EAGAN, Minn. — Cam Robinson got a warm Minnesota welcome despite Thursday's gray skies, mid-30s temp and light, swirling snow showers.

"I know I didn't bring that with me," Robinson said, "because in Jacksonville it was about 70-something."

After Robinson's first session with the Vikings on Thursday he retreated from the Indoor Practice Facility at TCO Performance Center into the locker room. He returned a few minutes later to discuss his first day in Purple, getting his feet wet with new verbiage and teammates, and prospects of playing on Sunday.

Straight to that latter point, Robinson said he's not sure yet if he'll make his Vikings debut on Sunday Night Football.

The 6-foot-6, 335-pound tackle looks like he'd be ready to stonewall the NFL's best defensive end tomorrow; playing the Colts is second nature, too. But there's no rush in determining his Week 9 status.

"We're just taking it all in right now, trying to be a sponge," he said. "Still kind of feeling all that out."

Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson loved what he saw from Robinson in the huddle Thursday and expects that he will be embraced by a culture of camaraderie — and be able to play freely on the field as a result.

"We're going to make him feel at home," Jefferson stated. "That's the lovely thing about this team. …Being at a place that wants him here, I'm pretty sure he's going to go out there and fly around."

Robinson is from Monroe, Louisiana; he played college football in the South at Alabama; and started 94 games, including three in the playoffs, for one of the NFL's southernmost teams from 2017-2024. But a crossover with Ezra Cleveland, who was traded by the Vikings to Jacksonville last season and played at Robinson's right hip on the Jaguars, prepared him mentally, in a roundabout way, for his new adventure.

"He used to tell me stories and used to tell me how [Minnesota] was," Robinson said. "I knew a little bit."

Robinson knows even more about the Vikings next three opponents: Indy, Jacksonville and Tennessee.

"It made me kind of comfortable, honestly," said Robinson, aware of the scheduling quirk that has Minnesota playing three consecutive AFC South teams. "It was one of the first things I did when I found out about the trade – went and looked at the schedule."

Robinson won seven of 11 games against Indianapolis during his Jacksonville tenure, including Week 5 this year against a banged-up Colts defensive front. In that game, Robinson kept Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence upright and battled with top defensive draft pick Laiatu Latu on close to a dozen snaps.

"Immediately, the first thing that jumped out to me was just his motor," Robinson said. "He plays hard. He's a young guy, so he's still raw, obviously. But he's going to be a great player. He plays his [tail] off."

As for Robinson – the person and player – the Vikings are getting a great one.

Vikings cornerback Shaq Griffin said Robinson is aggressive and a natural leader. That's why he evokes confidence from his teammates, no matter if they've worn the same uniform for several years or a day.

"A lot of people are not going to try him," said Griffin, who overlapped with Robinson on the Jaguars from 2021-22 and is part of the same Dallas-based training group in the offseason. "He's a reliable teammate. Somebody that you can depend on. Someone who's gonna bring the fight to everybody."

That on-field aggression was camouflaged talking to reporters.

Robinson described his personality as "laid back" and "calm." That's why he's not overwhelmed; it's why he's accepting of the Week 9 trade and of leaving the single franchise he played for since he was drafted.

He seemed cool as a cucumber in the warmth of his new team's headquarters.

"I kind of just try to take everything in stride," Robinson said, noting the Vikings' interest to acquire him is an honor. "Obviously, [there's] a lot going on and it's a lot of change. … But nothing I can't handle.

"Any time you're wanted, it makes you feel good – especially by a team of this caliber and a team that's playing this well," he added. "I've welcomed it and they've welcomed me. [I'm] just happy to be here."