Football season officially arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday, as the Vikings reconvened at the TCO Performance Center for the opening day of training camp.
Top of mind for most Vikings fans and analysts was the team’s attendance numbers for Day 1.
In similar fashion to his press conference at the start of spring OTAs, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced full attendance for his team, aside from tight end Gavin Bartholomew and EDGE Chaz Chambliss, who are both opening the summer on the physically unable to perform list.
That means the Vikings avoided any contract hold-outs. That’s good news for Brian Flores’ defense, as starting safety Josh Metellus is currently playing on an expiring contract and is seeking a new multi-year deal.
“Yeah, Josh… all players are here and accounted for,” O’Connell said. “I know Josh has been very much looking forward to training camp, getting going. He’s one of our captains, one of our leaders and even throughout the spring was integral in kind of how Flo (Brian Flores) and the defensive group are looking at 2025.”
Metellus will make $3.77 million in the final year of his current deal. He’s got major leverage for a pay raise, considering he’s logged back-to-back 1,000-snap, 100-tackle seasons and is poised to fill a prominent role at safety after the team lost Camryn Bynum to Indianapolis in free agency.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hinted that he doesn’t believe Metellus’ contract situation will become a distraction as the team prepares for the 2025 season.
“We have great dialogue with his agent,” Adofo-Mensah said, “and we’ll continue to have that. We’ll navigate from there.”
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