Last season, Audie Cole lost a tight battle to be the Vikings' starting middle linebacker. Now, he's a strong candidate to win the job.
Cole wasn't able to beat out Jasper Brinkley in 2014. With Brinkley playing for Dallas now, Cole has started in the Vikings' first two preseason games.
"He understands the system (better) out there," coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday. "Knows what to do. He's worked real hard."
Cole mostly has been battling rookie Eric Kendricks to start, but outside linebacker Gerald Hodges is in the mix, as well. Hodges started the first two preseason games at outside linebacker in place of Anthony Barr, who has been nursing a knee injury.