Rhett Bomar was hoping to use this offseason to make a bigger impression on the Vikings coaching staff. The Vikings signed the quarterback off the New York Giants practice squad with two weeks left last season so he hardly had time to unpack his bags.

A fifth-round pick by the Giants in 2009, Bomar was inactive the final two games, but he was hoping to use OTAs and minicamps to settle in and get more familiar with his new surroundings.

But the lockout canceled those plans, and Bomar is preparing for more uncertainty once the lockout ends and training camp opens. Bomar arrived in the Twin Cities this week and took part in the Larry Fitzgerald-led workouts at the Gophers complex on Thursday.

Right now, the Vikings have Bomar, Joe Webb and rookie Christian Ponder on the roster. It seems likely the team will add a veteran quarterback once free agency begins. That could leave Bomar in a tough spot.

"You don't know what they're going to do," Bomar said. "You just go in there and compete. I just want a shot. That's why it would have helped to have minicamps and OTAs. If there's four guys, there's only so many reps to go around. I just want an opportunity to go out there and compete."

Bomar said he had several phone conversations with Vikings quarterback coach Craig Johnson when the lockout was lifted briefly during the draft, but they couldn't talk football specifics. Bomar spent most of the lockout working out at a Dallas high school with a number of Cowboys players.

He also worked out with Ponder and Webb at IMG Academy in Florida one week.

"[Not having an offseason] hurt," Bomar said. "The older guys might not have really cared but younger guys need to get out there and work and be with the coaches. It kind of hurt a guy like me. I was looking forward to that, but you can't do anything about it."