After nine practices at Minnesota Vikings training camp, the quarterback question is still hanging over everything. That’s the part Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano zeroed in on during their latest “Two Old Bloggers” breakdown on Vikings 1st & SKOL: do the Vikings actually have a quarterback who can win in the NFC North?
So far, the answer has not been reassuring. Tyler Forness described both Kyler Murray and J.J.
McCarthy as “just fine,” and that kind of middle-ground performance is exactly what has people uneasy. Murray has gotten roughly twice as many first-team reps as McCarthy, which naturally invites questions about whether Kevin O’Connell has already tipped his hand.
But the bigger issue is simpler than the rep count: neither quarterback has taken control of the job.
Darren didn’t sugarcoat it. “The second worst outcome is what we have right now - both guys are so-so.
Nobody’s really running away with it.” Dave pointed to a viral tweet that captured the frustration: Kyler ought to be showing he’s light years ahead of J.J., not the other way around.
And the concern only deepens when you look at Mike Sando’s survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives, where Murray landed 23rd overall in Tier 3 and McCarthy came in 34th in Tier 4. Every NFC North rival quarterback was ranked ahead of them.
Still, camp hasn’t been all doom and gloom. There are real bright spots bubbling up around the roster.
Charles Demmings, the fifth-round cornerback, has been showing up every day with plays against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings. That matters in a big way for a team that hasn’t drafted and developed a quality corner since Xavier Rhodes in 2013.
Caleb Banks, listed at No. 18 overall, is another encouraging sign. He’s fully participating without any reported foot issues, which is no small thing after multiple surgeries. Minnesota is easing him in, working him alongside Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jaylen Redmond and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
At linebacker, Jake Golday is getting work with the ones under Brian Flores and looks capable of helping both inside and outside. That kind of versatility can get a player on the field fast.
Tight end Gavin Bartholomew has been stacking up big catches daily, and the early shape of his development has drawn a Tyler Conklin comparison, especially with T.J. Hockenson’s free agency looming after 2026.
One of the more intriguing camp stories belongs to Jeshaun Jones, who has generated the most buzz among the receivers. The problem is the roster math. At 26, he’s only six months younger than Justin Jefferson, and he’s fighting an uphill battle with Tai Felton, Jauan Jennings and Myles Price ahead of him.
There’s also a wrinkle with Jamal Adams, who has moved to number 32 and is back at safety under Flores. That opens the door to a Josh Metellus-style joker role if things keep trending in that direction.
Off the field, Jordan Addison’s extension is shaping up as the next major business storyline. Zay Flowers’ four-year, $140 million deal with the Ravens is pushing receiver prices higher, but Darren sees the Vikings in a decent position because they have Jennings, Tai Felton’s growth and Addison’s trade value working in their favor.
And then there’s the comp pick angle. If Murray starts, plays well and signs a big deal somewhere else, Minnesota could be looking at a 2028 third-round compensatory pick. The comparison here is the haul the Vikings got from Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
For all the concern around the quarterbacks, there is at least a familiar reminder that camp form in August doesn’t always tell the full story. Sam Darnold looked shaky at this same point in 2024 training camp and still wound up becoming an MVP-caliber performer. There’s time left, and the next test comes with joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens and the first preseason game against the Giants.
In Other News...
New Vikings Already Feeling The Pressure Of A Brutal Roster Fight
Training camp always has a way of sharpening the edges of a roster, and for a few new arrivals in Minnesota, the first weeks have already made the math feel unforgiving. Defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk, center Gavin Gerhardt and punter Johnny Hekker are all trying to carve out roles while the Vikings sort through a crowded 53-man competition, where every practice rep can matter as much as any preseason snap.
For Loudermilk and Gerhardt, the problem is not just earning attention, but finding a lane on a team that has other bodies at the same positions and a premium on versatility. Younger players and undrafted challengers are part of the mix too, which is why the margin for error feels so small before the real games even begin. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthys Progress Just Raised The Stakes At Vikings Camp
A Vikings practice at the TCO Performance Center brought a little extra clarity to a camp that still has plenty of decisions ahead, and the work of a few familiar names stood out. Wide receiver Dontae Fleming kept showing up as a reliable target, running back Jordan Mason handled himself well as both a runner and receiver, and J.J. McCarthy continued to look more comfortable with the kind of throws that matter when the pace picks up.
McCarthys accuracy and ball placement have been trending in the right direction, and that kind of progress naturally changes the tone around camp. It also comes at a time when another quarterback, Kyler Murray, had an uneven day marked by some costly mistakes, which only sharpened the contrast as the Vikings sort through the week-to-week storylines that will shape the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Get Another Shot At A 2025 Draft Favorite
Kaleb Johnson was one of the 2025 draft names the Vikings clearly had on their radar, and now his first NFL offseason has turned into one to watch. The Pittsburgh running back had only a limited impact as a rookie, and Minnesotas interest makes sense with the team still thinking ahead about its backfield needs.
Reports around Johnsons standing in Pittsburgh have not been settled, which is part of what makes this worth tracking for the Vikings. Some around the league believe his path with the Steelers is anything but secure, while others think he has done enough to carve out a place in camp, and Minnesota is staying close to the situation in case another opening develops. [Read more 🡒]