The Vikings got by the Giants in their preseason opener, but that narrow win didn’t exactly come with a clean bill of health or a stack of feel-good performances. Saturday’s matchup with Baltimore gives Minnesota another chance to clean up some rough edges, and a few players who fell short last time are set up for a much better showing.
The running game is one of the clearest places to start. Minnesota finished with 27 carries for 111 yards against New York, but that total is padded by 27 yards from wide receiver Dillon Bell on two rushes.
Strip those out, and the backs produced 84 yards on 23 attempts, a 3.7-yard average that left plenty to be desired. Against the Ravens, the Vikings are expected to hold back Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, which should push more of the workload to the third-team group.
That likely means Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott and Jermar Jefferson will be asked to carry the ball, and they’ll be doing it behind an offensive line depth chart that looks thin enough to show up fast.
Minnesota’s first preseason game also offered a tough look at two rookie defensive linemen who need to bounce back. First-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange both had quiet, frustrating outings against the Giants, and Banks even addressed what he needs to improve afterward. A stronger night against Baltimore would help steady some of the concern around that part of the roster.
There’s also the matter of Jamal Adams, whose injury changed the picture on the back end in a major way. The veteran defensive back had been positioned for a shot to rebound under Brian Flores, but a leg injury has ended his season before it really began.
At quarterback, J.J. McCarthy is now listed as the backup behind Kyler Murray for the 2026 NFL season.
That may not sound glamorous, but it gives McCarthy a defined spot and a path to climb from there. Murray played just one drive against the Giants and is not expected to see much more, if any, work against Baltimore, which should give McCarthy a chance to run the offense and find the end zone.
That kind of response would help him stay in front of Carson Wentz, who turned in a solid performance against New York.
The preseason result itself matters less than the bigger picture, but Minnesota would still like to carry some positive energy into its home opener against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the regular season. With Will Reichard handling the kicking and the young receivers helping move the chains, the Vikings are projected to come out on top 19-17 in Minneapolis.
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Vikings Backfield Battle Is Making One Roster Decision Much Tougher
Aaron Jones is set to open the season as the Vikings lead running back after agreeing to a pay cut to stay in Minnesota, and Jordan Mason looks positioned to serve as the primary backup. That duo gives the offense a clear top two, but it also leaves the team sorting through a deeper group as roster cuts approach, with Zavier Scott, rookie Demond Claiborne and Jermar Jefferson all trying to force their way into the conversation.
Claiborne has been one of the more intriguing names in camp and preseason, flashing enough promise to keep the position group interesting well beyond the top two spots. For a team that wants dependable depth behind Jones and Mason, the competition has become less about filling a final seat and more about deciding which runner offers the best mix of upside, versatility and immediate value. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin OConnell Just Reopened A Painful Vikings Draft Debate
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The debate only gets sharper because of what happened with the first pick the Vikings moved away from. Minnesota traded down from No. 12 to No. 32 and took safety Lewis Cine, while Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton went soon after and has already turned into a multiple-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Kevin OConnell has admitted there is regret around not ending up with Hamilton, and every reminder of that choice keeps reopening one of the more painful what-if questions from the teams recent history. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthy Has Plenty Riding On Vikings Preseason Game
The Vikings are back at U.S. Bank Stadium for their second preseason game, and the focus is less on the scoreboard than on the players trying to sort out their place on the roster. Baltimore is coming to town, the starters figure to get only limited work, and that leaves room for the evaluation process to tighten around a few key names, especially on the back end and among the younger pieces trying to make a case.
J.J. McCarthy sits near the center of it all, because his performance has to take a step forward if he wants to firm up the QB2 conversation. Jacob Thomas also bears watching after an impressive Week 1 showing, and Caleb Banks remains an intriguing project after a rough preseason debut while he continues working back from injury. For a team still shaping its depth chart, this is the kind of game where a few snaps can carry a lot of weight. [Read more 🡒]