Mauti Gras Starting Early In Minnesota?

Thanks to the folks at 1500 ESPN, there's a bit of interesting news coming out of Mankato already for Minnesota Vikings training camp.

Head Coach Leslie Frazier has confirmed that the only player that will be starting Training Camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List is wide receiver Greg Childs. That means that linebacker Michael Mauti, who tore an ACL while playing for Penn State back in November, has apparently been cleared to practice with the team.

If that's the case, it certainly adds an interesting twist to the Vikings' linebacker situation. Mauti is a guy that would have probably gone in the second or third round of the draft if not for the dreaded "if he could only stay healthy" caveat. If he's ready to go on the first day of camp, he should definitely be a player in what the Vikings' starting linebacker trio looks like going into the regular season.

Frazier also said that center John Sullivan, coming off of microfracture surgery on his knee, will be ready to go, but "won't take every rep" in an effort to make sure he's ready for the regular season.

Oh, and speaking of Childs, our old friend Tom Pelissero has put this out on the Twitter.

Reading #Vikings quotes and see Greg Childs is headed for PUP list. Heard he's telling people he ran a sub-4.4 40 recently. One to watch.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 25, 2013

If Greg Childs is running a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, I will eat my hat. Possibly your hat, too. I'm not sure if he was running a sub-4-4 40 before he blew out both of his patellar tendons last season. If it turns out that it's true, then whatever Eric Sugarman and company are getting paid isn't enough.

Have I mentioned yet that Training Camp officially starts tomorrow? Because it does.