Daily Norseman
A few observations from Monday’s practice
I made my way down to TCO Performance Center for the Minnesota Vikings’ first padded practice of the 2025 edition of training camp. It was a hot one- 90+ degrees when the Vikings took the field for their 2:30pm practice.
I’ll take a chronological approach to notes on the practice, starting with position drills and moving on to team drills later.
The first activities I noticed were the punt returner drills that started before practice and included Silas Bolden, Myles Price, Dontae Fleming, Jalen Nailor, Rondale Moore, Tai Felton, and Lucky Jackson back fielding punts from both Ryan Wright and Oscar Chapman.
Once practice officially started, the punt returners were back at it. Silas Bolden got the most reps and was the first one to take reps, followed by Rondale Moore and Myles Price. Tai Felton was with a group doing gunner drills at that point. But based on the early pecking order, it looks like Silas Bolden, Rondale Moore and Myles Price- in that order- are the main competitors for the punt returner job. There wasn’t enough to determine who did better in these drills.
Both Wright and Chapman practiced spiral and vertical end-over-end punts and punting out of bounds inside the ten yards line or settling inside the ten. Both had a couple touchbacks but Chapman did better angling punts out of bounds inside the ten. Wright had a couple go out of bounds well before the ten. Chapman punted a few of his banana punts, the last of which led to a drop by Silas Bolden at the tail end of the drill. Bolden was the only one to field Chapman’s banana punts, which are more difficult to catch because of the helicopter motion of the ball. Wright does not have the banana punt in his arsenal to my knowledge.
This looks like a legitimate punter competition that will come down to control and ball placement. Chapman has shown one more tool in his bag and did at least as well as Wright in terms of ball placement from my vantage point.
Mostly good news on the injury front as Will Fries was suited up and playing with the 1s in team drills. Christian Darrisaw was suited up but did not partake in team drills. Rondale Moore looks 100% with no issues or restrictions.
Also, UDFA signing #57 OLB Chazz Chambliss came off the PUP list today and was at practice. He was out there with the 2/3s in team drills off the right edge. That leaves only sixth-round pick TE Gavin Bartholomew as the only player on the PUP or NFI list at this point. He is dealing with a back injury.
Harrison Smith was back after apparently missing Saturday’s practice. Justin Jefferson was in jersey and shorts having a good time on the field observing, tossing a football with Kevin O’Connell, coaching receivers a bit...
