EAGAN, MN - Thursday’s Vikings practice didn’t offer much in the way of full-speed football, but it still gave a decent look at where the team’s head is at heading into Saturday’s preseason opener against the Giants.
The work was mostly slow and controlled, with walkthroughs taking up a big chunk of the day. Even so, one of the few live moments stood out: in 11-on-11 action, Kyler Murray connected with Jordan Addison on a deep ball that turned into a diving grab and about a 40-yard gain.
A lot of the attention in camp has centered on the offensive line, and especially the center spot. Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens and rookie Gavin Gerhardt have all taken their turns trying to lock down the job, but the snap issues have been hard to ignore. Even the highlight throws have been getting picked apart online.
Brandel, who had never played center until injuries forced him into the role last season, has done enough to earn first-team reps. That alone is notable for a player who has also lined up at tackle and guard.
But Thursday brought another rough exchange with Murray in a red-zone walkthrough, and that’s the kind of mistake that can’t be brushed aside, even in a slow setting. If things are already shaky at walkthrough speed, there’s understandable concern about how it holds up when the pressure ramps up.
New general manager Nolan Teasley will be watching closely on Saturday, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Vikings start looking at more center help soon.
Carson Wentz was a major part of the early work Thursday, and his role for the weekend looks pretty clear. The Vikings brought him back this spring after he played through a torn labrum and a fractured socket in his non-throwing shoulder for weeks last season. He’s expected to get his first preseason action with Minnesota after joining the team only after last year’s camp had already wrapped.
Wentz had been the most steady quarterback in the room early in camp before Murray’s breakout this week, and his reps have increased since Murray was named QB1. Murray should be limited Saturday, which leaves J.J. McCarthy and Wentz set to handle most of the snaps, with Max Brosmer likely getting work late.
There’s also a real possibility Wentz positions himself as the Vikings’ QB2 this season if the right deal comes together for McCarthy. His toughness last year and his comfort in the offense this summer give him a legitimate case.
On defense, the story has been the rookies and younger players getting their shot. Brian Flores’s unit has leaned heavily into the young talent, and that should continue Saturday. Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday and Chuck Demmings have already flashed during camp, and Thursday hinted at more of the same, with Banks, Orange and second-year lineman Elijah Williams working together on the front.
That group figures to be busy this weekend, while veterans like Levi Drake Rodriguez and Jalen Redmond may barely see the field. Golday and Demmings are two more names worth watching because the coaching staff has used them in different ways so far. Safety Jakobe Thomas still hasn’t had his big camp moment, but if he gets a clean path to a receiver, he could finally show the hard-hitting style he was known for at Miami.
In Other News...
Vikings Suddenly Face A Risky J.J. McCarthy Decision
The Vikings entered the season with Kyler Murray installed as the starter and J.J. McCarthy shifted into the backup role, a setup that immediately changes the long view for a quarterback who had been positioned as part of the future. For Minnesota, the move creates a familiar kind of tension: protect depth now, or risk leaving a talented young passer stuck in a spot where his next real opportunity could be somewhere else.
McCarthys situation is drawing attention because his fit in Minnesota no longer looks automatic, especially with another team needing help behind an established starter who is already locked in for years. Jared Goff remains the top quarterback there through 2028, but the search for a dependable No. 2 could give the Vikings a possible trade angle if they decide the best move is to cash in before the market shifts again. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Harbaugh Quarterback Question Fans Will Debate
Kyler Murray being named the starter in Minnesota has already changed the conversation around J.J. McCarthy, and not just inside the Vikings building. With McCarthy suddenly looking like a possible trade candidate, the speculation has spilled beyond the NFC North and into a quarterback market that always seems to find room for one more twist.
One idea making the rounds would send McCarthy to the Chargers, a move that would plug him into another Harbaugh-connected situation and give Los Angeles a young passer to consider for the future. The proposed package would bring Trey Lance and a draft pick back to Minnesota, but for now it remains exactly that: a scenario to debate, not a transaction to report. [Read more 🡒]
JJ McCarthy Trade Buzz Could Set Up A Familiar Reunion
JJ McCarthys first season of real NFL uncertainty has arrived a little sooner than expected. After losing the Vikings starting quarterback job to Kyler Murray, McCarthy is now in the backup role, even as he has made it clear he wants to stay in Minnesota. The wrinkle, of course, is that new general manager Nolan Teasley has the final call on whether that future still makes sense for the team.
That has opened the door to trade chatter, and Chris Spiering of ClutchPoints floated one destination that would come with plenty of familiarity. The idea is more than just a football fit, because a move there would bring McCarthy back into a setting tied to an old relationship from his college days, giving the speculation a little extra intrigue while the Vikings wait to see how serious the market really is. [Read more 🡒]