As Training Camp Wraps Up, Vikings Look Ahead To Preseason Games
MANKATO, Minn. (WCCO) -- The Vikings seemed like they just checked into Mankato, but on Tuesday they finished training camp, and that's hardly the end of the preseason.
Now, the Vikings are looking ahead to an exhibition against the Bengals and a new season in a new stadium. The team came to Mankato to start to install a game plan and instill a culture, and they made progress.
"There's always a lot more things you want to do, but I think we hit all the situations we need to hit, and it's nice having a veteran team," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said.
Next, the team will face off against Zimmer's former team as they head to Cincinnati. Players say they want to make their coach proud.
"He's got a chip on his shoulder about this, and we got to go out there and represent his team well," wide receiver Charles Johnson said. "We've got to show them what we're about as a Coach Zimmer football team."
But after hitting each other in mini camps and Mankato, the team is aiming to get a new look.
"At this time in camp, it's about time to start -- you know, you saw we had a little fight out there today," Zimmer said. "Guys start to get on each other's nerves a little bit."
Waiting at the end of it all is a brand new stadium to call home, but in training camp, that's hardly a major motivation for players and teams that just want to get better.
"Most of the guys, we don't give it too much thought. You could line us up in the parking lot and we'd go out there and give it the same effort," Johnson said.
The Vikings practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati the next two days, then face them in their opening pre-season game in Cincinnati on Friday night.
