Vikings OTA Recap, 5/30: Observations From Practice at TCO

Some observations from the Vikings' second OTA practice open to the media.

Tuesday was the Vikings' second OTA practice open to media members at TCO Performance Center. Expanding on last week's session, the team conducted 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team periods that lasted more than 30 minutes to conclude practice.

Here are a few quick observations.

• We still didn't see Justin Jefferson (thoughts from Kevin O'Connell here), Danielle Hunter, or Dalvin Cook. All three are dealing with contract situations, although the Vikings don't have to extend Jefferson this offseason. Mandatory minicamp begins on June 13th, so if nothing has been resolved by then, those players will either have to show up to practice or be fined, per the CBA.

• Jordan Addison, once again, didn't participate due to a minor injury. Other injured players include Brian O'Neill, DeWayne McBride, Blake Proehl, and Ross Blacklock. Harrison Phillips and Byron Murphy Jr. appeared to be limited participants.

• Harrison Smith and Jordan Hicks were back after not practicing last week.

• Akayleb Evans appears to be second on the depth chart at cornerback right now. He got major reps with the first-team defense and made a nice pass breakup on a seam route intended for Jalen Nailor to open up 7s. When there were only two CBs on the field in 11s, they were Murphy and Evans.

• Andrew Booth Jr. brings a lot of physicality to the CB position. He made a play through a receiver's body to create a tipped ball that was nearly picked, then may have been a bit too physical covering K.J. Osborn on a play that resulted in Osborn staying down for ten seconds and walking off with trainers. It seems like Osborn may have just gotten the wind knocked out of him after falling.

• Kirk Cousins was quite sharp, as you might expect from a padless OTA practice. He ripped fastballs into small windows, showed off great touch on fade routes to Osborn and Nailor for touchdowns, and worked through several progressions before finding T.J. Hockenson on the backside for a touchdown. 

• Speaking of the wide receivers, O'Connell praised Osborn for taking on a leadership role this spring with Adam Thielen gone and Jefferson absent. He has looked good. The clear No. 4 right now appears to be Nailor, who definitely led last week's practice in receptions and may have done so again on Tuesday. At one point, the second-year wideout from Michigan State made a great sideline TD catch.

• With the second unit, Nick Mullens showed off some chemistry with both Trishton Jackson and Jalen Reagor.

• In 11s, there was a play where Nailor took an end-around and collided pretty hard with safety Cam Bynum. The two dapped up right afterwards, but that was an example of some physicality coming through even in padless OTAs.

• Another highlight of 11s was linebacker Brian Asamoah bursting through the gap for a would-be tackle for loss on Ty Chandler. He's going to be fun to watch this year.

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