EAGAN, MN - Wednesday at Vikings camp belonged to the offense, and Kyler Murray was at the center of it.
After a lighter Tuesday without pads, the Vikings picked up the pace and got a much sharper, more explosive practice at TCO. Murray used the day to separate himself, and he did it in every phase of the work.
He opened by connecting with Justin Jefferson in a one-on-one rep against Isaiah Rodgers, then kept rolling in 7-on-7 when he hit Jennings deep for a touchdown. In 11-on-11, Murray uncorked what appeared to be a 60-yard score to a wide-open Tai Felton.
He finished the day in two-minute work by giving Jefferson a chance on the sideline between two defenders, and Jefferson hauled it in and ran it to the end zone for a simulated win.
Murray also showed off his legs, which has been rare through camp so far. At one point, he took off on a scramble up the sideline for about seven yards, and the speed popped even at practice pace. If he keeps producing days like this, he has a real shot to lock down the starting job.
The receiver group had plenty going on too, especially with Jordan Addison out because of a minor thumb injury, as Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday. The extra reps turned into a showcase for several wideouts.
Tai Felton kept flashing. Jauan Jennings continued to look like one of the best WR3s in the NFL.
Myles Price stood out as a much sharper route runner. Dontae Fleming and Jeshaun Jones also kept making plays.
And Jefferson, as usual, delivered the highlight of the day with the final touchdown catch in two-minute drills, a grab that brought Randy Moss to mind.
The one name that still hasn’t matched the early buzz is UDFA Dillon Bell. He’s been fine, but he hasn’t hit the level people were hearing about coming out of spring practices. Even so, the overall picture is clear: this Vikings receiver room is going to be fun all August.
On the defensive side, the biggest spark came from third-year pass rusher Turner. He hasn’t been loud early in camp, but Wednesday was different.
Sacks are tough to count in a practice setting where quarterbacks can’t be hit, but Turner had at least two reps where he would have gotten home in a real game. He looked quicker and more urgent than he has at any point this summer, a strong response with Jonathan Greenard gone and a bigger role available.
And then there was Chuck Demmings, who looked like the best defensive back on the field. Again.
Another pass breakup, another rep against Jefferson that ended with the star receiver frustrated - it was enough to underline just how good Demmings has been. Fans are going to have a hard time looking away from him once preseason starts.
In Other News...
Charles Demmings Is Giving Vikings Fans Real Reason For Optimism
Charles Demmings has been one of the more encouraging developments at Vikings training camp, where the rookie cornerback has made a strong early impression with his athleticism and nonstop energy. Coaches and teammates have taken notice of the way he carries himself, pointing to the confidence, work ethic and easy presence he has brought to the field and the locker room.
On the practice field, Demmings has backed that up with timely pass breakups and the kind of competitive flash that can quickly get a young defensive back on the radar. For a Minnesota secondary always looking for usable depth and upside, his emergence offers a real reason for optimism, even if the bigger question is how far that momentum can carry once the sessions get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Left Tackle Situation Could Matter To The Vikings Early
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Braxton Jones has been getting first-team reps as Chicago works through the position, which gives the Vikings another wrinkle to track in a division matchup that could turn on protection and pressure. For Minnesota, any uncertainty up front in Chicago matters early because it can affect how the Bears handle pass rushers and how quickly that offense can find rhythm. The bigger question is whether the Bears can stabilize the edge before it becomes a problem, and the answer may not come immediately. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Flores Ranking Sparks A Vikings Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Brian Flores has spent three seasons turning the Vikings defense into one of the more respected units in the league, with Minnesota finishing in top-10 territory in multiple categories under his watch. So when CBS Sports asked 12 NFL analysts to rank the games best defensive play callers, Flores landing fifth immediately stirred the kind of debate that usually follows a coach who has built a clear identity and delivered steady results.
The list put him behind Mike MacDonald, Steve Spagnuolo, Jesse Minter and Vic Fangio, and the most eyebrow-raising part for Vikings fans was Minter jumping ahead of Flores. It is the sort of ranking that invites a real conversation about how much weight should go to recent buzz versus sustained production, especially when Flores has already shown he can reshape a defense and keep it near the top of the league. [Read more 🡒]