A little road trip was in store for the Minnesota Vikings in Friday’s training camp practice.
Things weren’t nearly as fiery on Day 3 with the team slowing down the intensity a bit. So we didn’t get any fun moments like receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette picking up a penalty flag and throwing it in the direction of cornerback Andrew Booth Jr.
However, we did get some general walkthroughs, a legendary player receiving a high honor and the return of a key starter.
Here are five takeaways from Day 3 of Vikings’ training camp.
Vikings return to US Bank Stadium
Training camp practice was held at US Bank Stadium on Friday.
It was the team’s first time returning to their home stadium since their Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears last season.
Being at the TCO Performance Center is great and all, but there’s something different about practicing in the actual stadium, surrounded by rows of seats that’ll soon be occupied by thousands of screaming Vikings fans.
Jared Allen gets inducted into Ring of Honor
Vikings fan-favorite Jared Allen was on-hand on Friday as the team announced he was being inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Allen holds the franchise single-season sack record, along with being tied for third all-time, with 22 sacks. He ranks among the best players to ever wear a Vikings uniform, and he has five Pro Bowl invites and four First-team All-Pro nods to prove it.
His induction is set for Sunday, October 30 at US Bank Stadium during halftime of the Vikings’ Week 8 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Jordan Hicks makes his training camp debut
The Vikings got some good news on the linebacker front with Jordan Hicks returning to the lineup after missing the first couple of practices with a non-COVID illness.
Troy Dye and rookie third-round draft pick Brian Asamoah have been competing for first-team reps in the veteran’s absence. I’d look for that battle to continue with both players hoping to be the primary backup at the position.
Asamoah’s ridiculous sideline-to-sideline speed was a headliner coming out of spring practice, We’ll see if he has the experience to beat out a veteran with two seasons under his belt.
Something to monitor
Vikings right guard Jesse Davis did not fully practice on Friday, and it was noted that he had a wrap around his right knee. The good news is that he was doing work on the side, while Chris Reed was taking the majority of the first-team reps on the field.
Rookie Ed Ingram also got some reps on the first-team, while Wyatt Davis, the second-year guard out of Ohio State, continued to work with the third-team offense.
It’s a situation to monitor with how desperate the Vikings are at right guard. With all of the question marks surrounding center Garrett Bradbury, the last thing the team needs is another disappointing season of lackluster interior protection.
Vikings take it easy on Day 3
Things weren’t nearly as physical on Day 3 with the Vikings doing most of their work at walkthrough speed. If you were hoping for the rematch between rookie cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette, this was not the practice for matchups like that.
It was a lighter day with the team taking training camp to the gameday field at US Bank Stadium.
Not every practice can be as spicy as Thursday’s, but you better believe there’s plenty more where that came from. The influx of young talent haven’t disappointed in their ability to push the veteran players.
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Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire