The Vikings conducted their final organized team activity practice today at Winter Park, and once again they were without the services of starters Anthony Barr, Brian Robison and Phil Loadholt in team drills.
Barr and Robison on the mend, other observations as Vikings OTAs end
However, coach Mike Zimmer indicated after the morning workout that all three injured players could participate during next week's minicamp.
Zimmer continues to be mum about the nature of Barr's injury. The young linebacker missed the final four games of 2014 with a knee injury, but Zimmer says Barr has been sidelined by something different.
"He's over the hump now," Zimmer said. "I anticipate him getting some [reps] next week. I don't know how much."
Robison injured his pectoral at the facility last month and has downplayed the injury. He was spotted running sprints inside the fieldhouse while teammates conducted the two-minute drill late in today's practice.
"I anticipate that he'll probably be back next week," Zimmer said. "We're going to be careful with him. We may give him some individual work and some of the situation stuff, but we're going to be careful with him. Same with Loadholt. I anticipate that he'll be back out here. And we're still trying to be a little careful with [left guard Brandon] Fusco."
Loadholt tore his pectoral last November and is almost ready to return.
Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, meanwhile, sat out practice again due to a right foot injury. But it's a good sign he is out of a walking boot.
Among those practicing today were linebacker Gerald Hodges and rookie offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings, who limped off the field last Thursday.
Clemmings lined up at right tackle on the second team today after being with the starters at right guard earlier in the spring. Replacing him at that spot was fellow rookie Tyrus Thompson, who played tackle in college.
It would be unwise to read too much into the configuration of the offensive line. The Vikings have been shuffling players around through the spring.
Before I head to the coffee shop to write tomorrow's newspaper story about another young lineman, I'll share another observation: Rookie Eric Kendricks has settled in at middle linebacker. He got all of the first-team reps at that spot again today — and nearly made a leaping interception of a Teddy Bridgewater pass — and it looks like the middle linebacker job will be his to lose once the team reports to Mankato.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.