Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2018: Day 9 recap
By Adam Patrick
Offense on Day 9:
Cook and Easton held out of practice
A day after telling the local media how pumped he is to play in an actual game, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was a non-participant in Saturday night’s session. Cook was likely held out for precautionary reasons by Minnesota in an effort to take their time bringing him back onto the field due to his knee injury last season.
Minnesota offensive lineman Nick Easton also did not participate in the team’s practice. Easton was also absent from the team’s morning walk-thru on Saturday, but no reason for him missing practice has been reported at this time.
Handful of other Vikings sit Saturday out
Since they began training camp a little more than a week ago, Minnesota easily had their highest number of players out of action for Saturday’s practice. Offensive lineman Mike Remmers, running back Roc Thomas, and receivers Tavarres King and Chad Beebe were all non-participants on Saturday along with Cook and Easton.
Zylstra making the most of his chances
With King and Beebe sitting out with injuries, some of the young receivers on the Vikings’ current roster were able to get more reps on Saturday. Fighting for a spot on Minnesota’s final 53, receiver Brandon Zylstra made the most of his increased opportunities.
Brandon Zylstra gets the crowd going with consecutive leaping grabs down the sideline, finishing with a tiptoe snag against Holton Hill. Impressive stretch for Zylstra.
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) August 5, 2018
The local Minnesota product has received a lot of praise from teammates and coaches this year and figures to have a good shot at making the team’s regular season roster if he continues to play well.
Wieneke puts in extra work after practice
Like Zylstra, rookie wide receiver Jake Wieneke is also fighting to be among those chosen for the Vikings’ final roster this season. The 6-foot-4, 221 pound pass catcher knows he has his work cut out for him since he was undrafted this year, but he is doing his best to prove that he’ll put in the extra time to perfect his craft.
While most #Vikings are calling it a night before the fireworks at TCO, Jake Wieneke is steadily working on sideline catches.
— Hobie (@HeyItsMeHobie) August 5, 2018
The Maple Grove native making the most of this pro opportunity. pic.twitter.com/oTaN6sDsZN https://t.co/rj2tCHOL8H
Will staying after practice to put in more work help Wieneke’s chances of making Minnesota’s 2018 roster? Who knows, but it definitely won’t hurt his chances.