Better late than never for the Vikings? NFL replay can now review flagged roughness penalties.

Better late than never?

When Colts defensive lineman Grover Stewart broke through the Vikings offensive line and sacked then-quarterback Sam Darnold last November, forcing him to fumble, the ensuing 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown caused an uproar at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings suddenly trailed 6-0.

Stewart had clearly hit Darnold’s head and neck with a forearm while taking him down. Referee Shawn Smith threw a flag, but then he picked it up. Smith said after the game that he threw a flag for a face mask penalty that officials later determined did not happen.

Starting this season, the NFL’s replay review system can possibly change that outcome.

The league’s competition committee voted this offseason to expand replay review to “proactively assist” when a foul is called for contact to the quarterback’s head or neck, grabbing face masks, horse-collar tackles and more. Previously, replay assist could not review those contact penalties.

But a flag has to be thrown by on-field officials in order for the league office to get involved.

“Replay assist can help us to pick up a flag,” referee Brad Allen told local reporters on Thursday during a rules presentation, “but it cannot put a flag on the ground. ... You cannot create what we would generally consider to be contact fouls.”

The week before that Colts game, Darnold was also taken down in his own end zone by Rams linebacker Byron Young. Young grabbed Darnold’s face mask as he threw him to the ground for a sack, a safety, and a commanding 10-point lead in the closing minutes of the Vikings’ Oct. 24 loss.

Young was not flagged. But the play eventually cost Young a roughly $7,000 fine from the league office. That day’s referee, Tra Blake, told reporters after the game that no call was made because no official had a clear line of sight.

If no flag is thrown, no replay is allowed even under these new rules.

Will officials err on the side of activating a replay review by throwing more flags on questionable plays?

Allen said no. He added that when officials are evaluated internally, they’ll be judged for incorrect calls even if they’re corrected by replay review.

Replay assist has also been expanded to include if a foul is called for intentional grounding, tripping, or roughing the kicker.

At least nine players, including a couple expected to play in Saturday’s preseason opener, did not practice in a lighter session on Thursday, including outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, receiver Justin Jefferson, safety Josh Metellus, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Jefferson missed a 10th consecutive practice because of a left hamstring strain suffered July 24. Darrisaw has been rotating in and out while recovering from last year’s knee injury.

Receiver Rondale Moore did not practice, but is expected to play against the Texans. The Vikings were thin at receiver on Thursday without Jefferson or Moore, and with receiver Jalen Nailor in a red, no-contact jersey while dealing with an undisclosed issue apparently suffered on Wednesday.

Another NFL rule change — enticing more kickoff returns by moving the touchback line up to the 35-yard line — has special teams coordinator Matt Daniels expecting “90 percent of kicks” to be returnable in the preseason as coaches try to prepare their coverage groups.

Moore will get the first crack at punt returner.

“The idea is for us to get Rondale in there early and often,” Daniels said. “There are really only three guys that have caught an NFL punt: Rondale Moore, [receiver] Lucky Jackson did it in the preseason, and then you’ve got Byron Murphy Jr. on the defensive side.”

There isn’t much rookie hazing that still occurs outside of buying breakfast, carrying equipment, or singing in front of the group. But Murphy said the young guys have to pick up the slack as dance choreographers after safety Camryn Bynum, who became known for his elaborate takeaway celebrations, left this offseason.

“I definitely miss my guy Cam,” Murphy said. “We’re going to have to tell some rookies to get on it. Probably ‘Nudie’ [Dwight McGlothern], because he’s a funny one. But we definitely have to get on it and show the fans we’re still having fun.”

So far through training camp, Vikings defenders have had plenty of reasons to celebrate.

“I saw that the line was 8.5 [wins],” Walz said. “I’m definitely taking the over on that one. Look, it’s going to be a tough division. I’m going to get the chance to see them in Ireland, which I’m excited about. I don’t know if we get 14 games, but I think we get 11 or 12.”