The Vikings’ first padded practice of training camp is going on today, creating a moment where the team can try and add a bit of fanfare to a strange season. The team will live stream the practice in its entirety, also broadcasting it on Fox 9 and KFAN to give fans some taste of what they’re missing with camp closed to the public.
Less than four weeks remain before the Vikings are scheduled to open the season against the Packers, however, and the fact they’re putting pads on for the first time on Aug. 17 — with no preseason games on the schedule — creates a different set of challenges for coach Mike Zimmer than in any of his first six camps.