The Vikings have reassigned assistant coach Rick Dennison to a consulting role to keep him employed by the club without vaccination for COVID-19.
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings will start training camp with yet another change in leadership for their offensive line, having reassigned valued assistant coach Rick Dennison to a consulting role so he can remain employed by the club without vaccination for COVID-19.
Phil Rauscher was promoted to lead offensive line coach after serving as Dennison's assistant last season, and Ben Steele was hired as assistant offensive coach. The running game coordinator title that Dennison also carried will be dropped for now. The Vikings announced Tuesday they reached an agreement on contract terms to make the 63-year-old Dennison a senior offensive advisor.
``I felt like it was important that we use him as a resource, but we also give him the opportunity to continue to work,'' Zimmer said. Rauscher will begin his seventh season in NFL coaching, having spent time previously in Washington and three with Denver. Rauscher will also be the sixth offensive line coach in eight years under Zimmer.
As for the current players, the Vikings declined to publicize their vaccination rate. NFL Network reported Tuesday that 85 per cent of players in the league have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Zimmer pointed to the rise in cases in several parts of the country this summer due to the delta variant as he urged anew the benefit to all — players and fans alike — of getting the shot.
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