CJ Ham Grateful for Ninth Vikings Training Camp
Teammates impressed with quarterbacks
EAGAN, Minn.- In near-90-degree weather in full pads, CJ Ham found himself enjoying his time at Minnesota Vikings Training Camp.
Ham, a Duluth native, is entering his ninth season in the NFL. A well-seasoned veteran in the eyes of his peers, Ham has come a long way since he went undrafted out of Augustana. Following Monday’s practice, Ham says it’s a weird feeling to be seen as a leader to rookies, but overall, he’s thankful to be able to play the game he loves.
“(I’m) Really just trying to lead by example,” said Ham. “Try to help out when I can. It’s extremely a blessing. That’s really all I can say. Every year, I get to come out here and do what I love, been doing it for a long time, and God has been faithful, and God has been good.”
The big talk at this year’s training camp has been the quarterback competition between veteran Sam Darnold and first-round rookie JJ McCarthy. Darnold is a former third overall pick who’s now on his fourth team in the league, while McCarthy is fresh off a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines. But tight end Robert Tonyan, who’s caught passes from future hall of famer Aaron Rodgers, had high praise for Minnesota’s top two quarterbacks.
“Dude, Sam’s a baller,” Tonyan gushed. “I mean, it’s just like one of those guys that’s been…a high draft pick, hasn’t been in the right situation, comes here, got great people around him and he’s a baller. And JJ just slings it. You know, you usually have those rookies who are a little hesitant or second-guess themselves. That kid is not second-guessing himself. He’s ripping it and I like it when he’s ripping it to me, so I appreciate that.”
It’s impossible to mention the Vikings offense without bringing up star receiver Justin Jefferson. This offseason, Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. In fact, he’s so good, that defensive coordinator Brian Flores has had obstacles coaching his defensive backs when they line up against #18.
“Obviously, he’s one of the best receivers I’ve ever seen play, so he’s gonna get his, regardless of who’s covering him,” says Flores, who is in his second season as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. “But I think we’re all competitors and I don’t want to tell our guys, ‘Hey, you can’t cover him,’ so we’re always going to keep somebody over the top of him, so just go out there and see what we can do. But in-season, he’s getting doubled.”
Monday morning, the Vikings signed defensive back Bobby McCain after cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL. They also released kicker Parker Romo, meaning rookie Will Reichard of Alabama has likely won the job, assuming they don’t sign another kicker.
