The Vikings kicked off this week's on-field preparations by giving guard Dalton Risner some first-team reps while also raising their expectations for running back Cam Akers to be active and touch the ball at Carolina on Sunday.
Signed last week, Risner played four snaps on special teams while Akers was inactive as the Vikings lost 28-24 on Sunday to the Chargers. Risner's presence in light of right guard Ed Ingram's struggles is potentially the bigger boost for a team that fell to 0-3 for only the seventh time in 63 seasons.