The little white strips of rookie camp will be removed from helmets, marking an equally small step in the long road for many hopeful players trying to make the Vikings’ Week 1 roster or practice squad. They will get a name on a practice jersey and a job, for now.
Once the offseason picks up speed and meaning with the May 21 opening to Organized Team Activities (NFL lingo for the first full-team practices), Vikings coaches will get just over a dozen practices to better evaluate the 90-man roster ahead of defining moments in training camp and the preseason.