>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

Vikings sign WR Jacob Copeland

The Vikings have signed a wide receiver for the second straight day.

They signed N’Keal Harry to their 90-man roster on Sunday and they announced the signing of Jacob Copeland on Monday. Wideout Cephus Johnson III was waived in a corresponding move.

Copeland went undrafted in April and signed with the Titans. Tennessee let him go last week.

Copeland caught 26 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns at Maryland last year. He transferred to the school after spending four seasons at the University of Florida.

Harry and Copeland join Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, first-round pick Jordan Addison, Jalen Reagor, Jalen Nailor, and Brandon Powell in the Minnesota receiver group.

PFT

 

Sounds like this could be the death nail for Jalen Reagor and quit signing wr's and sign some D-linemen the Vikings got wr's unless there just camp bodies

 

Jordan Addison will play Thursday night vs the Seahawks, per KOC.

 

Yeah I hope he plays a quarter and a half to see what he has,the college game is very good but the NFL game is another level

 

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell: 'I would not overevaluate' first depth chart

The annual training camp tradition has arrived: freaking out over meaningless depth charts.

Every year clubs release their initial depth charts during camp, leading to a host of questions, raised eyebrows and, in some cases, outrage from the fan base.

Every year it's seemingly forgotten that most of these depth charts come with little -- if any -- input from coaching staffs. In most cases, the PR department puts together the list. Categorically there is a deference to veteran players.

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell offered a pervasive warning against taking too much from these depth charts considering the full slate of preseason action hasn't even started yet, and position battles are just beginning.

"We're very much right into the competition part of training camp," O'Connell said Monday, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I would not overevaluate one particular area. We have a lot of jobs guys are still fighting for, and we're going to allow for our practices, joint practices [with the Titans and Cardinals] and preseason games to play out before we make any final determinations."

Case-in-point on the Vikings' first depth chart, running back Kene Nwangwu -- who has participated sparingly in camp due to injury -- is listed as No. 2 behind starter Alexander Mattison over Ty Chandler, who reportedly has looked good during camp.

"That backup spot is still really fully in the competition," O'Connell said of the backup RB gig. "I will tell you that sheet of paper. We are not making any decisions at this point.

"I really want to see those guys get a full body of work before we determine overall what that position looks like. Ty has been really looking solid running the football and showing those instincts you saw last year in the preseason that we're excited about, and he continues to grow from an understanding of protection."

When you hear anything about a club's "depth chart" in early August, take it with a quarry full of salt. At best, they're living documents with daily shifts. At worst, they're uninformed roster lists organized by positions.

NFL.com

 

Makes a lot of sense... this is an ongoing process and the process is just getting underway.

 

By the way... Hockenson was not avoiding 'padded' practices because of anything contract related, he has been fighting a virus.

 

How's Vikings rookie Jordan Addison looking? Well...
Vikings' rookie receiver has something that's hard to describe but he's making noise in camp

EAGAN — We didn’t know much about how Jordan Addison would look against NFL competition when he arrived at TCO Performance Center for Minnesota Vikings training camp.

An injury suffered in rookie minicamp kept him out of OTAs and mandatory minicamp, keeping us from getting a sneak peak at what was to come in the summer months. Over the first few weeks of camp, he has introduced himself to Vikings land with a daily routine of making route running look like a Sunday stroll and difficult catches look easy.

There are lots of football words to describe what Addison possesses. The Vikings’ first-round pick and former Biletnikoff Award winner has tremendous body control and quickness in and out of his routes. Strong hands, acceleration — all that sorta stuff. But draft-profile type descriptions don’t quite capture it.

On an episode of the Purple Insider podcast Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling described it as “efficiency of movement.”

When the Vikings drafted Addison, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said that he plays like he was born to be a wide receiver.

There is a smoothness to his game that everyone knows when they see but nobody can truly say why it’s there. On Monday, he made a toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone that looked like a tough angle to reach up for the ball and bring the feet together in bounds yet the catch looked pretty effortless.

It reminds you of a basketball player who has a nasty crossover or a silky jumper. And these things tend to transcend size. Addison is 170 pounds and he looks like it on the practice field, yet it doesn’t often seem like anyone can stay in front of him long enough to make it matter. Like a smooth-fielding shortstop, balls that seem out of reach are somehow vacuumed up without having to make wild flails or dives. It looks so much harder for others.

Kirk Cousins has appeared to click immediately with Addison. One play on a scramble drill in particular stuck out to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“He’s done some things instinctively, just playing football within the confines of our scheme,” O’Connell said. “People probably saw that catch in the corner of the end zone. That’s him improving with a 12-year NFL quarterback to be in the right place at the right time.”

Having worked with the likes of DeSean Jackson, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson, Cousins knows exactly what he’s looking for when it comes to excellence in wide receivers.

