EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The last time the Vikings took the field, receiver Stefon Diggs made an impressive debut.
Linebacker Edmond Robinson, another late-round 2015 draft pick, is likely to hit the field for the first time in a regular season game Sunday when Minnesota hosts Kansas City.
Like many young players, special teams might be the area where Robinson first plays. Aside from the preseason, Robinson hasn't played special teams since his freshman and sophomore seasons at Newberry College in South Carolina.
"It's been a while since I've played in a game, so I'm looking forward to it," Robinson, a seventh-round selection said. "Each week you go in preparing and you never know when your name is going to be called, but to get the nod earlier this week and seeing you'll have a chance to play is definitely something you've been looking for.
"Whether it's one play or 10 plays, I'm just happy to get the opportunity to dress and go out there and show what I can do on special teams," Robinson added. "If they do call me on defense or something, then I'll be ready to go."
Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer said he's enjoyed working with Robinson from his first day at Winter Park.
"Edmond is a big, strong young man that can run. He's smart," Priefer said. "People think that just because he didn't play at a big school that he can't handle the NFL, I think he's going to do a great job for us. We expect big things from him on special teams and I look forward to getting him out there."
Priefer said Robinson was focused in preparations for weeks in which he was unlikely to play.
"He's taken it very seriously, even though he wasn't playing early, getting a little discouraged like any young player would," Priefer said. "He's hung in there mentally and physically. He's ready to go."
*Related: Faith, Charleston memories ****guide Robinson***
Diggs' routes:As for Diggs' debut, Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday, "I thought he did everything we asked him to do."
Diggs had six catches for 87 yards (14.5 yards per catch) at Denver, which tied him for the most catches by a Vikings rookie in his debut game. Running back Chuck Foreman caught six passes in 1973, and Jim Brim caught six during the 1987 players' strike.
"I thought (Diggs) ran his routes good," Turner said. "He was very sharp mentally and obviously, he's showing the same thing he's shown us since he got here. He's very good at attacking the ball, catching the ball in tight areas."
Evaluating Exum:Defensive Coordinator George Edwards was asked this week* *about the progress of safety Antone Exum Jr.
"He's come a long way and he's doing a lot better job with the communication," Edwards said. "He's doing a lot better job with the awareness. Here's a kid who came out of college, was a corner and now all of a sudden we move him to safety last year and just adjusting to all of the things that we're asking him to do.
"He's doing a good job paying attention to the details, asking good questions, working on what we're trying to do from a week-to-week game plan," Edwards added. "We're preparing him like everybody else to get out there and compete and try to use his skillset to help us."
Health and confidence boost: Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was asked why he thought Matt Kalil would be able to bounce back from a couple of rough patches in 2014 when he was less than 100 percent.
"You're never really sure, but the one thing about Matt is that he has never missed anything," Zimmer said. "I don't even remember him missing any practices last year, maybe he missed one or two, but when it was game time he always played. And regardless of how bad it was at times, he kept fighting. And we were hopeful that if we continued to work on his technique and fixed those things that that would go. But he's been playing good; I'm proud of the things he's done so far. Hopefully it continues."
Injury reports: For the Vikings, Justin Trattou (foot) did not participate and has been ruled out. Charles Johnson (ribs), Andrew Sendejo (knee) and Rhett Ellison (knee) were limited. Johnson and Sendejo are questionable; Ellison is probable. Mike Wallace (knee), Jarius Wright (hand) and Jabari Price (shoulder) fully participated and are listed as probable.
For the Chiefs: LB Josh Mauga (groin/Achilles) and NT Dontari Poe (ankle) did not participate for a third straight day and have been ruled out. LB Tamba Hali (knee) did not participate for a second straight day and is listed as questionable. CB Jamell Fleming (elbow), TE Travis Kelce (groin/neck), TE James O'Shaughnessy (hand) and TE Brian Parker (finger) fully participated and are listed as probable.
Game-day travel advisory: Click** here** for a traffic advisory regarding a community march and rally that is planned before Sunday's game.
