Finland’s Edward Vesterinen is participating today in the NFL team Minnesota Vikings’ rookie camp starting in Eagan, Minnesota. The two-day camp offers Vesterinen the opportunity to impress the Vikings coaching staff and compete for a spot on the team’s 90-player training camp roster.

Vesterinen, who played at West Virginia University, went undrafted in the NFL draft but received a minicamp invitation from the Vikings immediately after the draft. That same week, his professional options also expanded to Canada, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected the Finn as the fourth player in the CFL Global Draft.

At NFL rookie minicamps, drafted rookies, undrafted free agents (UDFA players) who have signed contracts, and specially invited tryout players get to showcase their skills without a contract. The minicamp is an important opportunity for Vesterinen to prove himself. If the Vikings offer him a contract and a spot on the 90-man roster, the Finn would continue with Minnesota into team practices starting at the end of May. The Vikings’ first practice session begins on May 26. The Finnish player will appear at the rookie camp wearing number 54.

If a spot on the NFL roster does not open up, Vesterinen’s option is to move to Canada to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. Winnipeg will begin its training and preseason period at the end of May, and the team will play its first practice game on May 23.

Participation in NFL team rookie camps is not an everyday occurrence for Finnish American football players. The last Finnish player to visit an NFL camp was Karri Kuuttila, who participated in the St. Louis Rams camp in the spring of 2011.

Photo: Minnesota Vikings