2. QB participants
Speaking of veterans, quarterback Cooper Rush was one of three invited on a pro tryout basis, along with receiver Trenton Irwin and offensive lineman Brandon Walton.
Rush, who has started 16 of 42 games played with Dallas and Baltimore since 2017, donned a red, no-contact No. 5.
He was joined at the position by left-hander Aidan Bouman in a No. 6. Bouman, who grew up in Buffalo, Minnesota, and played at South Dakota is son of former Vikings QB Todd Bouman.
O'Connell said he appreciated Rush's willingness to come in for the camp even though the Vikings have four quarterbacks. The coach added Rush's experience helped the practice, and he also liked the way Bouman threw the football. Both, he said, helped the rest of the players have a productive day.
"I told Cooper is a great, it's almost like a free agent visit. He gets to know us; we get to know him. He's played a lot of football over the years in the National Football League and had very productive times in his journey, and we get him for our time here," O'Connell said. "I told him there's nothing that ever can come out of this from a negative standpoint, getting to step on the grass and put on a Vikings helmet. We now know Cooper; he knows a very, very small portion of some of the things we do offensively, but I think it can open up that world to him if there's an opportunity in the future, he can make that a very positive situation for himself and become our first phone call. So I thought it was a real positive thing.
"Aidan, what a cool story to have him here. I thought he threw the ball well, too, once I got past the lefty spin of the football," O'Connell added.
Bouman had participated in the Packers rookie minicamp last weekend.
After growing up around the Vikings, Bouman said he appreciated the opportunity to wear Vikings practice gear.
"Unbelievable coaching staff here, just the staff in general. I can't say enough good things about this organization," Bouman said. "I'm beyond blessed that I had an opportunity to come here."