This offseason in Minnesota for Kirk Cousins has been shaped by get-to-know-them moments Jessie Bates III Jersey Bengals , whether new coaches, plays or teammates with the Vikings.

Kyle Rudolph has made a sharp first impression.

"Boy, he's a friendly target," Cousins said one sunny afternoon last month after completing a pass to his strong-handed tight end during non-contact drills when he wore a wireless microphone to allow the team's video production department to create a brief highlight clip for the website. "It's like throwing into a mattress."

The eighth-year veteran has been happy to oblige his new quarterback, trying to, well, be the best piece of bedtime furniture he can be.

"That's a new one for me. I'm OK with it. Try to make sure that he's always getting a good night sleep, always be there for him. That's kind of my role around here," Rudolph said on Tuesday after practice.

Cousins recently described a play in a red zone situation when he looked at his two-time Pro Bowl tight end during his drop-back but sent the ball elsewhere. Quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski immediately offered some insight to the $84 million guaranteed man .

"In that situation, you might want to give Kyle a chance," Cousins said, recounting what Stefanski advised. "Even though he looks covered Cheap Marcus Davenport Jersey , you have to throw him the ball. He's open. He can prove you right."

Having Rudolph available for drills with the first-team offense has been a welcomed bonus for the Vikings, considering he had surgery on his right ankle in February after playing through pain down the stretch of the season. Rudolph said he's a couple of weeks ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation.

"We have a new offense, a new system, a new quarterback. I wasn't getting any better over there by myself, so it's good to be back out there," he said.

Rudolph is not only the longest-tenured offensive player on the roster, but he and wide receiver Adam Thielen are the only ones who joined the team before Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach in 2014. Thielen was on the practice squad in 2013. In fact, Rudolph, Thielen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs are the only members of the offense who've been here more than three years.

Rudolph, who will turn 29 on Nov. 9, is coming off the most fruitful two-year stretch in the NFL. He had 81 catches for 532 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017 and, just as importantly Cheap Oren Burks Jersey , played in all 16 games for a third straight season.

He's endured more than his share of injuries going back to his college days at Notre Dame, and that helped minimize any anxiety that might have come with a procedure done at this stage of his career. Rudolph counted five surgeries in the past 10 years.

"It's funny when you sit there: The nurses are getting ready for pre-op, and the doctors are talking to you. I honestly feel like I'm in the dentist office getting my teeth cleaned. It's so routine, at this point," Rudolph said. "I think at times, your family and friends are more worried about it than you are."

With the skills Cousins has in completing play-action passes and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo's penchant for using his tight ends in all kinds of spots to maximize their matchup advantages with potentially cornerbacks and safeties, Rudolph is in position for another productive season.

"Obviously, he's had great success with tight ends," Rudolph said. "What he's able to do with all the playmakers and all of the chess pieces that we have on offense, it's been a lot of fun to see."

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BOSTON — Rick Porcello shoots to become the Boston Red Sox’s first 10-game winner of the season when he pitches for Boston against the Los Angeles Angels in the second game of a three-game series at Fenway Park Wednesday night.

The Red Sox remained a half-game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East by pounding out 10 extra-base hits in a 9-1 rout of the struggling Angels Tuesday night. They now send Porcello (9-3, 3.44 ERA) out to face the Angels’ Andrew Heaney (4-5, 3.43) in the middle game of the series.

Boston is 4-0 against the Angels this season Byron Maxwell Color Rush Jersey , winning those games by a combined count of 36-4.

“We haven’t solved them,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the Red Sox (53-27) hit four homers and six doubles in Tuesday’s win. “We’ve tried to make some adjustments. We’re going to obviously work on it tonight and try to make some adjustments and hopefully have a better shot tomorrow.

“They’ve taken it to us. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. We’ve got to do a lot of things better.

Porcello, who is 2-1 in four June starts, is just 7-7 with 5.51 ERA in 17 career starts against the Angels, who have lost 11 of their last 15 games.

In his one start against Los Angeles this season, Porcello pitched six shutout innings in Boston’s 9-0 victory on April 18.

Before Tuesday’s game, the Red Sox placed Thursday starter Steven Wright on the 10-day disabled list with a left knee problem. Brian Johnson, who has been in the bullpen, will make the start in the series and homestand finale.

Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr., the bottom two hitters in the Boston lineup (a problem spot for the team this season), combined to go 5-for-8 with two homers and five RBIs on Tuesday.

Everyone in the starting lineup except Rafael Devers had at least one hit (in a 14-hit attack) and he scored a run.

“We’re swinging it great, you know Lawrence Taylor Jersey , I think all up and down the lineup,” said Mookie Betts, who hit his 20th home run of the season. “It’s kind of contagious. Everybody’s getting hits and what not.”

The ever-streaky Bradley is 6-for-7 in the last two games to raise his batting average to .199.

“You know, he’s been swinging the bat great,” Betts said. “A couple line drives that go five feet one way or the other, we’re looking at a completely different number (average) that’s on the board.”

Heaney is also 2-1 in four June starts and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his 13 starts this season. He will make only his second appearance against Boston, his first at Fenway. He beat the Red Sox in Anaheim in 2015, yielding two runs in seven innings.

No one on the current Boston roster has more than three at-bats against Heaney. The team is 2-for-14 (.143) against him with Xander Bogaerts collecting both hits in his three at-bats (.667).

Ian Kinsler is 11-for-22 (.500) against Porcello, while Albert Pujols is 10-for-29 (.345) with a homer, while Cole Calhoun is 7-for-22 (.318) with two homers. Justin Upton is 2-for-12 (.167) and Luis Valbuena 4-for-19 (.211).

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