The Vikings are set to open preseason play on the road against the Giants at noon on Saturday, and that gives Minnesota its first real chance to see some of the camp buzz hold up when the speed actually matters.
Training camp has already produced its share of highlights, but preseason football is where those flashes get tested. For a few players in particular, Week 1 looks like an important early checkpoint.
Tai Felton has been one of the biggest names of the offseason after entering camp as a possible cut candidate and turning himself into one of the louder stories around the team. Last season’s third-round pick barely saw the field, catching only three passes while mostly contributing on special teams.
This summer has looked different. Felton has stacked together multiple highlight-reel catches and emerged as one of the standouts on the second-string offense.
The question now is whether that momentum shows up in a game setting. Big grabs in camp are one thing, but they don’t always tell the whole story.
There’s still plenty to learn about how those plays came together, whether on a designed route or in scramble-drill chaos. With Justin Jefferson likely to sit out preseason, Felton should get a real runway to show what he can do as a receiver.
His route running and ability to create separation are the things to watch. The top three receiver jobs may already be spoken for, but Felton could still push his way into the rotation or at least establish himself as useful depth.
Charles Demmings has been another camp headline, and maybe the loudest one among the rookies. The fifth-round corner from Stephen F.
Austin has drawn heavy praise in what is already an impressive rookie defensive group, and he’s brought the kind of edge fans notice right away. He’s been chirping, celebrating, and making sure quarterbacks and receivers know when he’s won the rep, including the “too small” gesture after a breakup.
Demmings has already mixed in with the first team and taken on Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison without looking out of place. He’s had multiple pass breakups against Jefferson, which is no small thing, and he hasn’t shied away from letting Jefferson hear about it.
In the preseason opener, he should get extended snaps against Giants receivers who are unlikely to present the same challenge. Even if Byron Murphy, Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre are the names set to handle the starting cornerback work to begin the season, Demmings could still carve out a role in certain packages or step in when the staff wants to spell others.
Gavin Bartholomew is another player worth tracking after a frustrating first year wiped out by a back injury. He’s back now, and camp has shown why the Vikings are interested in seeing more. The second-year tight end has made himself known as a pass catcher, with multiple red-zone grabs and steady praise from the beat reporters.
That only solves part of the equation, though. Bartholomew still has to prove he can handle the run-blocking side of the job.
Long term, Minnesota’s tight end picture is murky, with T.J. Hockenson back on a revised one-year deal and Josh Oliver offering limited value as a receiver.
That leaves room for Bartholomew to make a case for a bigger role. With Kyler Murray’s love for targeting tight ends, he could end up being an underrated option while defenses focus on Jefferson and Addison.
In Other News...
Vikings Just Sent A Clear Message About Two Roster Battles
The Vikings took a look at some depth options Monday at TCO Performance Center, bringing in a small group of free-agent hopefuls at two spots where the roster picture is still worth monitoring. The workouts centered on running backs and safeties, with the team continuing to sort through the kind of fringe competition that can shape the back end of camp and the practice squad picture.
Among the players who came through were Jermar Jefferson, Dominic Richardson and Marcus Yarns at running back, along with Glendon Miller, Wande Owens and D.Q. Smith at safety. Each arrived with a different college or pro background, which is usually the point of these sessions for Minnesota: get a closer look, stack some options, and keep the pressure on the players already fighting to hold those jobs. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Golday Is Becoming A Key Piece In Brian Flores' Defense
Jake Golday has been drawing attention inside Brian Flores defense because he can do a little bit of everything. The Vikings value that kind of flexibility from a linebacker, and Golday has shown he can handle traditional linebacker responsibilities while also sliding into hybrid edge-rushing and coverage roles when the scheme calls for it.
For Flores, that versatility matters because it helps Minnesota keep its defensive structure intact without having to swap pieces every time an offense changes its look. The coaching staff expects Goldays role to keep growing as the season goes on, and the more he proves he can move around the formation, the harder he becomes to take off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings QB Battle Is Raising A Familiar Fear Again
The Vikings quarterback competition has taken on a familiar feel during training camp, especially after a night practice that put J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray under the lights and under the same scrutiny. Both have flashed at times, but the bigger takeaway so far is how uneven the battle has been, with Minnesota still trying to sort out whether it wants the safer choice or the one with more upside.
That uncertainty is what makes this stretch of camp feel so important, because the preseason is about to force some clarity. For a team that has spent plenty of time dealing with questions at quarterback, the unresolved nature of this race is less a surprise than a reminder of how hard it can be to find a clean answer at the position. [Read more 🡒]