Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw was sitting in a tub of ice after a recent practice when a reporter walked by and commented on the “Welcome to the NFL” education/domination he has been administering daily to edge rusher and rookie first-round draft pick Dallas Turner.
Christian Darrisaw, from his spot at tackle, embraces task of mentoring Vikings rookie Dallas Turner
Fresh off signing a contract extension, Christian Darrisaw uses words and deeds to show first-round pick Dallas Turner the route to success.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
July 31, 2024 at 12:51PM
“Ah, man, he’ll be all right,” Darrisaw said as he looked up and smiled. “He’s learning. He’s got the talent. Anything I can do to help.”
Not long after signing his big contract extension, Darrisaw has been helping both his quarterback and the rookie phenom whose success or failure in the NFL will be judged on how well he harasses NFL quarterbacks.
“As I talked about with CD in the hours after CD’s extension, it’s like, ‘Hey man, not only can you elevate our entire offensive group, how cool is it going to be as you watch Dallas Turner one-on-one against you in practice grow to be a guy who pushes you to be better?’ ” said coach Kevin O’Connell.
Darrisaw has been patiently offering tips outside the lines that will help Turner learn the NFL game.
“You see CD pull him aside sometimes before practice, and he’s showing him, ‘Hey, you shot your hand too quick,’ ‘you probably started that move too far away from me,’ ‘I never really felt speed on the initial rush before you got into [your move],’ ” O’Connell said. “Those [tips] are coming from one of the best left tackles in football, and then DT gets a rep, he gets to feel it and obviously he gets coached up … and then right about that time his versatility kicks in and he switches spots and is doing different things.”
Cornerback coming
With their secondary affected by injuries early in training camp, the Vikings have wasted little time adding defensive backs to their roster. The fourth DB they’re planning to add is the one with the most NFL starting experience of the group.
The Vikings are expected to sign cornerback Fabian Moreau, who started 11 games for the Broncos last season and has started in 56 for four different teams across seven NFL seasons. The 30-year-old Moreau was a third-round pick by Washington in 2017 and has played for the Falcons, Giants and Broncos the past three years after his rookie deal in Washington expired.
He had three combined tackles in the Broncos’ win over the Vikings last November, which came a week after his only interception of the season. Moreau joins a Vikings cornerback group that has added Jacobi Francis and Duke Shelley in the past week, before adding safety Bobby McCain to the group Monday.
Cine day-to-day
Safety Lewis Cine worked with trainers off to the side during practice as he continues to recover from what O’Connell called “a little lower-leg soreness, a little strain.” O’Connell called Cine “day-to-day.”
Griffin’s hammy improving
Cornerback Shaq Griffin said the “soft tissue” issue he’s dealing with is to his right hamstring. He doesn’t see himself missing much more time but has deferred his return to when the team’s medical staff signs off on it.
“I’m very anxious to get back,” said Griffin, who was injured after intercepting a pass in practice last week. “Those [trainers] are going to be the ones slowing me down before I slow myself down. I trust those guys to get me back to full speed soon. I feel a lot better, a lot better.”
Ward getting time at CB
Second-year safety Jay Ward has been getting more action at corner in the slot as the Vikings experiment with several versatile defensive backs, including safeties Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus and newly signed McCain.
“[Ward is] just so versatile,” O’Connell said. “With his size and his athletic ability we’ve always seen him as a guy who can do a little bit of both. He did both in the spring and had some flashes late last year filling in at the nickel spot.”
Reichard ‘ready for this’
Speaking for the first time since ending the team’s kicking competition basically before it started, O’Connell publicly handed the job to rookie sixth-round draft pick Will Reichard.
“I think Will’s ready,” O’Connell said. “Now it’s just a matter of kicking, getting ready, maybe taking some trips over to U.S. Bank Stadium before the first preseason game and start getting a feel for what it’s going to be like. I think he’s up for it.”
O’Connell said he still believes John Parker Romo, the player he released, has NFL-caliber talent. But …
“When you get some injuries and some things happen early in camp, it’s hard to carry multiple specialists,” O’Connell said. “I just felt like Will since he arrived has demonstrated time after time that he is so consistent. I just want to see him take all the kicks.”
Reichard obviously wasn’t up for his first team competition as the lone kicker in camp. In the last team period of Tuesday’s practice, Reichard missed two of his three attempts. He was wide left from 54 yards twice before making a 55-yarder that was greeted by some Bronx cheers from the fans.
Camp views
Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy opened the team portion of Tuesday’s practice with a deep-ball touchdown throw to Trishton Jackson on the first play. McCarthy was running the second-team offense against the first-team defense. Jackson slipped behind Bynum to make the catch.
O’Connell had the players in helmets and shells after being in full pads Monday. The team will be back in full pads Wednesday before an off day Thursday.
Guard Tyrese Robinson did not practice.
Star Tribune staff writer Ben Goessling contributed reporting.
Correction: A previous version of this story should have said it was written by Star Tribune staff writer Mark Craig.
Safety Josh Metellus is the most versatile player in Brian Flores’ defense. Off the field, he's breaks down the huddle, gives pregame speeches and hosts a weekly video series.
