The Vikings opened training camp to a sold-out crowd Saturday at TCO Performance Center, and the first public practice of the year delivered exactly the kind of curiosity the fan base showed up for. The quarterback work drew the biggest spotlight, but there was plenty else to watch: new faces, young receivers, and a defense that already looks like it plans to make life miserable.
Kyler Murray made the strongest impression of the day. In his first public practice for his childhood team, he alternated deep throws with J.J.
McCarthy during individual drills before taking the first reps with the starters. Murray looked sharp from the start, showing a level of accuracy that McCarthy is still trying to match consistently.
In 11-on-11 work, Murray was decisive and efficient, and he got Justin Jefferson involved early on a strong downfield throw. From the count in the source report, Murray finished with only one incompletion on 12 attempts in that period.
He carried that form into red zone 7-on-7 work, where he opened the drill and stacked up multiple scoring throws. Even without leaning on his mobility, Murray looked in control throughout the day. The gap between him and McCarthy on Saturday was obvious.
McCarthy had the rougher outing. His day included missed throws, inconsistency, and a tipped-ball interception that landed in Blake Cashman’s hands.
The red zone period didn’t help much either, with multiple incompletions and some trouble reading the defense as quickly as Murray. His best moment came on a touchdown throw to undrafted free agent Dillon Bell in the back of the end zone.
But the bigger issue was processing speed. On one snap that would have been an Ivan Pace Jr. sack in a real game, McCarthy ended up with a bad miss to Jordan Mason on a short throw that should have been there.
After that kind of day, he’ll have plenty to clean up before the team returns in pads on Monday.
Aaron Jones also brought energy. In a practice without pads, the running back still flashed speed and quickness, and the crowd reacted early to the kind of elusiveness that made him stand out. With the Vikings emphasizing a revamped run game under new assistant head coach Frank Smith, Jones looks intent on making the most of his return to Minnesota.
The receiver room also started to take shape. Behind Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, the competition already looks crowded.
Tai Felton, the 2025 third-round pick, made a strong catch from Murray late in practice. Bell added to his day with that red zone touchdown from McCarthy.
Myles Price remains highly valued for special teams, which only makes the roster math tougher. There’s real competition here.
On defense, Brian Flores’ fingerprints were easy to spot. Jake Golday worked with the first team at edge and got his hands on the pass that Cashman intercepted.
Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange both stood out for their size, and if Banks is ready for Week 1, that pairing could be a problem for opposing offenses right away. Charles “Chuck” Demmings also had a notable day, including a matchup against Jefferson.
The physical edge he showed in Mobile, Ala., at Senior Bowl practices seems to be carrying over to Eagan.
The first open practice gave the Vikings plenty to chew on, and Saturday’s biggest takeaway was simple: the quarterback battle already has a clear tone, the rookie talent is pushing hard, and Flores’ defense looks ready to come after people.
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