Vikings' Rudolph Excited For Training Camp, Staying Healthy All Season
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Vikings are starting to feel the end of their summer days, reporting to training camp on Saturday in Mankato.
One of the interesting players to watch is Kyle Rudolph, if he can stay healthy.
Rudolph has made the commitment to live in Minnesota year-round. It means he has his own football camp, which he held earlier this week at the Edina Community Center.
"I probably get more out of it than the kids do at times, running around with these guys. You just see the energy and enthusiasm that they have for the game of football," Rudolph said. "The kids have a ton of fun and you come out here and see them running around, it gets me excited here for Saturday when we get to go to camp."
On Wednesday, Rudolph stopped in with former teammate Greg Jennings to Starkey Hearing Labs. But soon, the focus moves to fall priority: Playing football. He is seen as a possbile focal point in Norv Turner's scheme.
It's a wanted responsibility.
"It means a lot to me to have a coach that has expectations in myself as high as I do in myself. I'm really excited, there was a lot of excitement when this staff got here last year," Rudolph said.
The key is only part in his hands. The other part of the equation: A second-year quarterback named Teddy Bridgewater.
"Never changing expressions, that even keel emotion all the time. But we get to see Teddy every day at work, the time that he puts in, the teammate that he is around the locker room," Rudolph said.
The other key: Rudolph's health. He's missed too many games the past two seasons. That's been a big part of this offseason, getting it right.
"You know I've done everything I can this year to put myself in a situation to be healthy for 16 games. When that much pressure is put on me, I look forward to succeeding, to be out there for my team," Rudolph said. "That's why you play the game."
