The media was allowed access Thursday as the Vikings wrapped up their week of Organized Team Activities at Winter Park. The biggest difference from the previous week was the number of veterans who were participating.
Last week, safeties Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams were the only starters on the field. On Thursday, several starters were present and at least went through the stretching portion of the workout before going inside Winter Park to do their work.
Left tackle Bryant McKinnie and right guard Anthony Herrera returned at one point to take part in drills.
Notable veterans who were absent Thursday included quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson; wide receivers Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian; cornerback Antoine Winfield; running back Adrian Peterson; and defensive ends Jared Allen and Ray Edwards, who has yet to sign his restricted free-agent tender.
A video shot by Vikings.com earlier in the week at OTAs showed Berrian and Allen had been present. Allen is getting married this weekend in Chicago. Jackson has been at many of the OTA workouts, which are optional, so missing one isn't exactly a big deal.
Running back Toby Gerhart, the Vikings' second-round pick, and wide receiver Ray Small, an undrafted free agent, remain absent because they are completing their academic responsibilities.
Asked about Gerhart's absence from all OTAs, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said: "We are fortunate that Stanford runs a similar offense, so when he came in here for rookie minicamp he was able to pick things up quick. Obviously he's from Stanford and has a great mind. The offense was similar, so some of the things that he did ... he was able to step in and run it right away because he's had multiple reps on it, so I think that will help him. But as with any guy that is not here we would like to have them here and be able to put them through our workouts."
