During a defensive period on Friday in Eagan, Minn., Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski suggested that quarterback Kirk Cousins and tight end Kyle Rudolph, without a whole lot else to do, retreat to the far end zone, on the opposite side of the practice field. The idea was to work on the fade in close to the goal line, and the purpose was for Rudolph to show Cousins right where he wanted the ball.
Maybe it’d come up again, maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, it was just a few quick reps, and the message from Rudolph about what he wanted from his quarterback was easy: “Let me use my big body and go up and make a catch,” Rudolph recounted late Sunday afternoon.