The Vikings are heading into Week 1 in pretty good shape overall, with one major exception already on the shelf: Jamal Adams’ season-ending leg injury. Beyond that, the team has only a handful of health questions to sort through before Sunday’s opener against the rival Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The biggest name on that list is J.J. McCarthy.
The quarterback sprained his ankle in the Vikings’ second preseason game against the Ravens, then was expected to be available against the Broncos the following week. That never happened, and the story around his status got messy fast.
After that game, Kevin O’Connell made it sound like McCarthy simply wasn’t ready.
“We hoped to get him turned over,” O’Connell explained (h/t ESPN's Kevin Seifert). “Just couldn’t get him there.”
Then came the opposite version of events: multiple reports said McCarthy was the one who chose to sit out. The uncertainty didn’t clear up much after that, even after Adam Schefter reported on Aug. 31 that the injury was a "multi-week" one.
By Sept. 2, Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said McCarthy had been practicing in full all week.
Trade rumors continue to swirl, but the current expectation is that McCarthy should be healthy enough to be available against Green Bay, even if his exact role - QB2 or QB3 - is still unresolved.
Another rookie worth watching is Jacob Thomas, who made a real preseason name for himself with an interception and the highest rookie grade on Pro Football Focus. His momentum hit a scare in the final preseason game, though, when he left after just seven snaps with what looked like a serious ankle injury.
The early fear eased when post-game testing showed a Grade 1 ankle sprain, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis. That’s the mildest form of sprain, and the usual recovery window is about a week or two.
Thomas should avoid injured reserve, but the Vikings also aren’t in a hurry to push him back. Harrison Smith’s sudden return gives them room to be patient, and while Thomas is likely healthy enough to face the Packers on Sunday, he may not actually play in Week 1.
Smith’s return changes a lot in that secondary. The veteran signed with the Vikings on Saturday and is set for his 15th NFL season after being away from football since January. He missed OTAs and training camp, but NFL Network’s Mile Garafolo reported that Smith is aiming to play right away against Green Bay.
#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell and DC Brian Flores pushed hard for Harrison Smith’s return. This will be his second-highest-paid season at the age of 37. And he’s coming in with plans on playing next Sunday against the #Packers. https://t.co/Ui0NpprMeL
For Minnesota, that means a 37-year-old safety who has been off the field for six months is suddenly back in the mix as a starter. It also gives the team more flexibility with Thomas, who can be eased in rather than thrown straight into action.
Theo Jackson is another safety situation to keep an eye on. He left the joint practices with the Ravens with an apparent lower-body injury and never returned, though the injury was never officially disclosed. O’Connell said a little over a week ago that Jackson was moving in the right direction for the opener.
"Theo Jackson is also progressing in a good way," O’Connell said. "You'll start seeing him a little bit more off to the side... But for sure we're targeting that Packers week."
Kevin O’Connell provides updates on OL Caleb Tiernan, S Theo Jackson and QB J.J. McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/bTBaUIMaqG
Jackson would be in line for work behind Joshua Metellus, Smith and maybe even Jay Ward, assuming he’s healthy enough to go. That said, his standing wasn’t exactly on solid ground before the injury, and after losing his job to Jay Ward halfway through 2025, the setback only makes things tougher. If Jackson can’t play against the Packers, rookie Jakobe Thomas could get a look after missing most of the preseason with a lingering back injury.
For now, the Vikings appear to be navigating Week 1 with more optimism than concern. The roster isn’t spotless, but compared with the rest of preseason, it’s in decent shape as kickoff approaches.
In Other News...
Vikings Head Into Packers Opener With Two Massive Week 1 Questions
The Vikings are heading into their season opener against Green Bay with a very different look, beginning with Kyler Murray at quarterback and Harrison Smith back for a 15th NFL season after coming out of retirement to rejoin the club. On the other side of the ball, the roster has been reshaped by the trade of Jonathan Greenard, which leaves Dallas Turner in line to carry the load off the edge while rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange are expected to mix in on the defensive line.
There is also a new wrinkle in the passing game with Jauan Jennings added as a physical third receiver, giving Minnesota another layer to sort out before a trip into one of the leagues oldest rivalries. The bigger question is how all of those changes hold up right away against the Packers, because the opener will offer an early look at whether the Vikings revamped pieces can settle in quickly enough to match the expectation around this team. [Read more 🡒]
Harrison Smiths Vikings Return Came With One Huge Catch
Harrison Smith is back for a fifteenth season in Minnesota, giving the Vikings one more year of experience and stability in the secondary from a player who has long been one of the franchises defining defensive presences. The deal keeps him in the building and adds another veteran layer to a roster that has leaned on his versatility and leadership for years.
There is a catch, though, and it speaks to how carefully the Vikings had to structure the return. Smiths contract is built around a modest signing bonus and base salary, with most of the money pushed into bonuses that depend on staying active and on team success in the postseason, a setup that makes this more than a simple reunion. His late availability and the fact that he was not part of training camp also shaped the path back, leaving Minnesota with the kind of short-term certainty it wanted, even if the arrangement tells its own story. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Edge Depth Just Got A Brian Flores Boost
The Vikings added a familiar face to their edge room this week, signing Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad with the expectation that hell be elevated to the active roster soon. It is the kind of move that speaks as much to Brian Flores influence as it does to Minnesotas need for more help up front, with Van Noy bringing a long track record of working in Flores system and enough versatility to fit a rotating role.
Van Noys production has tapered in recent years, but the Vikings are clearly betting on the traits that have kept him around the league: football IQ, positional flexibility and a comfort level that should help him get up to speed quickly. For a team looking to build reliable depth behind its current edge rushers, he fits as a low-drama insurance piece who could be useful in specific packages once he is officially moved onto the roster. [Read more 🡒]