5 best training camp battles for Minnesota Vikings in 2019

5 best training camp battles for Vikings in 2019

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 11: Roc Thomas #32 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a game against the Denver Broncos during week one of preseason at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Vikings defeated the Broncos 42-28. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3 of 5

Mandatory Credit: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images /

3. No. 2 quarterback

Kirk Cousins took every snap under center for the Vikings last year, despite being pressured and hit regularly behind a bad offensive line, and he has not missed a game in four full seasons as a starter. So the backup won’t be playing much (or at all) in theory, but anyone who knows Vikings’ history shouldn’t assume anything.

Kyle Sloter has been something of a camp and preseason darling, but he has never taken an NFL regular season snap. The Vikings gave rookie undrafted free agent Jake Browning $140,000 in guaranteed money to sign. And finally, Sean Mannion was signed to a one-year deal with 53 regular season pass attempts and one start on his resume with the Rams.

With Cousins entrenched, for better or worse, the eyes of intrigue could easily shift from him to the competition to be his backup when the quarterbacks are on the field during camp. Mannion is the presumptive favorite, based purely on having actual regular season game experience. But it feels like the door is wide open for Sloter or Browning to win the job, and thus be one bad play away from seeing meaningful action for a team that automatically still has high expectations.

Home/Minnesota Vikings