The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up training camp Wednesday with a familiar kind of August uncertainty hanging over everything: one more preseason game, one more round of evaluations, and then roster cuts.
Kevin O’Connell spent his final camp availability sorting through the biggest questions still left on the table, from J.J. McCarthy’s health to the quarterback depth chart to a couple of bubble players trying to force their way onto the 53-man roster.
The Vikings close the preseason against the Denver Broncos at 8 p.m. Friday, and that game could carry extra weight for several players who need one last shot before cuts hit Sunday.
Minnesota must trim to 53 players by 3 p.m. Sunday after arriving home around 4 a.m.
Saturday.
McCarthy was out of Wednesday’s practice after splitting reps Tuesday, but O’Connell said the issue is a “deltoid sprain” rather than a high-ankle injury. The Vikings would like to get him on the field Friday, because those snaps would give him one more chance to show he can command the offense, sustain drives and finish possessions - something he has not really done yet. At the same time, Minnesota won’t force it if he isn’t ready.
Carson Wentz, meanwhile, is expected to play Friday as the team keeps dividing work among him, McCarthy and Max Brosmer. The staff wants another look before locking in the Week 1 quarterback depth chart, but so far Wentz has been ahead of McCarthy, while Brosmer has done enough to keep the race from feeling settled.
"I challenge these guys to go help be elevators of whatever group they're in with on offense." - Kevin O'Connell pic.twitter.com/DQIZPKWFE8
- Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 26, 2026
Brosmer’s first preseason outing helped his case. Viking Age’s Anthony Miller gave him a B+ after the second-year quarterback went 11-of-17 for 98 yards and an interception against the Ravens.
Friday also gives the roster hopefuls one final runway. O’Connell, a former NFL quarterback, knows how much those last snaps matter when the pressure is at its peak. For the players on the edge, it’s one more chance to put something good on film before the league decides their future.
One player who seems to have helped himself is Dallas Turner. O’Connell said the third-year edge rusher has “total ownership” of Brian Flores’ defense, and Turner’s work against Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill has apparently sharpened his pass-rush package. That added variety only strengthens the buzz around his breakout potential.
Chaz Chambliss is also making things interesting in his own way. He has moved between inside linebacker, outside linebacker and fullback while contributing on special teams, and that kind of flexibility gives Minnesota plenty of reasons to keep him around.
His switch to No. 40 even allows the Vikings to line him up at fullback without reporting him as eligible. O’Connell said Chambliss has enough “swag” to wear almost any number, but the real selling point is his versatility.
When roster spots are scarce, being able to handle four different jobs can make all the difference.
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For a player once so closely tied to one of the most passionate eras in recent Vikings history, the latest incident adds another difficult chapter to a stretch that has included multiple arrests since 2023. It also comes only months after a July arrest tied to a probation violation connected to a DWI, making any talk of a possible return to the franchise feel more remote by the day. [Read more 🡒]