EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings got back to work Sunday, practicing for nearly two hours in full pads at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
It was a presumed vet day for a handful of offensive players, as Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph and Riley Reiff did not practice.
Tackle Rashod Hill and defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Kenny Willekes also did not practice. Neither did linebacker Ben Gedeon, who is currently on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List.
Sunday's practice was the last full session open to the media. There is limited availability going forward.
View photos of Vikings players from Verizon Vikings Training Camp practice at TCO Performance Center.
Here are three observations from Sunday's session presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud Ophthalmology Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
1. Shuffling the O-line
With Reiff and Hill not practicing, the Vikings had a different look at tackle.
Brian O'Neill switched to the left side, which allowed Oli Udoh to bump up to the right side with the first team. The interior of Dakota Dozier, Garrett Bradbury and Pat Elflein remained intact from past practices.
Dozier took all of the first-team reps at left guard, and Aviante Collins spent practice as the second-team left tackle. Ezra Cleveland stayed at left guard, and was next to center Brett Jones, right guard Dru Samia and right tackle Blake Brandel with the second unit.
Dozier, Elflein, Udoh and Jones were impressive in 1-on-1 drills, as were defensive linemen Ifeadi Odenigbo, D.J. Wonnum and Eddie Yarbrough.
2. 20/20 vision for Bailey
It's no secret Dan Bailey has been locked in during camp. The veteran kicker continued his successful ways Sunday by making three more kicks.
After hitting an extra point plus field goals of 39 and 46 yards, Bailey has now made all 20 attempts of kicks during team periods open to the media in training camp.
He ended the regular season with 19 straight field goals and ran that number to 22 consecutive makes after Minnesota's postseason run.
With the Vikings two weeks from the season opener against the Packers, Bailey appears ready to go for the 2020 season.
3. Lots of 3rd down work
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer put the pressure on his team by spending a good portion of practice working on third downs Sunday.
Minnesota worked on third-and-short situations and plays near the goal line before spending a team drill trying to convert on third downs.
With Thielen getting the day off, Tajaé Sharpe took first-team reps and was a noticeable target of Kirk Cousins. Alexander Hollins also worked himself open with the top two units.
Minnesota's offense ranked eighth in 2019 by converting 42.8 percent on third downs. The defense was 19th as they allowed conversions 39.7 percent of the time.
