Inside The Vikings

Watch: Lewis Cine, Byron Murphy Jr. at Day 1 of Vikings OTAs

Cine appears to be moving extremely well less than eight months after his major injury.
Will Ragatz|
Watch: Lewis Cine, Byron Murphy Jr. at Day 1 of Vikings OTAs
Watch: Lewis Cine, Byron Murphy Jr. at Day 1 of Vikings OTAs

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings OTAs got underway at TCO Performance Center on Monday. Reporters weren't allowed to attend — we'll be there on Tuesday — but the team shared various clips of the first day of action on its social media platforms.

One big standout is that second-year safety Lewis Cine continues to look great. Less than eight months after suffering a compound fracture of his left leg in London, the second-year safety out of Georgia appears to be moving at very close to 100 percent. That's huge for the Vikings, who are undoubtedly hoping the 2022 first-round pick seizes a starting job at safety alongside Harrison Smith this season.

Numerous veteran players practiced for the first time in a Vikings uniform. That includes cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., the team's marquee free agent acquisition. The former Cardinals second-round pick, who is still just 25 years old, will be the Vikings' top corner this season. Murphy will play on the outside in three-linebacker "base" defense and spend significant time in the slot when Minnesota is in nickel. The Vikings need him to lead their young CB room, on and off the field.

Murphy makes a nice pass breakup at the 40-second mark of this video posted by the team:

Fellow free agent signee Marcus Davenport, wearing his new No. 0 jersey, was also out there for the first time. He'll be counted on to bring a major impact off the edge, especially now that Za'Darius Smith has been traded.

No sign of Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Cook, or Justin Jefferson just yet. Look for plenty of coverage to come from Tuesday's OTA practice on this site.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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