The Minnesota Vikings took the day off Sunday after an eventful scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. Fans piled in the facility, D.J. Wonnum scored a defensive touchdown, and a formal kicking competition commenced between Greg Joseph and rookie Riley Patterson.
Monday began a new week at training camp in Eagan as the team prepares for a preseason bout with the Denver Broncos this weekend.
Here are the four notable takeaways from Day 11 of the Vikings 2021 training camp.
1. Anthony Barr Returns
In the shadows of the COVID vaccine hullabaloo for the Vikings, Anthony Barr quietly missed time from practice. There was no true verdict as to his whereabouts or the why for his absence, but the Vikings ran operations sans Barr for a few days.
As of Monday, Barr is back.
The UCLA alumnus is a Zimmer favorite — his first pick as a head coach in the NFL draft all the way back in 2014. The digital stratosphere suggests something fishy was going on with Barr. That will likely never be known now as Barr returned to camp — and Zimmer downplayed the sabbatical.
#Vikings LB Anthony Barr is back at practice today after missing 3 of the last 4 practices.
Barr was not at U.S. Bank Stadium for Saturday’s workout.
Mike Zimmer: “I’m just taking care of him. I told him not to come to the stadium the other day. Everything is good.” @FOX9
— Jeff Wald (@JeffWaldFox9) August 9, 2021
“Don’t come to the stadium” is puzzling, generally indicating a disciplinary matter for a young player. Barr is not crazy young, and the discipline stuff is speculative.
Barr’s back. And according to Zimmer, it was no big deal.
2. D.J. Wonnum Get First-Team DE Action
It’s not quite a where you when? moment, but Wonnum taking first-team snaps is noteworthy. For the bulk of the offseason following the initial free agency period, onlookers of the Vikings wondered which player will play defensive end opposite Danielle Hunter.
The betting money is (or was?) on Stephen Weatherly, who spent four seasons in Minnesota before trekking to Carolina for a one-year adventure. Weatherly returned to the Vikings in March.
Now, though, the tide may be turning — in favor of D.J. Wonnum. The second-year EDGE rusher, most known for his game-ending sack on Aaron Rodgers last November, is making plays while being utilized as a hybrid standup linebacker and EDGE rusher. It’s a brave new world for Zimmer — delving into 3-4 waters. Wonnum even took a pick-six to the house off Jake Browning at the Saturday night scrimmage.
On Monday, his reward, so to speak, was starting reps with the first team.
DJ Wonnum in at first-team LE, Stephen Weatherly with the 2’s
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) August 9, 2021
When looking back at August in the rearview, this may be the beginning of Wonnum’s ascension to increased usage in the Vikings defense. We shall see.
3. Vikings Sign WR
Obsessive personalities following the Vikings were a bit surprised on Monday when the team signed Warren Jackson. He’s a Colorado State alumnus — the Vikings enjoy those — standing 6’6″ tall.
The #Vikings have signed WR Warren Jackson (@WideOutNation18).
📰: https://t.co/7EjuTu9Xov pic.twitter.com/7zkZG0D6D8
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 9, 2021
Nobody really knew that Minnesota was in the market for another pass-catcher because Dede Westbrook was considered the missing link when he was signed a couple of weeks ago. Then, the other Colorado State product, Bisi Johnson, was lost for the season around the same time that Kirk Cousins was held out of team activities. The Johnson news flew under the radar, trimming the WR count on the Vikings roster by one notable name. Evidently, the Vikings needed one more wide receiver.
That’s Jackson. His odds of making the 53-man roster are a longshot, but Zimmer and friends are giving him a look. Collin Johnson of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the tallest wide receiver in the league last season, towering at 6’6″ like Jackson. If the new Viking makes the team, he’s instantly one of the NFL’s tallest wide receivers.
4. Cousins Getting Groove Back
The media temperature has lowered since Cousins’ press conference last week. The Vikings quarterback doubled down on a commitment to increased distancing measures while seemingly declining any notion of getting the COVID vaccine. As a matter of personal preference, that is totally up to him.
His performance will dictate the long-term fallout of his decision. If he lights it up in 2021, folks will forget about his vaccine beliefs. Should he struggle and the Vikings lose ballgames, scrutiny toward Cousins — for everything — will be relentless. We’ve seen it before.
As for training camp on Monday, Cousins was on-point, delivering dazzling throws and empowering his receivers to score.
Kirk throwing DIMES today.
— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) August 9, 2021
The Vikings need that version of Cousins now through February.