“I want to see greatness at the catch point,” the Vikings’ quarterback said. “In this league you’re going to make contested catches, coverage is going to be tight, I’m going to have to throw it in tight windows and you got to show me with somebody draped over you or someone about to come hit you, that you will have strong hands and make that catch.”

“Jordan (Addison), he’s pretty natural at the catch point which is exciting.”

Greatness might be a little much. Cris Carter was at camp one day. That’s greatness at the catch point. But there are flashes — Carterian catches, if you will.

On Monday, O’Connell announced that the rookie receiver will play in the Vikings’ preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. How much he’s going to play is not clear but it is a reminder that nothing has yet been accomplished. O’Connell has taken the approach of sitting veteran players in preseason games rather than risk their health. A rookie should play.

And there are rookie moments for Addison at camp. Some are probably only noticeable to those who designed the scheme but it’s not uncommon to see Cousins pointing at him to line up on the other side of the formation. It isn’t an easy offense for receivers to grasp, no matter how impressive their skills.

“I think he takes pride in himself as a player to make sure when he goes out here for walk-throughs and practice that he hears it the first time and knows what to do. We’re all going to have those occasional mistakes,” Cousins said. “You just have to believe you’re going to continually get it to where it's more and more natural. We just need him in the huddle hearing plays, getting lined up, and stacking up those opportunities.”

O’Connell has been keeping his eye on the details that go beyond his Iverson crossover at the line of scrimmage or Jamal Crawford shake-and-bake at the top of a route. The Rams’ system, which influenced O’Connell’s scheme, has always been known for receivers’ roles in blocking. In recent days, that’s what the head coach has noticed about Addison, despite his slender build.

“That has really been one of the highlights knowing he didn’t really get to take part in a lot of things in the spring,” O’Connell said. “Not seeing only his ownership but how about his willingness versus this defense where sometimes you might be running at different angles. You’re going to have to have receivers willing to dig out Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus and Cam Bynum and Lewis (Cine) and all these guys. So to see him not only willing to do that, but then physically and fundamentally do it has been a real positive.”

Addison’s strong start and DNA for the position have created excitement around camp but veteran KJ Osborn has made sure that he won’t be forgotten amidst the rookie buzz. On Monday, Osborn caught a bomb from Cousins, which is one of a number of big plays they have connected on in the last few practices.

Maybe it’ll be more three-deep-ish than a WR2 competition between Addison and Osborn. Or maybe we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves. It’s still only early August. Even if the signs are there of something potentially special the rookie is still a few days from playing in his first preseason game.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him out there,” O’Connell said.

SI/FANNATION

 

Addison sounds like good news ànd Hockensen too The Vikings need to quit messing around and retire 28 and 84 people do have different opinions about AP but they cannot deny AP was a bad dude and Randy Moss just redefined what it mean to be a wr this guy was just outstanding and amazing

 

Thielen signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and spent the first nine seasons of his career with the franchise. The 32-year-old made back-to-back Pro Bowls during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns and ranks inside the top five on the franchise leaderboard in a host of prominent categories.

Thielen trails only Hall-of-Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss in targets (776), receptions (534) and receiving touchdowns (55), while placing fourth in receiving yards (6,682). Thielen also added 24 catches for 331 scoreless yards on 39 targets across six playoff games with the organization.

 

That's ñice thing Àdàm Thielen said too many times when a player goes to another team they start acting like a jerk sometimes, when Dalvin Cook hangs them up he belongs ln the Vikings ring of honor so does Adrian Peterson

 

Some things in AP's life didn't sit well with me, but there's no question he was a great baller.

 

It just seemed to me that he was being held to a higher standard when there have murders really bad behavior etc by players in the NFL it continues to be a mess what ñext?

 

The long wait is over and it seemed long are you ready for some football winning this is not that important I know the starters will be sharp when the season begins I want to see how the backups look and the Vikings retooled Ðefense against a tough team like the Seahawks

 

Agreed. Im interested in the defensive play calling and alignments. I wanna see different schemes, the aggressiveness and quite frankly a whole new approach. Im sure they will keep a lot of cards vested and keep things simple for the 2nd and 3rd teams, but I hope to see a revamped approach at least in the 1st quarter.

Curious as to how Jaren Hall looks also, Ive never seen him play live.

Kickoff at 10pm... Ima need a nap, lol.

 

Five Things to Watch in Vikings' Preseason Opener vs. Seahawks
Rookies Jaren Hall and Ivan Pace Jr. are among the key players to observe on Thursday night.

• WILL RAGATZ

Preseason football is another key step towards the real thing. The team on the field may not resemble the group that will be out there a month from now in Week 1 of the regular season, but it's far from meaningless for the players fighting for their dream.

