Vikings Have "Open Competition" At Kicker, Punter
Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, the first pick in this year’s draft, suffered a left foot injury Wednesday that left him in “obvious pain,” reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland. A day later, Garrett sat out practice as team doctors evaluated his foot, a club spokesman announced. The Browns won’t provide further details on Garrett’s ailment, per Cabot, who relays that the injury likely isn’t serious. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Garrett should be “fine.” Foot issues are nothing new for Garrett, who dealt with soreness throughout organized team activities and battled a high ankle sprain during his final year at Texas A&M last season. Fortunately, though, it looks as if he and the Browns will escape relatively unscathed in this instance.
More from the NFL’s North divisions:
- Unsurprisingly, it appears injured tight end Dennis Pitta‘s release from the Ravens last week will bring an end to his career. When speaking with reporters Thursday, Pitta didn’t announce his retirement, but he conceded, “I’m not delusional” (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun). Hip problems limited Pitta to seven games from 2013-15, but he returned last season to post a 16-game campaign and catch a team-high 86 passes. The soon-to-be 32-year-old suffered a hip dislocation earlier this month, though, leading the Ravens to cut ties after seven seasons.
- In his first meeting with the Detroit media on Thursday, newly acquired Lions offensive tackle Greg Robinson called the trade that sent him from Los Angeles to the Motor City “a big surprise,” per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Robinson busted with the Rams, who selected him second overall in 2014, and acknowledged that things “haven’t really went the way I would like” to this point. The 24-year-old expects to jump-start his career in Detroit, however. “I plan on benefiting from (my fresh start) tremendously,” Robinson declared. “It’s really refreshing and I plan to make the most out of it.”
- Browns quarterback Brock Osweiler has been “very happy” with his performance this spring, and the ex-Texan explained Wednesday why his play has improved from his disastrous 2016 in Houston. “The best part is I’m getting coached hard on my fundamentals,” Osweiler said, via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. “And I believe firmly that when your fundamentals and your feet are right as a quarterback, you’re going to make great decisions and you’re going to throw accurate footballs.” Osweiler added that his “fundamentals slid” last year, but he declined “to go into great detail” on why. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk interprets Osweiler’s remarks as a shot at the Texans’ coaching staff, particularly Bill O’Brien, who didn’t get along well with the signal-caller last season.
- Defensive back Lardarius Webb experienced a “tepid market” during his month of unemployment before re-signing with the Ravens in May, as Zrebiec details. The only club known to have expressed interest in the 31-year-old Webb was the Vikings, although Baltimore reportedly had interest in bringing Webb back almost instantly after releasing him. The Ravens saved $5.5MM in cap space by originally cutting ties with Webb, who has since inked a new three-year deal worth $6.3MM (with another $1.4MM available annually via incentives).
- Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer indicated Wednesday that both kicker Kai Forbath and punter Ryan Quigley will have to fight for their jobs this summer, telling reporters that “there’s an open competition” at both spots (via Mark Craig of the Star Tribune). Forbath, whom the Vikings signed last November after releasing Blair Walsh, made all 15 of his field goal attempts with Minnesota in 2016 but will battle second-year man Marshall Koehn to stay with the club. “He’s got the stronger leg,” Priefer said of Koehn. “This kid is coming on strong. It’s a great competition.” Quigley, an April signing, will try to fend off another second-year player, Taylor Symmank, after averaging a career-worst 41.6 yards per punt on 34 attempts with the Cardinals last season.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
Vikings Won't Go After Eric Decker
It doesn’t sound like the Vikings will be going after Eric Decker. When asked about the veteran receiver, GM Rick Spielman indicated that the team is content at the position.
Mike Zimmer Returns To Vikings
The Vikings announced this morning that head coach Mike Zimmer has returned to practice. The now-61-year-old (his birthday is today) has been absent from the first two weeks of OTAs as he recovered from eye surgery.
The eye woes aren’t anything new for Zimmer, as Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com notes that the coach has undergone eight separate surgeries over the past year to repair a detached retina. Considering the apparent on-going issues, some wondered if Zimmer would consider retirement, but the head coach quickly dismissed that theory.
One eye or two, it really doesn’t matter. I’m going to be back,” Zimmer said in May. “So we can put the retiring thing or whatever to bed quickly.”
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator George Edwards and special teams coach Mike Priefer were required to lead their respective units during OTAs. Alper notes that defensive line coach Andre Patterson “covered some of Zimmer’s duties” during the head honcho’s absence.
In three seasons with the team, Zimmer has led the Vikings to a 26-22 record and one playoff appearance. Prior to his time in Minnesota, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Bengals, Falcons, and Cowboys.
Good News For Harrison Smith, Mike Zimmer
- Vikings star safety Harrison Smith says his ankle is fully healed and is now a non-issue, per the Associated Press.
- Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune reports that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is expected to return to Minnesota today, to visit his eye doctors tomorrow, and if all goes well, he will be coaching OTAs on Tuesday (Twitter links).
Michael Floyd Contract Details
- Michael Floyd‘s one-year deal with the Vikings doesn’t contain any guaranteed money, but the veteran wideout can earn a pay bump through several incentives, as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com details. If Floyd maxes out his incentive-based by reaching 70 catches, 1,000 yards, or 12 touchdowns, he’ll bring in an extra $4.6MM. The bonuses start at $1.5MM, which Floyd can earn by hitting 40 receptions, 500 yards, or six touchdowns. None of that incentive money is on Minnesota’s salary cap for now, as it’s all considered “not likely to be earned” because Floyd didn’t reach even the lowest thresholds in 2016. Additionally, Floyd could struggle to hit the top rung of his incentive ladder given that he’s expected to face a suspension in 2017.
