29 July 2023
Danielle Hunter still has not been spotted at TCO Performance Center. Though the 28-year-old pass rusher reported to training camp earlier this week, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell, he hasn’t participated with his teammates on the practice field.
“We’re still kind of in that ongoing process where Danielle is in the building and I’m having daily dialogue personally with him,” O’Connell said. “My hope is that we continue to work towards him being out on the practice field with us sooner rather than later.”
That won’t happen unless Hunter gets a new contract. He’s set to make about $5.5 million this season and clearly isn’t interested in putting on the pads until he gets a raise. As if the situation wasn’t already murky enough, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that multiple teams have said the Vikings have made Hunter available via trade.
In a vacuum, the Vikings would love to retain Hunter’s services. He’s a dynamic player who could be a chess piece for new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. That said, the Vikings reportedly haven’t been able to appease Hunter’s representatives, who are in search of a lengthy deal.
What has Hunter has been doing in the meantime?
“He’s got a schedule,” O’Connell said. “I’m not going to get really into the details. That’s kind of part of that daily dialogue.”
With no resolution in sight, and Hunter still sitting out on a daily basis, O’Connell will have to continue answer question about Hunter each time he steps to the podium.
“Just looking forward to taking it a day at a time,” Hunter said. “I have not tried to hide my feelings. Danielle Hunter is a very special player. As soon as we can get him out here, you guys will see him out there.”
O’Neill still rehabbing
Never mind that right tackle Brian O’Neill hasn’t been on the practice field in training camp. He’s still ahead of schedule as he works his way back from a partially torn Achilles. The next step for O’Neill would be participating in walkthroughs rather than working off to the side by himself.
“We really don’t want to put a timeline on it,” O’Connell said. “We want to give him the best possible opportunity to when the time is right he can fully go through repetitions so that he can be prepared for the season.
The fact that O’Neill is a veteran in the NFL goes a long way. He likely won’t need as much time to get on the same page as the rest of the offensive line.
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