EAGAN, Minn. — The nature of an NFL training camp is such where everyone knows it is day one or day two.
As the reps pile up, however, the days kind of become melded into a continuous routine.
Entering his fourth camp with the Vikings, Stefon Diggs has learned the path to progress is less about counting days and more about making days count.
On Saturday, Diggs was targeted with a pass by Kirk Cousins in a late-game scenario on a fourth-and-3. Cornerback Trae Waynes broke up the pass with an alert play.
On Sunday, however, the scenario du jour from Head Coach Mike Zimmer placed the ball inside the red zone just before halftime and with the first-team offense trailing by 10. Diggs secured an 8-yard touchdown catch on an in route.
"It's still the beginning, it's still early and it's still fresh, so we're still trying to work toward something," Diggs said. "Just not counting the days, but making the days count. It's only day two, so it's still early, but we're definitely working in the right direction."
Diggs and Cousins connected on a deep pass brilliantly placed by the quarterback and secured by the receiver with a keen focus despite Waynes' proximity, but the offensive duo was unable to hook up on a play against a zone look.
Diggs believes Cousins will keep taking shots, an **opinion similarly explained** by Adam Thielen on Saturday.
"One thing about Kirk, he trusts his guys," Diggs said. "He's going to take his chances when he can, and he is real smart. Only way to get better at it is to do it. I take it this way, sprinters get better by running. You're going to have to do it, regardless. So, for us, just keep repping it, keep going after it."
Thus, every day is vital for an offense with a new quarterback under new OC John DeFilippo.
Zimmer said he's been pleased with Diggs' performance through organized team activity practices and the start of camp.
"He's worked real hard, he had a really good OTAs, he's had a really good camp [these] couple days," Zimmer said. "[He's] running his routes good, catching the ball good. His speed looks great, and he's just doing a lot of good things."
Diggs became the fastest Vikings player to record 200 receptions, doing so in his 40th regular-season game to cap the 2017 season, but he's made it a point to keep taking points from DeFilippo and receivers coach Darrell Hazell.
"Just listening to every guy that I have as far as learning and really dedicating my time to being a great and trying to perfect my craft," Diggs said. "Right now I am just a worker bee again, another training camp trying to get better."
