Defenses ruled the day as the Vikings and Jaguars looked like the NFL's reigning No. 1 and No. 2 groups during the first of two joint practices Wednesday in Eagan. As safety Harrison Smith talked with reporters afterward, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette yelled at him, "You dropped that pick, Smith!"
"I dropped two," Smith retorted.
It was that kind of day for Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, the former third overall pick entering his fifth season of an uneven NFL career. Bortles had a few downfield completions, but even more passes slipped through the hands of Vikings defenders. Cornerback Terence Newman came away with the lone pick while Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and linebacker Anthony Barr dropped possible interceptions.
Smith, the first-team All-Pro safety, dropped for 20 pushups during the two-hour practice by direction of defensive backs coach Jerry Gray.
"You don't outgrow having to do pushups for dropping balls," Smith said. "Whether it's individual or team period, you have to get 10 in."
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins fared better than Bortles, but moving the ball was a struggle at times. The highlight came as Cousins rifled a touchdown pass to receiver Kendall Wright in between two Jaguars defensive backs during red-zone drills. Jaguars defenders could be heard yelling out "RPO!" when the Vikings turned to run-pass options in the playbook.
"We seen a couple," Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith said. "We didn't get got on them, though."
Griffen sidelined
Defensive end Everson Griffen has missed three practices this week because he suffered a leg laceration on the end of a table sometime after Saturday's preseason opener in Denver, two sources told the Star Tribune. The cut then became infected. However, Griffen isn't expected to be out much longer and could still play Saturday against the Jaguars, one source said.
