Mike Priefer revealed today he recommended to Rick Spielman the #Vikings move on from Ryan Longwell. I found that interesting because he'd offered support for Longwell after the season. Priefer said kickoff-wise and FG-wise he felt it was best for the future. #Vikings

Among the rookies, Priefer said Jarius Wright and Rhett Ellison have impressed. Disappointed Josh Robinson has been hurt. #Vikings

Priefer said he could tell Robinson's hamstring was bothering him during a punt-catching drill yesterday. Been out since Friday.

Priefer said he won't get greedy trying to pin teams inside the 20 on kickoffs now that they have Blair Walsh's strong leg.Priefer: "When we can get a touchback, I think I’m going to take a touchback. It makes me sleep a lot easier at night."

@TomPelissero: Depth chart movement: Stephen Burton back with two offense, Chris Carr at corner in place of Antoine Winfield with one defense. #Vikings

@TomPelissero: Winfield is on the sideline in uniform but Carr continues to take first team reps instead. Pitch count in effect? #Vikings

@TomPelissero: First play of team drills Ponder underthrows the corner for Harvin and Chris Cook gets an INT and then on the next snap Harvin blows the top off and beats Cook for a 50-yard gain.

@TomPelissero: Cook with a helluva pick against Wright in one on ones. Simpson also got crowd going with spinning catch, somersault landing. #Vikings

@TomPelissero: Matt Asiata having a great showing running, blocking and catching in short yardage. Long shot I've always liked. #Vikings

@TomPelissero: #Vikings halfback Jordan Todman just limped off.

@TomPelissero: Pat Brown hurt an MCL. Not thought to be significant. Jordan Todman sprained an ankle. #Vikings

@TomPelissero: Offense won the short yardage and goal line periods easily. First time that's happened in this camp. #Vikings

@TomPelissero: Couple of these undrafted tackles have impressed. Levi Horn has power for RT. Kevin Murphy has feet, punch for left. Needs to get stronger.

@TomPelissero: Greg Childs just capped a no huddle drive with a completely ridiculous catch around Brandon Burton's head. Wow. It was a fade route to Childs, who had a step. Webb underthrew. Childs pinned it with both hands to Burton' helmet, which came off. Held on.

@TomPelissero: Reggie Jones, making plays throughout camp and now getting a shot in nickel with ones, just broke up a third down pass.

@TomPelissero: Ponder on Rhett Ellison: "Not only does he work his butt off, he’s got a little Jim Kleinsasser in him. ... He’s got a little crazy in him."

@1500ESPNJudd: Leslie Frazier made it clear after practice today that the team has discussed cutting back a bit on Jared Allen's snaps this season.

@StribDW: Chris Cook and Greg Childs delivered the most eye-opening moments of Thursday's practice: http://t.co/nj4mmIea

Quarterback Christian Ponder missed on a few throws you would like to see him make, but the difference between now and what we saw at training camp last summer and is night and day. Ponder stayed in the pocket and was decisive on most of the throws I saw, which is always an important point for a young quarterback. The best throw I saw him make was about a 35-yard floater down the right sideline, one that sailed over the shoulder of cornerback Chris Cook and into receiver Percy Harvin's hands.

Off the top, the Everson Griffen Fan Club will be happy to note their hero crashed through the line in a goal-line team drill and crushed tailback Jordan Todman short of the end zone. Todman sprained his ankle on the play and did not return.

why Antoine Winfield didn't do much today; how Reggie Jones could make this team: http://t.co/

Reggie Jones may just play his way onto this team.

What’s the story?: Jones, 26, spent the final eight weeks of 2011 on the Vikings’ practice squad and came to camp as a bit of a longshot to make the team. After all, in the cornerback stable, he showed up in Mankato behind Chris Cook, Winfield, Chris Carr, Zack Bowman, Josh Robinson and Brandon Burton. Now, it might not be surprising if Jones’ standout play allows him to edge up the pecking order. He’s playing with great energy here and seems to make plays pretty consistently.

What Frazier said: “Reggie’s flashed. He’s made some plays in practice. He was doing the same thing during OTAs. He’s been a quiet guy, doesn’t say a whole lot. But he’s made some plays to make the coaches pay more attention to him. I think if he keeps making plays like he’s doing in practice and then does the same thing when we start playing preseason games, that might very well be enough. It’s one thing to do it in practice. You want to see him do it in preseason games. But he’s getting his hands on a lot of balls. He seems to understand the system and what we’re trying to ask him to do. He’s aggressive. He’s playing smart. Now we just need to see him continue to progress.”

Off the top, the Everson Griffen Fan Club will be happy to note their hero crashed through the line in a goal-line team drill and crushed tailback Jordan Todman short of the end zone. Todman sprained his ankle on the play and did not return.

Erin Henderson could call the defensive signals in both base and subpackage defenses if he beats out Jasper Brinkley for the starting job at mike linebacker in the nickel, Frazier said. Henderson has worked with the starting nickel since camp began, while Brinkley has worked with the twos.

Packers fan gets a Josh Robinson autograph.

http://instagram.com/p/NrMBFRmb3x/

“Letroy has been one that has been phenomenal in camp,” Alan Williams said. “It may not seem to the naked eye but there are some clips of him just getting off blocks, running to the ball and pursuing. Day two he made a play outside of the numbers running to the football so we are very pleased with him.”

Packers fan gets a Josh Robinson autograph.

http://instagram.com/p/NrMBFRmb3x/

Not a great sign for Brinkley.

It's not unexpected. Henderson's the more athletic player in coverage so I think he was probably the favorite to be the mike 'backer in nickel situations anyway. Rather than being a bad sign for Brinkley, maybe it's a positive indication that the coaches are emphasizing athletic strengths?

... or is that a reach?

Jim

Allen Reisner keeps getting first rep as second tight end with starting offense (aka Carlson's spot). #Vikings

Everson Griffen making camp debut as nickel DT in walkthrough. Has gotten all previous reps at linebacker. They want him on the field.

Geoff Schwartz has an abdominal strain, has been sent back to Twin Cities for tests. Want to make sure it's not related to hip. #Vikings

Vikings will bring in some offensive linemen to work out. They're down to 12. Pat Brown has Grade 1 MCL, could be bak in couple days.

RB Jordan Todman dealing w L ankle sprain. Won't practice this afternoon.

What's a "nickel DT"?

Defensive tackle in nickel (typically third down) formations.

Ha! I'll take the optimism. As long as whoever is there can get the job done and isn't a glaring liability (is it too much for them not to be any kind of liability) I'm fine with it. Henderson seems to always be around the football so maybe he'll be fine in that roll, provided he can get to it before the play has already been made.