On-field testing officially kicked off on Friday from the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Offensive linemen, running backs and specialists will hit the field first for timing and testing drills Friday. On Saturday, it will be quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends, followed by defensive linemen and linebackers Sunday. The defensive backs will wrap up on-field workouts Monday.
Plenty of attention annually surrounds the 40-yard dash, and players who clock in faster – or slower – than expected receive some media buzz. The event's record time was most recently set by receiver John Ross, who ran the 40 in 4.22 seconds at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah doesn't believe that Ross' record "is in serious danger" this week, but he did **make predictions on who the five fastest draft-eligible athletes will be**. His projections included four wide receivers and a cornerback. Jeremiah topped his list with Ohio State CB Kendall Scheffield, writing the following:
Sheffield has legit track accolades from his time at Ohio State. In fact, he set the school indoor record a year ago in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.663 seconds. He can roll! When I studied him on tape, he showed the ability to recover in a hurry whenever he was caught out of position. I expect him to run the 40 in the low 4.3s.
UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella also received accolades from Jeremiah:
Isabella is the name that comes up the most when polling NFL scouts about which player will run the fastest here at the combine. He won the 100-meter dash in the 2015 Ohio High School Athletic Association Regional Track Meet with a time of 10.51 seconds, besting current Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (10.68) in the event. Ward ripped off a 4.32 40 here in Indianapolis last year, which tied for the fastest time among cornerbacks. Isabella should land in that range, with some chance he could crack 4.30. I'll go on record and make my prediction: 4.35.
Ohio State WR Parris Campbell, Georgia WR Mecole Hardman and Mississippi WR D.K. Metcalf, who garnered attention for his physical measurements Thursday, were the other three athletes that Jeremiah expects to be speedy.
View NFL Scouting Combine drills with offensive lineman, runnings backs, special teams and place kickers on Friday.
Alabama offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher
Rice kicker Jack Fox competes in the vertical jump.
40-yard dash
Stanford kicker Jake Bailey runs the 40-yard dash.
Missouri offensive lineman Paul Adams runs the 40-yard dash.
Indiana long snapper Dan Godsil runs the 40-yard dash.
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams
Stanford kicker Jake Bailey competes in the vertical jump.
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray runs a drill.
Indiana long snapper Dan Godsil runs the 40-yard dash.
Stanford offensive lineman Nate Herbig runs a drill.
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt runs a drill.
Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes
Stanford kicker Jake Bailey runs the 40-yard dash.
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams
Missouri offensive lineman Paul Adams runs a drill.
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes
Utah kicker Mitch Wishnowsky runs the 40-yard dash.
40-yard dash
Florida offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor
South Carolina offensive lineman Dennis Daley runs a drill.
Stanford offensive lineman Nate Herbig runs a drill.
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard and NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes runs the 40-yard dash.
NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury runs a drill.
Rice kicker Jack Fox runs the 40-yard dash.
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford
Florida offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor
Stanford offensive lineman Nate Herbig runs the 40-yard dash.
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray, Georgia offensive lineman Lamont Gaillard and Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards
Wisconsin offensive lineman Michael Deiter runs the 40-yard dash.
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford, Oklahoma offensive lineman Bobby Evans, and Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford and Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford runs the 40-yard dash.
Wisconsin offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel runs the 40-yard.
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray runs the 40-yard dash.
NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury runs the 40-yard dash.
NC State offensive lineman Tyler Jones
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard runs the 40-yard dash.
Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards runs the 40-yard dash.
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray
Oklahoma offensive lineman Bobby Evans runs the 40-yard dash.
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard runs the 40-yard dash.
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt runs the 40-yard dash.
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Mississippi State offensive lineman Deion Calhoun runs the 40-yard dash.
Missouri offensive lineman Paul Adams runs the 40-yard dash.
Charlotte offensive lineman Nate Davis runs the 40-yard dash.
Wisconsin offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel runs the 40-yard dash.
South Carolina offensive lineman Dennis Daley runs the 40-yard dash.
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates runs the 40-yard dash.
Utah offensive lineman Jackson Barton runs the 40-yard dash.
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates runs the 40-yard dash.
San Diego State offensive lineman Tyler Roemer
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray
Wisconsin offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt
Ferris State offensive lineman Devon Johnson
Ferris State offensive lineman Devon Johnson competes in the vertical jump.
