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Access Vikings morning walkthrough: A dirty job for RBs, Waynes gaining ground on Captain

The Vikings return to their normal schedule today with the morning walkthrough from 10:30 to 11:30 and a practice in pads from 2:45-5 p.m.

By Mark Craig

August 3, 2015 at 11:55AM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer talks with Trae Waynes (Tom Wallace — ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

On most mornings, we walk through what's going on with the Vikings.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

– We took a look at the key elements of pass protection for NFL running backs and how Matt Asiata ranks No. 1 on the team while Adrian Peterson strives to be more than average and Jerick McKinnon works overtime to catch up.

– Lineups are in flux, with the most notable development being rookie first-round draft pick Trae Waynes getting reps with the No. 1 nickel package at the expense of Captain Munnerlyn.

– Peterson likely to go a fourth straight preseason with no carries, but he said he's fine with that.

– Footage of rookie receiver Stefon Diggs stealing the show in Saturday night's practice.

AROUND THE NFC NORTH

– In Green Bay, some are saying that Clay Matthews might by scarier as an inside linebacker than he was on the outside.

– In Detroit, Free Press columnist Drew Sharp writes about how the buzz heading into today's first training camp practice is more than the typical snoring sound that comes with following Lions football.

– In Bourbonnais, Bears linebacker Shea McClellin says he's learning how to be a leader and the quarterback of the defense.

TODAY'S VIKINGS SCHEDULE

The Vikings return to their normal schedule today with the morning walkthrough from 10:30 to 11:30 and a practice in pads from 2:45-5 p.m. They should be relatively fresh considering they weren't in full pads yesterday.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

The backup left tackle position isn't something we've talked or written much about. Carter Bykowski, the Eden Prairie native who went to Iowa State, was working with the second unit until an injury sidelined him recently. The result of that injury was at least partly responsible for the Vikings now taking a longer look at guard David Yankey at left tackle. Neither Bykowski nor Yankey has played in a regular season NFL game. Bykowski spent 2013 and most of the 2014 season on the 49ers practice squad. He was signed to the Vikings 53-man roster during Week 15 last year. Yankey was a game-day inactive for 15 games as a rookie last year. He didn't play in his one active game.

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).