Vikings take training camp under the lights at TCO Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings have had a full week of afternoon training camp practices at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Last Saturday, they welcomed fans back for the first time. Thursday, they got out of their afternoon schedule and went under the lights at TCO Stadium for the first of two night practices. When players started coming out to the field just before 7 p.m, the stands and concourse were full of fans in purple on a hot summer night in the Twin Cities. It was be Kevin O’Connell’s second night practice as a head coach.

"My first exposure to it last year, I was shocked by just not only the turnout, but the energy and the environment that we can create for a training camp practice. Very excited to see a packed stadium," O’Connell said.

The Vikings held a walk-through Wednesday afternoon, with no helmets, no pads and closed to fans, with the intention of getting a little more physical Thursday night under the lights.

"I told our guys we do it as much for them as we do our fans. No. 1, the environment for our fans, letting them in that intimate setting, see our football team in the night setting. There’s going to be tons of kids watching their favorite players up close and personal," O’Connell said. "It’s also for us and for our players, they’ve been grinding it out, they don’t mind the 7 o’clock start. I think they enjoy that, just under the lights in a setting like that. There’s a reason why we’re doing two of them. I enjoyed it last year, we’ll have another one next week to make sure we’re practicing close to the time they play next week."

Garrett Bradbury liked the fact that O’Connell let players sleep in on Thursday, and get to the facility a little later than usual. They had an afternoon walk-through before the night practice. He said it’s good to break up the schedule.

"We play some games at 7 p.m., so it’s good to not be used to the same having practice at 2:30, getting done at 4:30. I love switching it up like that," Bradbury said.

Having a walk-through on Wednesday allowed edge rusher Danielle Hunter and offensive lineman Brian O’Neill to get first-team work in. Wide receiver Trishton Jackson avoided structural damage to his knee after being carted off. Andrew Booth Jr. is not expected to do much Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s practice with a trainer, and Alexander Mattison is expected to be OK after hobbling off late in practice.

O'Connell addressed fans after Thursday's practice, and planned fireworks at the stadium had to be canceled with storms and lightning in the area. O'Connell talked about how he felt the energy from fans Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers last year, and it carried over into a 13-4 record and a division title.

"I’ve talked to our team about establishing a championship standard with everything we do, and the expectation is the same for you. Show up each and every Sunday, every opportunity we get to get U.S. Bank Stadium the best home environment in all of the National Football League. We will provide you guys with many opportunities to do your thing by dominating on the field in all three phases," O'Connell said. "I appreciate everybody that came out tonight, I know our team does. As we have this mindset in camp of iron sharpening iron, these guys are working their tails off. We’re off to a phenomenal start in training camp, and I cannot wait to see you on Sept. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

The Vikings have Friday off before returning to practice this weekend. They will do another night practice next Tuesday before heading to Seattle for their first preseason game next Thursday.