Mississippi State offensive lineman Deion Calhoun
Stanford offensive lineman Nate Herbig
Ferris State offensive lineman Devon Johnson
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes
Oklahoma offensive lineman Bobby Evans
South Carolina offensive lineman Dennis Daley
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
West Virginia offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste
Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards
Wisconsin offensive lineman Michael Deiter
Utah offensive lineman Jackson Barton
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates
USC offensive lineman Chuma Edoga
Missouri offensive lineman Paul Adams
NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury
NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury
Alabama offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher runs the 40-yard dash.
Mississippi offensive lineman Javon Patterson runs the 40-yard dash.
Morgan State offensive lineman Joshua Miles runs the 40-yard dash.
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Mississippi offensive lineman Greg Little runs the 40-yard dash.
Weber State offensive lineman Iosua Opeta runs the 40-yard dash.
Washington offensive lineman Kaleb McGary runs the 40-yard dash.
UCLA offensive lineman Andre James runs the 40-yard dash.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Erik McCoy runs the 40-yard dash.
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard
Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard runs the 40-yard dash.
Ohio State offensive lineman Michael Jordan
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray
Charlotte offensive lineman Nate Davis
South Carolina offensive lineman Zack Bailey
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt
Wisconsin offensive lineman Michael Deiter
Charlotte offensive lineman Nate Davis
Utah offensive lineman Jackson Barton
Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards
South Carolina offensive lineman Dennis Daley
Mississippi State offensive lineman Deion Calhoun
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates
\HU1_\ runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Washington running back Myles Gaskin runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Kansas State running back Alex Barnes runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Washington running back Myles Gaskin runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Alabama running back Damien Harris runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Washington running back Myles Gaskin runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Florida running back Jordan Scarlett runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Washington State running back James Williams runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Ohio State running back Mike Weber runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Ohio State running back Mike Weber runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Ohio State running back Mike Weber runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
FAU running back Devin Singletary runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Penn State running back Miles Sanders runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Boise State running back Alexander Mattison runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Florida running back Jordan Scarlett runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Florida running back Jordan Scarlett runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Penn State running back Miles Sanders runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Boise State running back Alexander Mattison runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Wisconsin running back Alec Ingold runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Miami running back Travis Homer runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Penn State running back Miles Sanders runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Miami running back Travis Homer runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Wisconsin running back Alec Ingold runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Wisconsin running back Alec Ingold runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Miami running back Travis Homer runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Bears beat writer ranks Vikings 7th-best of Chicago's 2019 opponents
After Chicago finished 12-4 under Head Coach Matt Nagy, the Bears will face a tough schedule for the 2019 campaign.
Matt Eurich, who covers the Bears for 247Sports, on Thursday **ranked Chicago’s opponents from “worst to best”** for the upcoming season. He placed the Vikings seventh on the list, around the middle of the road. Eurich wrote:
Chicago did not have a lot to play for in Week 17 but still went into Minnesota and beat the Vikings by a score of 24-10. The Bears swept the season series against Minnesota, but the Vikings stand to improve this offseason. Minnesota's defense still has all the tools to be one of the NFL's best and that could give Chicago trouble this season.
As an NFC North rival, the Vikings will of course face the Bears twice in 2019, once on the road and once at U.S. Bank Stadium. If history repeats itself, the official 2019 schedule likely will be released in April.
Eurich opined the Vikings to be stronger opponents than the Eagles, Broncos, Redskins, Giants, Lions and Raiders. Tabbed ahead of the Vikings were the Cowboys, Rams, Packers, Chargers, Saints and – topping the list – the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs.
Eurich defended his choice to slate the Packers fourth from the top:
_Some may scoff at the Packers being this high on the list, but they will remain a tough team to beat as long as Aaron Rodgers is under center. The Bears defeated the Packers in Week 15 for the first time since Thanksgiving night back in 2015. The Packers enter this offseason with a lot of needs on both sides of the ball but also have a lot of money to spend in free agency. The team has a chance to get stronger with a solid run in free agency and the draft. _
Vikings team physician honored
Longtime team physician Sheldon Burns, MD, was recognized Thursday in Indianapolis by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.
Burns accepted the 2019 Jerry "Hawk" Rhea Award for Outstanding Team Physician and received an extra shout-out via Twitter from Vikings Vice President of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Eric Sugarman.
