Once Vikings players finally don pads on Sunday, the clock starts ticking down from six weeks until the season opener in Tennessee.
Only then, following two days in helmets and shorts, will the competition begin in earnest. And there may not be a more intriguing race this summer than the one set to spark on the offensive line.
Five starters — Matt Kalil, Alex Boone, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco and Andre Smith — took their posts during the first walk-through on Friday. Less than two hours into training camp, Zimmer was asked if that’s the starting lineup.