The Minnesota Vikings’ first day of joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday did not exactly go according to plan. By most accounts, it was a rough afternoon at TCO Performance Center, with a few minor fights mixed in and both first-team offenses having a hard time getting much of anything going against defenses that looked ahead of the curve for most of the day.
That backdrop made Kevin O’Connell’s pre-practice availability especially interesting. Before the teams took the field in Eagan, the Vikings head coach was asked about the quarterback situation, and he did at least offer some clarity on where things stand right now.
Asked by Kevin Seifert of ESPN whether he meant J.J. McCarthy was truly the No. 2 quarterback, O’Connell said: “What I would say is this: I did mean that, in regards to the question of, ‘Is he [QB2],’ and he has taken all the No. 2 reps in practice. And he has done really well, you think about the time we made that announcement until now, there’s been some plays where I’ve been proud as heck of how he’s gotten through a read and gotten to a backside in-cut for a first down, with the pocket collapsing on a third down.
Or a play-pass comes to mind the other day, getting backside quick and throwing the ball in a tight window, in-between the numbers. There’s been some really good stuff.
But I want those guys feeling like they’re competing. The whole philosophy around making our quarterback room competitive and raise the standard of, not just that room, but the offense.”
He added, “We’ll see how these next couple weeks play out, and we’re gonna do what’s best for our team. I’m proud of the way JJ’s handled the last few days.
I thought Carson did some good things in the game. I wish we could have gotten Max more time and hopefully that can come here, as we get through these next two preseason games.”
So yes, O’Connell reaffirmed that McCarthy is currently the backup and Carson Wentz is third on the depth chart - but he also left enough wiggle room to keep the conversation alive as the preseason moves on.
That matters because the door is still open for that order to shift before the regular season begins on September 13.
Max Brosmer is another name to watch in all of this. O’Connell’s comments made it pretty clear he has a soft spot for the former Gophers quarterback, who left last week’s preseason game against the Giants after only a couple of plays because of a hand injury and did not return.
Brosmer reportedly threw some on Tuesday, and the Vikings have not ruled out having him available for Saturday’s preseason game. If he’s healthy, he should get plenty of run against the Ravens. The bigger question is what he does with it.
That’s where things get interesting for Minnesota. If Brosmer plays well over the next two weeks, the Vikings could have a real decision to make. And if McCarthy continues to look shaky, the pressure only grows.
For now, McCarthy remains in the QB2 spot. But with joint practices, preseason reps, and roster decisions all stacking up at once, this week feels like a big one for him in the Vikings quarterback room. Even slipping behind Wentz would change the picture quickly, and it would make the possibility of a trade much more real.
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Some areas look steadier than others, but the middle of the roster is where the pressure is building. There are still questions at center and safety, and those spots can ripple through the rest of the roster if the Vikings decide they need more insurance. For a team trying to get through the final preseason evaluation cleanly, the next few days could be just as important for what they reveal as for what they settle. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Just Added More Intrigue To Their Unsettled Center Battle
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Gray arrives with NFL stops in Atlanta and Carolina on his resume, along with a college career at Oregon State that gave him a chance to show he could handle multiple spots. To make room for him, Minnesota moved on from defensive lineman Eric Johnson II, a roster shuffle that adds a little more movement to the conversation around how the Vikings plan to finish shaping the interior of the offensive line. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jefferson Just Gave Vikings Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Justin Jefferson was back in the spotlight during a joint training camp practice between the Vikings and Ravens, and he wasted little time reminding everyone why he changes the mood around Minnesota whenever he is on the field. The session featured a series of notable offensive plays and celebrations, but Jefferson's biggest moment came in a two-minute drill when he connected with Kyler Murray for a touchdown, a sharp flash of timing and explosiveness that stood out in an already lively practice.
For Vikings fans, it was the kind of camp clip that can spark optimism about what the offense might look like heading into the 2026 season, and it also gives fantasy players another reason to keep Jefferson near the top of their boards. The chemistry with Murray was a particularly interesting wrinkle in a practice filled with attention-grabbing moments, even if the bigger question is how much of that connection carries into the games that count. [Read more 🡒]