Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2018: Day 1 recap

What went down during the first ever Minnesota Vikings training camp practice at the brand new TCO Performance Center?

For the first time since 1965, the Minnesota Vikings held their annual training camp at a different venue this year. Beginning in 1966, the Vikings held each season’s camp at Minnesota State in Mankato, Minnesota. However, this year the team made the switch to the brand new TCO Performance Center.

The new location definitely comes with a more corporate feel, but Minnesota is hoping their state of the art facility will lead to a bunch of wins in 2018.

The Vikings kicked off this year’s training camp on Wednesday after 43 players reported to the team’s facilities on Tuesday including Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Pat Elflein, Trevor Siemian, and a bunch of rookies.

Minnesota’s first training camp of 2018 was not too eventful, but there were still some intriguing things that went down.

Dalvin ditches the brace

Less than 10 months after tearing his ACL, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was seen participating in individual drills on Wednesday without the use of a brace on his surgically repaired knee. From the videos posted from camp, Cook looked to be moving well and his health appears to be getting closer to 100 percent if it isn’t already.

New offensive line coach revealed?

Following Minnesota’s morning walk-thru on Wednesday, both general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer did not want discuss who could be replacing Tony Sparano as the team’s offensive line coach this year. However, according to numerous reports later in the day, both assistant offensive line coach Andrew Janocko and tight ends coach Clancy Barone were seen working with the Vikings’ blockers.

Position switch for Cousins?

Due to their only being 43 players present for Wednesday’s practice, Minnesota had to get a little creative and have a few guys line up at random positions a few times in the afternoon. New Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was even seen lining up as a cornerback.

Given the depth of Minnesota’s defensive backfield this year, Cousins is really going to have to work on his backpedaling and his hip movements to find a spot on the team’s final roster (can you smell the sarcasm?).

Holmes back in the fold

As he attempts to make the switch from defensive end to defensive tackle, Vikings rookie Jalyn Holmes was a full participant during Wednesday’s practice.

Holmes missed some time during Minnesota’s OTAs due to a broken hand, but the Minnesota rookie told the Pioneer Press’ Dane Mizutani that he’s 100 percent now and his hand should no longer be a problem.

The Vikings will hit the field again on Thursday for a walk-thru at 10:30 a.m. CT and then conduct their second training camp practice at 2:45 p.m. CT.