The Minnesota Vikings are now in full training camp mode, as veterans reported earlier on Tuesday.
Heading into the first practice on Wednesday afternoon, head coach Kevin O’Connell, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, quarterback Kirk Cousins and safety Harrison Smith spoke to the media.
Here are the biggest takeaways from their media availability.
No news on extention talks
There are multiple Vikings who are candidates for a contract extension and both Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell were asked about them. Overall, the answers were exactly what you expect. They didn’t say much of anything when it came to those potential extensions, just the same canned answers that you expect about having discussions. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t coming down the pipeline for Justin Jefferson, Danielle Hunter, T.J. Hockenson and Kirk Cousins.
Danielle Hunter reports to training camp
Hunter is in need of a new contract with only $4.9 million coming his way in 2023. He will be a free agent after the season and has over $11 million in dead cap hitting the books in 2024. A resolution is likely coming, but he won’t be practicing right away. Could a hold-in be coming from Hunter since it’s nearly impossible to do so in today’s NFL?
Brian O'Neill will no go on PUP list
After partially tearing his Achilles tendon in week 17 against the Green Bay Packers, there was some concern that O’Neill wouldn’t be ready for training camp or week one. Luckily, O’Neill won’t be going on the physically unable to perform list per O’Connell. He will be eased back into things, but practicing from day one is a great sign for O’Neill and the Vikings.
Jordan Addison's speeding incident was brought up
Last week, Jordan Addison was caught going 140 mph on I-94 and was charged with both speeding and reckless driving. There was a lot of discussion about the incident itself and how serious it should be taken. Naturally, both O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah were asked about the incident.
“I was disappointed, but it was a mistake and obviously he’s owning that mistake and knows that that’s something that can’t happen again,” said O’Connell.
O’Connell’s answer was very similar to Adofo-Mensah’s, as he spoke about how many people reached out to him about Addison’s character and that he was “raised right.”
