Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins passes eye test on first day of training camp
By Joe Kipp
As the Minnesota Vikings opened training camp on Saturday, new quarterback Kirk Cousins most certainly looked the part as the leader of the passing attack.
The Minnesota Vikings opened training camp on Saturday at the new TCO Performance Center in Eagan, MN. Lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours, there were plenty of headlines upon the completion of the first full day of practice for the 2018 season.
Among other things, Kirk Cousins was the main storyline on the first day. The very moment he walked out of the new practice facility onto the field, fans rose to their feet to greet the new $84 million man. This offseason, Cousins was the first player in NFL history to garner a fully-guaranteed contract (three years, $84 million).
As practice carried on, it became apparent Kirk was the new leader of this team. It was blatantly obvious when watching the way he conducted himself in the huddle. From slapping a guy’s helmet to joking around with the guys on the sidelines, Cousins is already starting to fit in.
As for his play on the field, Cousins was connecting with receivers left and right. In one-on-one drills, Stefon Diggs had a spectacular catch up the sidelines against cornerback Anthony Harris, while Adam Thielen also had a nice snag of his own against UDFA Holton Hill, where Cousins placed the ball only where Thielen could make a play.
.@stefondiggs with the play of the day so far in 1 on 1s. Reminiscent of another former Viking. #Mossed #Vikings pic.twitter.com/DGSMhhTJWv
— Joe (day 1 Jayden Reed fan) (@joepkipp) July 28, 2018
Cousins also had a play where he showed off his wheels, avoiding pressure and escaping the pocket for a nice scramble of about 12 yards. Throughout practice, his accuracy was on point and he rarely missed a throw, a tell-tale sign of what may be to come. Cousins has always been known for his accuracy throughout his career — it was his poor decision-making that had always plagued him.
Next. 20 Best Fantasy Football Team Names of 2018. dark
All in all, it was a great first day of practice for Minnesota’s new signal caller. Granted, the pads haven’t come on yet, and there’s always room for improvement. After all, this was only the first day of practice. However, all indications so far show that Cousins is the guy for the job.