EAGAN, Minn. — "WOOOO!"

Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was among players who were excited to put full pads on Monday for the first time of 2024 Vikings Training Camp.

"It got a little hot out here, but it was fun to see that first little action of what the season is kind of going to look like with everybody with the pads on," Greenard said. "We had a 2-minute at the end that kind of put us into a game situation.

"It's one of those things that if you're not ready for when the pads come on, you're in the wrong profession," he added. "They say if you're scared, go to church. We're already out here, so ain't no waving a white flag."

Tackle Christian Darrisaw, fresh off signing his extension to remain under contract with the Vikings through the 2029 season, said "it's camp finally."

"That's what it feels like, especially being out here in this heat. That's when the heat comes out, once we put the pads on. It's fun, getting back in the rhythm," Darrisaw said. "We haven't had our pads on since January, so being able to get that first day out of the way, and now we get to keep stacking them and getting back in the rhythm."

The Pepsi patch sewn on Darrisaw's purple No. 71 practice jersey had some of the stitching ripped during the day's action, illustrating a bump in physicality.

Second-year linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr., also welcomed the return of pads.

"After the season last year, I was ready to go after two weeks. I ain't gonna lie to you. I was ready to get back on the field," Pace said. "It's fun to be back out here, knowing that we had the ramp-up days, put the helmets on and then padded shoulder pads and now we're out here with the pads on for real, so it's getting dirty."

Here are three observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:

1. Bynum's clutch in the moment

Last season, Camryn Bynum helped close out Minnesota's Week 7 win over San Francisco with his second interception of the night.

On Monday, Bynum brought a quick end to a situational period between the first-team offense and defense.

Bynum broke in front of Sam Darnold's pass for Justin Jefferson on the first snap of the practice period.

The offense had begun at its 35-yard line with a fresh set of downs and trailing 13-10 with 55 seconds left in the second quarter.

It capped a nice day for Bynum, who also made an impressive pass breakup on a throw intended for Brandon Powell.

After the interception, the rookie QB J.J. McCarthy faced the same scenario.

He worked the football to running backs Kene Nwangwu (two catches for 12 yards) and Myles Gaskin (one for 14 yards), as well as a 7-yard completion to Trishton Jackson. The pass to Gaskin moved the ball to about the 32-yard line of the defense just before stopping the clock with a spike. A kick was not attempted.

Darnold and the first-team offense returned for another attempt at the scenario. He converted a third-and-10 with a pass to Powell and threw a completion to Jalen Nailor for a gain of 49 yards, but it looked like he would have been sacked by rookie outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy.

2. Keeping up with Jones

Much — understandably — has been made of who the Vikings added at outside linebacker during free agency and the draft, but a returnee at the position also flashed on Monday.

Pat Jones II, who is preparing for his fourth pro season, turned in a nice rep while working against right tackle Brian O'Neill during 1-on-1 drills. Jones also flashed at multiple points during other practice periods, working on the outside and then kicking in to rush from an interior defensive line position on passing downs.

3. Ward lines up outside

Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores loves to be versatile, particularly with players in the secondary.

Another sign of this occurred Monday when second-year pro Jay Ward, who has done most of his work at safety, began some plays at an outside cornerback position.

Byron Murphy, Jr., and Akayleb Evans were the outside corners with the first grouping on defense, but the Vikings will continue to evaluate their options as they build their depth after Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL and Shaq Griffin suffered a soft tissue injury last week.