Vikings’ Joe Berger Likely To Retire After 2017
Vikings center Joe Berger realizes that he’s getting towards the end of his career. The 35-year-old says that 2017 will probably be his final NFL season. 
“You never know what the circumstances are going to be, but in my mind, that’s the way I’m looking at it,” Berger told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “It’s year 13 and it’s been fun. It’s a young man’s game, though.’’
Berger first broke into the league as a sixth-round pick of the Panthers, but never wound up taking the field for them. After trudging along in a largely reserve role for the Dolphins and Cowboys, he found a more permanent home with the Vikings in 2011. In 2015, he became a full time starter at center and that’s the role he’ll likely reprise for the third straight season this year.
In 2016, Berger saw time at center, left guard, and right guard. Listed as a guard by Pro Football Focus, he was given a strong overall score of 85.0 and ranked as the 12th best guard in the NFL. In the year prior, he pulled down a career best 88.0 mark. Berger is doing the best work of his playing career, but it sounds like he wants to leave the game with his health in tact.
“Not everybody gets the opportunity in this game to walk away on their own,” Berger said. “So, for [Chad Greenway] to have a great career like he did, all (with the Vikings), to be able to step away on his own with his timing, if I were able to get that opportunity, that would be great.”
Vikings Sign Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook signed his rookie contract with the Vikings on Wednesday, the team announced. The second-round running back said a deal might be “pretty close” earlier today and was accurate.
The Florida State running back’s deal is for four years. All 11 Vikings draft picks are under contract.
Reggie Ragland, the No. 41 overall pick in 2016, signed for $5.841MM. The No. 40 overall pick in 2017, wideout Curtis Samuel, signed for $6.453MM. The Vikings traded up from No. 48 to 41 to nab Cook, who starred at Florida State for three seasons.
It’s a $6.35MM deal, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, adding that Cook will receive a $2.76MM signing bonus.
The only player to rush for more than 4,000 yards in three ACC seasons in conference history, Cook will compete with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon for the Vikes’ starting running back job. But with Murray’s deal only locked in for this season and McKinnon a 2018 free agent-to-be, this backfield looks to be Cook’s long-term, provided the runner can live up to the billing.
Sharrif Floyd Unsure He’ll Play In 2017
Sharrif Floyd addressed his status on Wednesday from Vikings OTAs. Reports of the defensive lineman’s career being in jeopardy don’t appear to be entirely off base, with the fifth-year player unsure he’ll be able to play this season.
Floyd won’t go that far, but he did say it “might be a little too early to say” if he’ll play for the Vikings in 2017. This is the final year of the interior defender’s contract.
“No one has said that,” Floyd said, regarding the reports of this nerve issue he’s battling being a career-threatening ailment (via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). “I think it’s just a rumor going around right now. But right now, I think everything is going to be all right. It’s just a matter of when.”
The former Florida defender declined to go into specifics today with media about the nature of his injury. But he missed all but one game in 2016 due to a knee problem and underwent arthroscopic surgery on the troublesome right knee. The corrective surgery, though, did not return the 26-year-old Floyd to full strength. In the spring, Floyd’s right quadriceps muscle wasn’t functioning properly, per Krammer, who writes the nerve controlling it was affected during surgery. With the season barely three months away, Floyd said he has not resumed running.
Floyd’s fifth-year option salary of $6.757MM became fully guaranteed when he was unable to pass a physical once the 2017 league year began. Minnesota has taken protection steps this offseason in case Floyd can’t go, signing Datone Jones from the Packers — and moving him to defensive tackle after he played end in Green Bay’s 3-4 look — and drafting Iowa’s Jaleel Johnson in the fourth round. Tom Johnson is working alongside Linval Joseph with the first unit, per Krammer.
Vikings Sign Tommy Armstrong
It looks like Tommy Armstrong has finally received that long-awaited contract from the Vikings. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), the team has added the former Nebraska quarterback to their roster. To make room, the team has waived receiver Mitch Mathews.
The undrafted free agent participated in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, although the organization wasn’t eyeing Armstrong as a quarterback. Rather, the coaching staff auditioned the 23-year-old as a running back, and they later shifted him to safety. Despite the apparent versatility, the team didn’t sign Armstrong following the conclusion of minicamp.
Armstrong had a successful collegiate career at quarterback. In 45 games, the four-year player converted 53.3-percent of his passes for 8,871 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 44 interceptions. Armstrong also showed talents in the running game, collecting 1,819 yards and 23 touchdowns on 423 attempts (good for a 4.3-yard average).
Mathews has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Brigham Young in 2016. Besides Minnesota, the 6-foot-6 receiver also spent time with the Chiefs and Browns. In 41 career collegiate games, Mathews hauled in 152 receptions for 2,083 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Vikings Sign Four Draft Picks
- The Vikings announced four draft pick signings today (via Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com): third-round center Pat Elflein, sixth-round tight end Bucky Hodges, seventh-round linebacker Elijah Lee, and seventh-round safety Jack Tocho. Meanwhile, a source indicated that seventh-round wideout Stacy Coley also agreed to a contract and is expected to sign his deal later on Tuesday. Having seemingly signed five more rookies, that leaves running back Dalvin Cook as the Vikings’ lone unsigned pick. However, a source said that the second-round pick is expected to sign his rookie contract at some point this week.
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