Every weekday, we walk you through what's going on with the Vikings.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

— The Vikings have lost yet another player to a pectoral injury. This time it was offensive tackle Carter Bykowski who had season-ending surgery.

— Bykowski wasn't the only player to have surgery. Nose tackle Shamar Stephen had his knee scoped and will miss the rest of the preseason.

— After driving a hearse to pay the bills and bouncing around arena football, DE Leon Mackey is thankful for his opportunity in Minnesota.

— The Vikings appear to be thin at corner due to Jabari Price's suspension and Josh Robinson's injury, but coach Mike Zimmer has liked what he has seen from some of the guys on the bottom half of the depth chart.

— Rookie Stefon Diggs has impressed, but Mike Priefer still has confidence in incumbents Cordarrelle Patterson and Marcus Sherels in the return game.

— Ex-Vikings coach Leslie Frazier thinks the team will contend in 2015.

AROUND THE NFC NORTH

— Is Lions cornerback Darius Slay poised to become a star this season?

— The Bears were able to get through a joint practice with the Colts without fisticuffs, something that seems like an NFL rarity this summer.

— Add an elbow to the list of things ailing Packers star Clay Matthews.

TODAY'S VIKINGS SCHEDULE

The Vikings will hold their final practice before playing the Raiders on Saturday night. They will be out on the fields at Winter Park at 2:50 p.m.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

The Vikings faced a bunch of good quarterbacks last season, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees and two showdowns with Aaron Rodgers, of course. This year's slate will again test the Vikings' pass defense. The Vikings get Rodgers (twice again), Russell Wilson, Philip Rivers and the Manning brothers, amongst others. How difficult is that quarterback gauntlet? According to ESPN, no NFL team will have it tougher in 2015.