Vikings.com staff members Mike Wobschall (**@Wobby**), Lindsey Young (**@LindseyMNSports**), Eric Smith (**@EricLSmith**), Craig Peters (**@pcraigers**), and Chris Corso (**@CACorso**) will provide some quick hitters on this page that will be updated throughout a busy media Wednesday at Winter Park.
On the docket today is a morning podium session for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Sam Bradford. Other Vikings players will speak during open locker room this morning.
Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is scheduled to talk on a conference call with Twin Cities media at 1:00 PM. Houston's Head Coach Bill O'Brien is scheduled to speak on a call at 1:15 PM.
Follow the running log below for Wednesday's news going forward:
3:15 PM - Practice Begins for Texans
The Vikings have begun prepartion on the practice fields for the Houston Texans. The team's first practice at Winter Park is underway Wednesday afternoon and the first injury report of the week will be released following practice.
2:10 PM - Eyeing the Other Side
The Vikings defense ranks second in the NFL in points allowed with 12.5 and is second in sacks with 15.
Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler has taken notice.
Speaking to the Twin Cities media on a conference call Wednesday afternoon, Osweiler needed just one word to sum up Minnesota's defense — wow.
"There's a lot to say about them and a lot of good to say about them," Osweiler said. "When you watch that unit on tape, they really grab your eye."
Osweiler rattled off the strengths of each level of the unit, praising Linval Joseph's run stuffing ability and the athleticism of linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks. He also praised Minnesota's "savvy" secondary for their aggressiveness.
Osweiler has completed 61.6 percent of his passes this season, throwning for 949 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
12:14 PM - Zimmer on Franchise Quarterbacks
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer addressed the media Wednesday morning as he prepares his team during a short week to host the Houston Texans (3-1) on Sunday at noon.
The former defensive coordinator has spent his career in the NFL plotting schemes against quarterbacks and he realizes how special it is to have one at that position who can get the job done.
"That's what it's all about," Zimmer said. "Having a guy that can play quarterback. You know it's still the toughest position to play in sports and most franchises are riding on this guy. We were fortunate enough to have Teddy (Bridgewater) and we were fortunate enough to get Sam (Bradford)."
As for this week's opponent, Zimmer has noticed some of the strengths of Houston's gunslinger Brock Osweiler.
"He's got an extremely strong arm and for a big guy he's mobile," Zimmer said. "He seems to know where to go with the football."
12:08 PM - Patterson on Bradford's Leadership
Coming off a successful game against the Giants in which he made five catches, including a big 21-yard play, Cordarrelle Patterson said he appreciates Sam Bradford's leadership and the way he's become so comfortable with the offense in just a month.
"He's the quarterback; he's the voice," Patterson said. "He takes over when he has to, and we're going to listen to him because he's the man. He demands what he wants, and that's what we need out of a quarterback. If we're not doing something right, we know [he will] stand up and say something to us."
Patterson said the team isn't surprised by Bradford's catching on so quickly.
"We all know what kind of player he is and what kind of years he's had," Patterson said. "He's been a successful quarterback, and those are the things he does. They did a good job going to get him, and he's been doing a heck of a job himself coming in and studying – nobody can do it for you, and he took leadership on his own."
12:04 PM - Running for Daylight
The Vikings ground game had trouble getting going through the first three weeks of the season.
Minnesota ran the ball 74 times for 153 yards, just over 2.0 yards per carry, against Tennessee, Green Bay and Carolina. The Vikings didn't score a rushing touchdown in any of the first three games.
But the Vikings had their best rushing game of the season Monday against the Giants, going for 104 yards on 33 carries for a 3.2 yards-per-carry average.
Running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata each also found the end zone for the first time.
Vikings right guard Brandon Fusco said Monday's performance is a positive, but the team still has a ways to go to be consistent on the ground.
"It gave us a little confidence going forward. I think we can build off that," Fusco said. "I don't think it's where we want to be yet, but it's a step forward."
11:54 AM - Bradford-Rudy Connection
Sam Bradford is preparing for his 4th start for the Vikings on Sunday against Houston.
The quarterback has thrown for 719 yards, 4 touchdowns and has zero interceptions so far with Minnesota.
Three of those touchdowns have been thrown to one of his biggest targets in tight end Kyle Rudolph.
"Obviously it really helps anytime you have a target like Kyle," Bradford said. "He's got a big body, a big catch radius and I think he just does a really good job of using his body to shield defenders."
Rudolph and Bradford connected for a 7-yard touchdown in the victory over the New York Giants in Week 4 and the Vikings quarterback appreciates the chemistry he has with his new teammate.
"It's one of those guys that being here a month we kind of clicked and I've got a lot of trust in him," Bradford said. "Obviously if we can get him matched up with a corner back safety he's usually going to be bigger than those guys. Like I said he's really good at being physical especially through the catch."
10:15 PM - Coaching Classmates
Minnesota's Mike Zimmer and Houston's Bill O'Brien were hired by their teams in 2014 and have had nearly identical results.
Zimmer is 22-14 in regular-season games with an NFC North title in 2015, and O'Brien is 21-15 with an AFC South title a season ago. Both went 0-1 in the playoffs.
Only four of the seven coaches hired in 2014 remain in place; Detroit's Jim Caldwell (19-17) and Washington's Jay Gruden (15-21) are the other two, and each of their teams have made the postseason once.
Mike Pettine (10-22 in two seasons in Cleveland), Ken Whisenhunt (3-20 in less than two seasons in Tennessee) and Lovie Smith (8-24 in two seasons with Tampa Bay) were the other coaches hired in 2014.
Zimmer and O'Brien are scheduled to have media sessions today.
