Ten Vikings Sit Out First Joint Practice With Bengals

The Minnesota Vikings are holding the first of their two joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals today before the preseason opener between the two teams on Friday. Of the 90 players on the Vikings’ current roster, 10 of them will be sitting out of the first practice session.

The players that are not available, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, are as follows:

DT Scott Crichton
DT Sharrif Floyd
LB Eric Kendricks
CB Terence Newman
RB Jhurell Pressley
LB Edmond Robinson
CB Marcus Sherels
LB Brandon Watts
CB Melvin White
WR Jarius Wright

Zimmer said two of those players. . .and he didn’t say which two. . .were dealing with family emergencies and were expected to join the team in Cincinnati prior to Friday night’s game. White left Tuesday’s practice in Mankato early, while all of the players listed except Pressley and Sherels sat out of the session entirely.

“Basically, I just didn’t want to bring them,” Zimmer said of the injured players. “They’re hurt. They can’t do anything, so they’ll get better treatment up there. I was in a bad mood when they asked.”

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke and offensive lineman Mike Harris also stayed back in Mankato, while tight end Rhett Ellison made the trip with the team. Ellison is on the Physically Unable to Perform List, while Heinicke and Harris are on the Non-Football Injury List.

If there are any significant developments that come from the practices today and tomorrow, we will have them here for you.