CANTON, Ohio – Former Old Dominion University quarterback Taylor Heinicke will make his NFL debut on Sunday, Aug. 9 when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL preseason opener in the Hall of Fame Game broadcast on NBC at 8 p.m.
A record-setting quarterback for the Monarchs from 2011-14, Heinicke is currently No. 3 on the Vikings’ depth chart behind starter Teddy Bridgewater and backup, Shaun Hill.
Heinicke passed for 14,959 yards and 132 touchdowns at Old Dominion and won the 2012 Walter Payton Award given to the Best Player in the FCS.
NFL Update
The Monarchs have three other players currently in NFL training camp. Offensive lineman D.J. Morrell is in camp with the Buffalo Bills after spending the 2014 season on the Bills’ practice squad. The Bills open their preseason schedule on August 14 against the Carolina Panthers.
Former ODU long snapper Rick Lovato is in training camp with the Chicago Bears. Lovato is competing against veteran Thomas Gafford at long snapper. The Bears open their preseason schedule on August 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
Larry Pinkard is the fourth Monarch at training camp as he is with the Green Bay Packers. He is fighting to make the team at wide receiver and has also taken reps at punt returner. The Packers open the preseason at New England on August 13.