Minnesota Stock Watch: Which Players Are Rising, Falling Through 2 Weeks of Camp

Two weeks of training camp is nearly in the books and the first preseason contest set for Friday. Things are moving quickly.

And as things continue to progress further and further, we're getting a better and better idea of how this roster and depth chart will shape up.

Players are on this list for a variety of reasons: Injuries, performance, off-field banter or comments from teammates or coaches all warrant a spot on this list. Any of the previous factors could affect a player positively or negatively.

This list was published last week, too. Unless something changed drastically I tried to exclude players who were on the list last week.

Jarius Wright is still impressing as an all-around wide receiver. DeMarcus Love is still unlikely to suit up as a member of the offensive line with his four-game suspension looming.

SPOILER ALERT: Desmond Bishop appeared on my last as an up and appears on this one as a down. That's because his situation has experienced a noteworthy change.

Bishop isn't the only repeat from the last slideshow.

Step inside and read for yourself.

Up: Cornerback Xavier Rhodes

The plan after the NFL draft was that Chris Cook would be the No. 1 cornerback and first-round pick Xavier Rhodes would be the No. 2.

And nearly two weeks into camp the Vikings are stealing a line from Hannibal Smith of "The A-Team": "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Rhodes is living up to his hype. He was recognized by Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com as the top defensive player after six days of camp.

Since the first six days he's suffered a hamstring injury, and the Star Tribune reported he missed his third straight practice on Tuesday.

Rhodes has shone through early and appears ready to make life easier for Minnesota's safety with his strong cover play. Coach Leslie Frazier told 1500 ESPN he thinks Rhodes can return to practice Wednesday.

Regardless, keep an eye on things. Rhodes is shaping up to be an impact rookie.

Down: Linebacker Desmond Bishop

It's tough to make an impact when you're not on the field and off battling an injury. It's an even bigger deal when your past is littered with injury history.

This brings us to Desmond Bishop.

Minnesota signed the former Green bay Packer to a one-year deal to man some position in its linebacking corps. At this point, it appears that may not be the case.

The Star Tribune reports Bishop missed his third straight practice Tuesday with a groin injury.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told the Pioneer Press that Bishop was day to day after Monday's practice and that he may not play in Friday's preseason opener. Frazier added that he was "not overly concerned" about Bishop either.

After the first week of camp, Bishop made my list of players who were "up" because his hamstring wasn't hampering his play. But at that point he was still behind Marvin Mitchell as Minnesota's outside linebacker opposite Chad Greenway.

Bishop remains behind Mitchell, who could run away with the position should Bishop's injury keep him out for an extended period of time.

The Vikings signed Bishop with the intent to start him. But the more time he misses, the further behind he gets in executing the playbook and the more comfortable teammates get with Mitchell at the position (and not Bishop).

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23798594/vikings-desmond-bishop-day-day-uncertain-fridays-exhibition?source=rss

Up: Linebacker Marvin Mitchell

As the previous slide may suggest, while Desmond Bishop battles a groin injury and the Vikings playbook, Marvin Mitchell continues to benefit.

Barring the groin injury hampering Bishop for an extended period of time, Bishop should likely overtake Mitchell for the starting outside linebacker spot.

But the longer Bishop is out, the further behind he gets mentally and physically.

That said, Mitchell is getting an opportunity to showcase his skills to the coaches. He has an edge on Bishop in that he's a natural 4-3 outside linebacker and has had a year to learn Minnesota's playbook. He's also getting time to develop chemistry with other members of the defense.

And as 1500 ESPN reports, Mitchell always prepares for training camp as if he's going to be a starter.

Should Bishop stay out long enough, that dream could become reality.

Down: Wide Receiver Greg Childs

During minicamp, Greg Childs told 1500 ESPN he was hoping to participate in training camp.

Nearly two weeks in and we haven't seen Childs practicing with his teammates, despite the 1500 report that described his ability to cut quickly and even dunk a football over the goalpost. 

Coach Leslie Frazier told the Pioneer Press on July 30 that Childs may remain on the PUP list throughout training camp, which would make him unavailable for the first six weeks of the season.