The Vikings' 2023 preseason slate begins on Thursday night against the Seahawks in Seattle (9:00 p.m. CT, NFL Network/FOX 9). After two weeks of training camp practices, this is the first of three chances for players up and down Minnesota's 90-man roster to show what they can do in an actual game setting.

"There's a transition from shorts to pads and how certain guys start to look, certain guys start to stand out," Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels said. "But there's also a transition from practice to the game, when the big bright lights come on. I'm excited to see (which) guys start to show up in the game, in the heat of the moment."

Most of the Vikings' starters won't play a snap, but that doesn't mean this exhibition contest lacks intrigue. Here are five things to keep an eye on during Thursday night's action:

Jaren Hall's NFL debut
Presumably, quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall will each play roughly a half of football in this game. And while it'll be interesting to see what Mullens does, he's already mostly a known quantity as a sixth-year backup QB with 17 career starts.

With Hall, the fifth-round rookie out of BYU, this will be his first taste of what it's like to play in an NFL game. Everything he's spent the last three months and change learning and practicing will, for the first time, be put to the test at full speed against an unfamiliar opponent. I'm very curious to see how he responds to the moment.

Obviously, a rough outing wouldn't mean Hall has no NFL future, just like a great outing wouldn't mean he's going to be a starter someday. It's the first preseason game of his rookie season, after all. With that said, it would be encouraging for the Vikings if Hall runs a smooth ship and shows some flashes of dual-threat potential on Thursday night.

"Just executing one play at a time," offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. "There's gonna be bad plays in there, but can he bounce back show us that it doesn't faze him?"

Backup running back competition
New Vikings starting running back Alexander Mattison won't play in this game. Kene Nwangwu will likely also miss it due to injury. That means there should be plenty of carries for Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, and Abram Smith. In a backfield where the roles and roster spots behind Mattison seem to be wide open, a strong preseason could go a long way.

Chandler had a big 2022 preseason as a rookie, running for 113 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He'll look to keep rolling as he tries to secure the RB2 job in this offense. McBride, the seventh-round rookie out of UAB, should be fun to watch; he put up huge numbers in college and will look to show that he can avoid fumbles and maybe even catch some passes out of the backfield. Smith, who was signed a week ago, was the XFL's leading rusher earlier this year and can make his first big Vikings impression in this game.

Depth wide receivers
The Vikings have a clear top three at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and Jordan Addison. According to Kevin O'Connell, Addison will play in this game, but I'd imagine he won't play much if he does play at all. Likely out due to injury are Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, and Lucky Jackson.

That means it's time for some of the Vikings' other receivers to shine. Vets Brandon Powell and Jalen Reagor are probably fighting for the WR5 job and could get some run on Thursday. Newcomers N'Keal Harry and Jacob Copeland could play if they're up to speed on the playbook. Two other guys to watch are Blake Proehl and Thayer Thomas, who are both quality route-runners with some sneaky athleticism.

Ivan Pace Jr. szn
The Vikings rookies drawing the most hype recently are their first-round pick and...an undrafted free agent. Ivan Pace Jr. has been one of the main standouts of training camp, displaying the tools and ability that made him a unanimous All-American linebacker at Cincinnati last year. He went undrafted because he's 5'10" and 230 pounds, and he's using that as fuel.

Pace may be small, but he possesses great instincts and is explosive to the ball. He just flies around and makes plays, especially when coming downhill (as evidenced by his 21 tackles for loss in 2022). Watching him play in college is one thing, but I'm thrilled to observe Pace's first game in a Vikings uniform. Unlike practices, he can actually hit people in this setting.

Even veteran Harrison Smith has taken notice of Pace; Smith predicted in an NFL Network interview that No. 40 will show up on some tape from this Seattle game.

Everyone else
Although I may be particularly curious about the players mentioned in the first four sections, every Viking who takes the field on Thursday is worth paying attention to.

How about the young defensive backs, from rookies Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward to slightly older guys like Tay Gowan and Joejuan Williams? How will second-year players Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. look? Will any of the undrafted rookies stand out?

In the trenches, recent draft picks Vederian Lowe and Jaquelin Roy are among the top players to watch.

Tight ends and linebackers are important too. Even special teams reps promise to be interesting to the die-hard fan, as those are great opportunities for players to prove their worth as they battle for a spot on the 53-man roster or 16-man practice squad.

 

Jaren Hall looks nervous

 

Well both teams look a little nervous at the moment but I think both teams will settle down

 

And the Vikings hurried up and ĺet Jaren Hall grab some bench it's all been Nick Mullens

 

Half-time Vikings 10 Seahawks 7 neither team is looking sharp òh well it just the fìrst game and the backups look so so but i do think they will improve