. Bower, Bradley, and McCaskill are all undrafted free agents. Minnesota added Clements to its roster on Friday.Linebackers: Anthony Barr, Kentrell Brothers, Ben Gedeon, Eric Kendricks, Emmanuel Lamur, Elijah Lee, Edmond Robinson, Shaan Washington, Eric Wilson Barr and Kendricks headline the group and return as starters. Kendricks led Minnesota in tackles (126 total by coaches’ tally) for the season straight season, while Barr is looking for a third straight Pro Bowl nod. Robinson and Lamur traded reps for the third linebacker spot during the spring, with each showing flashes. Brothers was a special teams standout in 2016 and could push for a bigger role. Gedeon was a fourth-round selection out of Michigan, and Lee was a seventh-round pick out of Kansas State. Both could provide pop on special teams. Washington (Texas A&M) and Wilson (Cincinnati) are undrafted free agents.Defensive backs: Mackensie Alexander, Antone Exum, Jr., Anthony Harris, Jayron Kearse, Terence Newman, Jabari Price, Xavier Rhodes, Horace Richardson, Tre Roberson, Andrew Sendejo, Marcus Sherels, Terrell Sinkfield, Harrison Smith, Jack Tocho, Trae Waynes Rhodes is one of the league’s top cornerbacks but will be tested against strong opponents this season. Waynes seems to have a grasp on the other starting gig and fared well during the spring. Alexander appears to be a candidate for the starting slot cornerback, but Newman will push him there. The veteran is able to play any spot in the secondary if needed. Sherels is one of the league’s best punt returners and took two back for touchdowns last season. Price missed all of last season with injuries. Roberson was a practice squad player in 2016. Sinkfield is making the transition to cornerback after being in training camp with the Vikings as a wide receiver last summer. Richardson is an undrafted free agent out of Southern Methodist. Smith is one of the most feared safeties in the game and pairs well with Sendejo, who had 72 total tackles last season. Harris and Kearse both saw playing time at safety due to injuries and are aiming to overtake Sendejo for a starting role. Exum missed the majority of spring drills with an injury. Tocho has switched to safety after playing cornerback at North Carolina State.Specialists: Kai Forbath, Marshall Koehn, Kevin McDermott, Ryan Quigley, Taylor Symmank McDermott is the only one of the group who spent the entire 2016 season in Purple. Forbath and Koehn will continue a heated duel for the kicking spot, as they were neck and neck during spring drills. Quigley and Symmank will battle for punting duties.

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