It isn't likely that Minnesota is expecting Childs to be a major contributor in 2013, but Childs just might expect that of himself.

The longer he stays on the PUP list, the less likely he is to find a spot on the roster for 2013.

Up: Linebacker Erin Henderson

With Desmond Bishop proving difficult to get onto the field, Erin Henderson has taken full advantage of his alone time at middle linebacker.

Despite the expectation at the time of Bishop's signing, Leslie Frazier told the Pioneer Press on Friday that moving Henderson outside was "unlikely."

Linebackers coach Mike Singletary told the Star Tribune of Henderson, "He’s good enough. He’s talented enough. He’s smart enough."

That's a nice compliment from a Hall of Fame linebacker.

In that Star Tribune story, Frazier called for better leadership from Henderson. But that won't keep him from starting at middle linebacker.

Henderson was limited in practice Tuesday by a groin injury, according to the Star Tribune. So that's something to keep an eye on.

But outside of that turning into a MAJOR injury, it's full steam ahead with Henderson inside. That seems unlikely though, as Frazier told 1500 ESPN he expects Henderson back Wednesday.

Down: Safety Mistral Raymond

Stories like this from Fox Sports North and the Pioneer Press are great for Jamarca Sanford.

It demonstrates that he is the center of attention for the starting spot next to Harrison Smith at safety.

Coach Leslie Frazier called out Sanford for more leadership in the Pioneer Press story.

Coaches don't call out players, when not specifically asked about them, who are backups. They call out starters.

To most, it was expected that Sanford would retain his starting spot after inking a two-year, $5 million deal this offseason. But some thought Mistral Raymond could provide competition to Sanford. Give him a run for his money, if you will.

That hasn't come to fruition.

The starter entering 2012 has been hampered by a hamstring, but suited up Monday and reported no troubles, according to 1500 ESPN.

It appears he's on track to get back into the swing of things. But don't expect him to knock Sanford off his perch. He's coming back to compete for special teams and the team's No. 1 backup safety.

Up: Punter Jeff Locke

Last year Minnesota replaced stable veteran kicker Ryan Longwell with Blair Walsh, a rookie with a phenomenal leg and serious accuracy concerns. 

Walsh shut all his critics up by drilling 35 of 38 field goals, 36 of 36 extra points and consistently putting the ball through the end zone on kickoffs. He was named to the Pro Bowl for his efforts. No big deal. 

One year later, Minnesota is attempting the veteran for rookie swap again. It's early, but the signs point toward this being another successful maneuver. 

Jeff Locke was a fifth-round pick by Minnesota and had plenty of success at UCLA. He led the Pac-12 with 34 punts inside the 20-yard line, including 21 at or inside the opponent's 10 yard line, and was named first-team All-Pac-12 by the coaches. 

Chris Kluwe is arguably the best punter in franchise history, but his talents have since moved on to Oakland.

Back in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported Locke booted one punt 90 yards on Monday. He got some help from the wind, but there was no wind when he booted another punt 65 yards.

Now, those are just two single punts in a single day at training camp in August. What really matters is what happens in September.

Game situations are different. But the situations Locke has been in so far suggest success will come to another Vikings rookie kicker.

Down: Kicker Blair Walsh

I praised him on the previous slide, now it's time to bring Blair Walsh back to Earth.

The second-year kicker hasn't been wowing teammates, coaches or fans with the leg strength and accuracy that earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl last season.

KFAN.com reported Walsh made 5 of 7 kicks during a stretch Friday. The Pioneer Press reported the former Georgia Bulldog made 7 of 10 field goals during Saturday's scrimmage, including misses from 43 and 50 yards.

As is the case with every player on this slideshow, this is only training camp and just a small window we're judging.

Some of it has to be chalked up to adjusting to life with a new holder: rookie punter Jeff Locke. Locke has to adjust to what Walsh and long snapper Cullen Loeffler like.

Some of it might just be that it's a small sample size. Right now, things are on the down.

But keep an eye on Walsh. He's too talented to stay down for long.