LAS VEGAS — Kevin O'Connell approached his first preseason game, his initial rite of passage as the 10th coach in Vikings history, with two goals: Keep the team's established starters from injury and learn as much as he could about the young players who would take the field at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
The first objective was easy enough to achieve: Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Za'Darius Smith, Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson all watched the game from the bench, with Kirk Cousins out because of COVID-19 and Irv Smith recovering from thumb surgery.