Nope.
They re the 2021 Minnesota Vikings working on gridiron improvements instead of marching in the name of intergalactic dominance.
You may have noticed some pictures and videos released earlier this week on Vikings.com showed players on the field for Organized Team Activity practices wearing plain white, soft-padded helmets instead of the hard-shelled Purple with horn decals. Andy Kenutis/Minnesota Vikings
Longtime Vikings Equipment Manager Dennis Ryan said Head Coach Mike Zimmer brought up the idea as a way to try to reduce the effects of incidental contact while still providing protection.
An accidental helmet to the thigh, especially at a time of year when players aren t wearing pads, could essentially wipe out the remaining on-field participation during OTAs to allow muscles to rehab.
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EAGAN, Minn. – It s a limited sample size, to be sure, but Head Coach Mike Zimmer has appreciated what he s seen from the team s 2021 draft class throughout the first two days of Vikings rookie minicamp.
Zimmer spoke to Twin Cities media members prior to Saturday afternoon s practice and fielded questions about a number of Minnesota s newest members.
This weekend has provided Zimmer the opportunity to see first-round selection Christian Darrisaw on-field rather than just studying tape of the former Virginia Tech tackle. Christian s a very good athlete, really good feet, good size. So far he s done a really nice job with the technique of things; so it s so far, so good, Zimmer said during his videoconference. We ve really seen him in two walk-throughs and one practice, so we ll get to know these guys a lot better as we move forward.
1. Back to back … and back again?
The Vikings start the 2021 season with back-to-back road games at Cincinnati and Arizona, respectively.
Minnesota hasn t kicked off a season with consecutive away contests in Head Coach Mike Zimmer s tenure. The last time it occurred was in 2013, when the Vikings faced the Lions and Bears on the road in Weeks 1 and 2.
But that s not the only time Minnesota will face back-to-back weeks away from U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings are on the road Weeks 9 (Ravens) and 10 (Chargers), home in Week 11 to host the Packers and then travel for Weeks 12 (49ers) and 13 (Lions).
2. Seattle off the board early
5 Things to Know About New Vikings DE Janarius Robinson
Minnesota Vikings
Craig Peters
EAGAN, Minn. - A Vikings squad expected to bolster its pass rush did so a couple of times during the 2021 NFL Draft, including with the selection of Janarius (pronounced juh-narr-iss) Robinson out of Florida State in the fourth round.
The No. 134 overall pick will join Pittsburgh s DE Patrick Jones II (third round, 90th overall) and DT Jaylen Twyman (sixth round, 199th overall) as members of the draft class and defensive line room.
Robinson was asked about pre-draft interactions with Vikings Assistant Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator Andre Patterson, who will be coaching the defensive line for an eighth consecutive season, and described good conversations.
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