After a day off Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings had big plans for Sunday’s practice, where they would run a pair of game-like simulations, treating them like the final 10 minutes of a fourth quarter. But the day started out on a rocky note as the Vikings were notified that eight players, one coach and three staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Nobody’s panicking yet, though. The Vikings were one of several teams around the league to receive an inordinate number of positive tests after weeks of encouraging results. Many of those tests around the league have been confirmed to be false positives, but until the Vikings get clarification, their 12 employees will be quarantined and kept away from football activities.
“I would say for us, it’s probably good that it happened now,” said head coach Mike Zimmer, putting a positive spin on the situation, “since we’re able to adjust and adapt and figure out the things if it did happen during the season and kind of what we would do from there.”
The Vikings also moved practice indoors to keep their depleted roster out of the 90-degree heat. Due to the team’s media policy, only one pool reporter was allowed to enter the building. The pool report indicated the following Vikings were absent: Dillon Mitchell, Alexander Hollins, C.J. Ham, Eric Kendricks, Ezra Cleveland, Kenny Willekes, Nakia Griffin-Stewart and Jalyn Holmes. Assistant special teams coach Ryan Ficken was also absent.
Danielle Hunter was present but missed his seventh straight practice, while Anthony Barr sat out as well.
Other notes from the pool report:
- CB Kris Boyd returned to practice after missing Friday.
- With Hunter still out and Holmes absent, Eddie Yarbrough moved up to take first-team defensive end reps.
- With Barr sitting out and Kendricks absent, Troy Dye, Jordan Fehr and Blake Lynch all reportedly got first-team work at linebacker.
- During their simulated fourth quarter, the Vikings first-team offense produced two field goals by Dan Bailey.
We’ll see if the Vikings get their full team back for Monday’s practice at 1:45 p.m.
