The Vikings have announced their training camp dates for this summer with players scheduled to report to Minnesota State University on Thursday, July 26 with camp breaking three weeks later on August 16.

The three-week stay in Mankato is longer than it's been in recent years. Perhaps, the extended stay will be a good bonding experience for a team with a lot of new faces.

Of course, the Vikings will mix in a trip to San Francisco to play their preseason opener against the 49ers on August 10.

The Vikings' other exhibition games include contests against Buffalo (Aug. 17) and San Diego (Aug. 24) at Mall of America Field and a trip to Houston on August 30.

Over the past three years, the Vikings have broken camp in Mankato before their first preseason game and moved to Winter Park by the third full week of camp. This year, they likely won't be back at Winter Park until Sunday, Aug. 19.