EAGAN, Minn. — Organized Team Activity practices have arrived.
The Vikings on Tuesday began the first of 10 OTA practice days that will be spaced out over the next three weeks before a mandatory minicamp in June.
The defending NFC North champs have been hard at work during the voluntary offseason program, but players and coaches can now take the preparation for the 2018 season a bit further by hitting the field for practice in helmets and spend more time in meeting rooms.
The Vikings will hold 10 practices over the next three weeks at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
Here are six storylines we will be watching during OTA practices:
1. All eyes on Cousins
The Vikings made perhaps the NFL’s biggest free agent splash this past offseason by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a three-year deal.
Now, after weeks of getting to know his teammates and going through drills, Cousins gets his first chance this week to lead Minnesota’s offense in an actual practice.
All eyes will be on the Vikings new franchise quarterback as he tries to establish a quick rapport with new teammates (and new Vikings Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo), while showing the skills and traits that helped him throw for 4,000-plus yards and more than 25 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons.
Dalvin Cook flashed plenty of potential in three-plus games as a rookie, rushing for 354 yards and two scores early on in his NFL career.
But a torn ACL cut the running back’s season short, and the former second-round pick has since been hard at work rehabbing while eying a return in 2018.
Cook’s workload during OTAs remains to be seen, but getting the dynamic playmaker back in the huddle will only give the Vikings offense an added…
