EAGAN (Minn.) -- The Minnesota Vikings started their second week of training camp with three of four quarterbacks missing due to a COVID-19 interruption. Coach Mike Zimmer doubled down on his frustrations at the unvaccinated players. Zimmer believes that the current situation could be a reality for the team during the regular season.Zimmer stated, "I feel like we're going have guys miss games." "There are so many cases right now. We are going to see some guys miss games, so we need to be ready for it."On Sunday, the Vikings placed quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Kellen Mond on the COVID-19 Reserve List. This was one day after Jake Browning was not available to play for Minnesota's Saturday night practice. Myron Mitchell, a rookie Minnesota receiver, was also added to the COVID-19 Reserve List on Monday.Mond tested positive for COVID-19 earlier Saturday. According to league sources, Cousins, Stanley and other close contacts are considered high-risk because they have not been vaccinated. They will need to isolate for five more days before being eligible to be taken off the reserve and allowed to return to practice.Zimmer did not hide his frustration at his players or "everybody" who had not been vaccinated with COVID-19. "Going through all of the things you had last year with masks protocol, traveling can't leave for one day, can’t see your family and all those things -- can’t go out to dinner, must wear masks on planes, all that stuff. Zimmer stated that it was difficult. "I just don't understand. "I don't get it. I believe we could all put this problem to rest if we did this together. It is what it IS.According to the Vikings coach, he had a second conversation with his team about his stance on vaccinations.Zimmer stated, "I spoke to the team and, like I said, there are quite some guys that are just opposed it." "I won't be able to change the minds of them, so it's like half of the country, I guess."Zimmer stated that the Vikings are considering a plan to keep one quarterback isolated from the rest of their position room in case another COVID-19 interruption occurs during a game week. This would depend on how many Vikings quarterbacks they have vaccinated. Browning is the only one currently.Zimmer was confronted with the possibility that the same situation the Vikings are in could recur during game week. He wondered how he would react if their star player or starting quarterback were unavailable because of COVID-19 protocols.The Vikings coach stated that he wouldn't be pleased with the loss and that he didn't think it was possible to prevent it. "Like I said before, these guys, some are just not going to do it. Although I shouldn't, some of what they have read is simply, "whew," out there."It's their beliefs so. It could be misinformation. They believe what they have heard, read, or been told. They may not believe what the NFL and Dr. Allen Sills are telling them.After a workout, the Vikings signed quarterback Case Cookus Monday. He later joined Browning during practice. Minnesota also signed QB Danny Etling from waivers.After a four-year stint as a Washington starter, Browning spent the past two years on Minnesota’s practice squad. His 39 wins were the most ever by a quarterback in Pac-12 history. This helped his chances of becoming the Vikings' No. Strong performance in the Vikings' fourth practice by Browning, Minnesota's second quarterback. Zimmer claimed Browning instructed him to not take any reps despite being the only quarterback available Saturday evening.Browning stated, "I believe someone in my position, as an undrafted man that's been on practice squad, these reps are really useful." "I didn’t want anyone to believe that I didn’t want all those reps. I also didn’t want to be in a position where they were cutting practice or taking valuable reps from other guys. With the current situation, I thought I would get the most reps possible. These reps are very valuable when you're a backup quarterback so I wanted every one.
