Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter leaves the field after practice at the NFL football team’s training camp in Eagan, Minn., Thursday, June 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) ORG XMIT: MIN2018062717121751 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

DEFENSIVE STARTERS

Left DE Danielle Hunter: Made his first Pro Bowl after tying for fourth in the NFL with 14.5 sacks.

DT Shamar Stephen: Returned to the Vikings after a season with Seattle to replace the only starter lost to free agency, Sheldon Richardson.

NT Linval Joseph: Two-time Pro Bowl player (2016-17) scored his first career TD last season (128 games).

Right DE Everson Griffen: Missed five games because of mental health issues after three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons.

Weakside LB Ben Gedeon: Third-year player had eight starts when the Vikings began the game in a base defense.

Middle LB Eric Kendricks: Led the Vikings in tackles for the fourth consecutive season with 122.

Strongside LB Anthony Barr: Spurned the Jets at the last minute to return to Minnesota, where he has made four consecutive Pro Bowls.

Left CB Trae Waynes: Picking up fifth-year option turned out to be a good move because of the uncertain status of Mike Hughes, recovering from knee surgery.

Right CB Xavier Rhodes: Another two-time Pro Bowler (2016-17) whose numbers dropped last season.

Nickel C Mackensie Alexander: Started six games, led NFL defensive backs with four sacks.

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This Vikings defense sticks, and sticks together

SS Harrison Smith: All-Pro the past two seasons and a four-time Pro Bowl selection with a team-record four TDs on interceptions.

FS Anthony Harris: Took over as a starter in 2018 when Andrew Sendejo suffered a season-ending injury.

This is a photo of Shamar Stephen of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a photo of Linval Joseph of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Everson Griffen Vikings 2017 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Ben Gedeon Vikings linebacker 2017 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a 2015 photo of Eric Kendricks of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Thursday, May 7, 2015 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS15 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Anthony Barr Vikings 2017 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a photo of Trae Waynes of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Xavier Rhodes Vikings 2017 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a 2016 photo of Mackensie Alexander of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Thursday, May 5, 2016 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS16 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a 2018 photo of Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Thursday, May 3, 2018 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS18 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a 2015 photo of Anthony Harris of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. This image reflects the Minnesota Vikings active roster as of Thursday, May 7, 2015 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS15 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)