Rookies are officially reporting to the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, today, July 26. Can you believe it? The offseason silence is done, and the hype train is revving up, starting with all the first-year players getting settled.
The Grind Starts Now, Full Squad Arriving Soon
While the rookies are getting things squared away, the rest of the squad, the returning veterans, will join them for full team activities just two days later on July 28. That’s when the real work begins, folks. The first actual training camp practice is set for six days from now, kicking off on Saturday, August 1, starting at 2:30 p.m. It’s a packed schedule right off the bat, with practices scheduled for August 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, and 20. Circle August 19 and 20 on your calendars, because those days are huge. The Vikings are hitting the field for joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens! That’s going to be some intense action, giving us an early peek at how these guys stack up against another top-tier team.
Beyond camp, the preseason schedule is already locked in. Week 1 is Saturday, August 15, when they hit the road to face the New York Giants at 1:00 PM ET. Then, they’re back home for Week 2, hosting those same Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, August 22, at 12:00 PM ET. The preseason wraps up in Week 3, with a road game against the Denver Broncos on Friday, August 28. No time confirmed for that one yet, but you know it’ll be a good test before the regular season craziness starts.
A True Legend Finally Gets His Due
But hold up, because amidst all the training camp buzz, there’s an incredible story breaking about someone who’s been the backbone of that organization for decades. After 47 years with the Vikings, equipment manager Dennis Ryan is finally getting his Hall of Fame moment. Seriously, 47 years! For more than four decades, Ryan somehow managed to escape the headlines. He just did his job, remaining unheralded, contributing in a way where you’d truly have to know to really understand his impact. The man showed up earlier and left later than anyone else, never seeking extra praise or prestige.
Ryan was everything for that team: a fixer, a confidant, a mechanic, a barista, a manager, a planner, and an innovator. Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle once perfectly summed it up, equating Ryan to the person, cloaked in soot, who shovels coal into a train engine without any of the passengers ever seeing his face. Even former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins sent Ryan a lengthy voice memo recently, detailing just how much he respected him. You talk to anyone who’s ever worn purple, and they all rave about Dennis Ryan. This guy is a true institution.
With rookies already reporting and veterans just days away, the energy is building for the upcoming season. Keep an eye out for that first training camp practice on August 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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