Vikings’ Hill suspended for 4 more games

Hill, who was a key member of the secondary the second half of last season as a rookie, remains eligible to participate in all of the Vikings’ training camp activities and their four preseason games. He first will be eligible to play in the regular season Nov. 3 at Kansas City.

The Vikings began training camp Tuesday at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan with 37 rookies and select veterans. All other players, including Hill, are scheduled to report Thursday, with the first full-squad workout Friday.

A Vikings spokesperson said the team would not be releasing a statement on Hill’s latest suspension. It was announced by the NFL after general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer had concluded Tuesday’s media sessions.

Hill’s initial four-game suspension was handed down April 5. He told the Pioneer Press last month he took a substance before a workout and was unaware it was on the banned list. He declined to name the substance.

“I’m just learning from my mistakes, knowing what you put into your body,” he said last month. “I’m responsible for everything that goes into it. I’m taking it as a learning experience, and I’m just growing from there. …I have to be more educated with, like, pre-workouts and stuff I take.”

Hill was suspended for the final three games of the season at the University of Texas in 2017. He later told NFL Network the suspension was for using marijuana.

Bleacher Report reported that Hill failed a drug test at the 2018 NFL scouting combine. However, after being undrafted and signing with the Vikings as a free agent, he denied that.

Hill started three games last season when the Vikings had injuries. With Hill out for the first eight games in 2019, the Vikings could have depth issues at cornerback.