6 takeaways from the first portion of Vikings training camp

Special teams jobs are wide open

For the first time since 2010, the Vikings have a new special teams coach this year. After Mike Priefer left to run the special teams for the Cleveland Browns this offseason, Minnesota went ahead and hired former Miami Dolphins assistant Marwan Maalouf to run the unit.

So far, it looks like Maalouf is giving just about anyone on the Vikings’ roster a chance to contribute on special teams in 2019.

Minnesota is need of both a new punt returner and a new kick returner this year and more than a handful of players have been seen taking reps in the role over the past few practices. No clear favorites have seemed to emerge for either job yet though.

The Vikings are also apparently considering someone different to be their holder on field goal attempts this season. Players including Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe, Sean Mannion, Kyle Sloter, Jake Browning, and Kyle Rudolph have all taken a couple of reps at holder during the last few days.

Maalouf has made it pretty clear that he has his own way of running things and hopefully it results in a solid special teams unit for Minnesota in 2019.