EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — School's out for summer.
Vikings rookies, including the eight members of the 2016 Draft Class, departed Winter Park on Wednesday after concluding an NFL program for first-year players.
They've all departed for their respective homes or sites where they will train before reporting to Verizon Vikings Training Camp next month.
Sixth-round pick Moritz Böhringer said last week he plans to visit his native country of Germany for a bit during the break. Böhringer has been stateside since coming to Florida earlier this year to train.
Böhringer recently reflected on his first two months in the NFL, noting that the grind and environment was what he expected.
"I pretty much expected that I'd have to learn a lot," Böhringer said. "I think I've done pretty good."
When Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer scrapped the final minicamp practice last week, there were cheers and sighs of relief from some players.
Böhringer, the first player drafted directly out of Europe without first playing college football, said he wouldn't have minded a third day to continuing improving his game..
"I wanted to practice," Böhringer said. "It's always good to get some more reps but I was fine with that.
"Most of the time it's a mental thing," Böhringer said. "I'm not 100 percent comfortable with the playbook but I think that will come over time."
The 22-year-old played for the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns in the German Football League in 2015, where he caught 70 passes for 1,461 yards and 16 touchdowns, all while using a playbook he said only had five or six formations.
The Vikings playbook certainly features much more complex assignments than that.
"I think, especially in the last few days, I've gotten more comfortable with the playbook," Böhringer said. "We have a lot of formations, a lot of motions, that's the biggest difference."
Böhringer said he's turned to Vikings wide receivers coach George Stewart and assistant wide receivers coach Drew Petzing for help, along with teammates such as Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
Off the field, Böhringer said he eats dinner with fellow rookies Jake Ganus, Joel Stave and David Morgan every day.
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Böhringer said he's excited about the challenge of strapping on the pads and going full speed against the Vikings defense at training camp, which begins July 28 in Mankato.
"I think it will change a lot and I have no idea what to expect," Böhringer said. "We'll see in training camp."
Until then, Böhringer will continue to enhance his skills and keep adjusting to life as an NFL player.
"It's been a lot of fun," Böhringer said. "I still have to get used to it, that it's my job now and not just a hobby."
