EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The revamped Vikings run game started fast, furious and with 44 yards on Minnesota's first possession of the 2026 preseason.

Aaron Jones, Sr., zoomed behind the left side of the offensive line featuring left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Donovan Jackson and picked up steam for a gain of 18 on Minnesota's first snap.

Jones toted the ball three times for 27 yards, averaging a whopping 9.0 per carry.

Jordan Mason also popped for an explosive in the run game, with a long of 15 and totaled 17 yards on three carries for an average of 5.7.

Minnesota considers Jones and Mason as starter-worthy, and the duo combined for 44 of Minnesota's 54 yards to set up a 35-yard field goal for an early lead of an eventual 13-10 victory.

The combo of Darrisaw and Jackson, a pair of first-round talents, and what it could mean for the run game should have plenty of people excited because of the reverberating effect that could have on how teams will need to make decisions on defense.

Kyler Murray went 2-for-3 in his Vikings debut, completing a 2-yard pass to rookie fullback Max Bredeson and connecting with Jordan Addison for 8 to convert a third-and-7.

Justin Jefferson was the only starter on offense who did not play.

J.J. McCarthy and the second-team offense finished the first half but struggled to build momentum. A busted run play on McCarthy's first snap put the offense behind the chains early. McCarthy finished 4-for-7 with 34 yards, highlighted by a long of 17 to Myles Price that crossed midfield, but that possession went backward with penalties.

Here are four more observations:

1. Myles Price carries strong camp to game setting

Myles Price secured his roster spot as a rookie in 2025 with what he did in the return game.

This time around, he's been more involved in the offense with several strong performances at training camp.

All that stacking showed up Saturday with four catches for 51 yards and a remarkable one-handed snag of a 1-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz.

The catch occurred while Jefferson was mic'd up with the broadcast team during the third quarter and sent the Pro Bowl receiver into shouting, "Yeah, Jug!" on repeat, invoking teammates' nickname for Price.

Price also won on another contested catch when Wentz had given him on opportunity with the QB's first pass attempt of the day. He fought through a challenge by a Giants defender and added some yards after the catch for a long of 28.

2. Interceptions by rookies named Jacob

Have a day, rookies named Jacob.

Undrafted rookie linebacker Jacob Roberts snagged the first interception of the Vikings preseason when he secured a pass over the middle of the field by Brandon Allen.

Roberts returned the ball 6 yards to the New York 27 to set up the touchdown drive.

Fellow undrafted rookie safety Jacob Thomas recorded the second along the Minnesota sideline.

3. Four sacks for the defense

Dallas Turner recorded Minnesota's first sack of the preseason, taking down Jaxson Dart to finish off a play in which the Giants QB was sent scrambling.

Jay Ward then delivered a crushing but completely clean hit on Dart, who briefly came out of the game but later returned to throw a touchdown. Ward, a versatile defensive back, sprinted on a blitz untouched.

New Jersey native and defensive lineman Elijah Williams, and outside linebacker Bo Richter finished out the four pack of sacks.

Minnesota assistants Mike Siravo (first half) and Ryan Nielsen (second half) were handed play-calling duties by Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.

4. Heartbreaking return for Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams, who began his NFL career as a first-round pick of the New York Jets suffered a heartbreaking return to MetLife Stadium.

Adams, who signed as Minnesota headed into training camp after playing linebacker for Las Vegas last year and reestablishing himself after a rough injury, spent extended time in the injury tent behind Minnesota's bench before leaving the area on a cart.

Jefferson, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and multiple others tried to console Adams.

"You feel his passion every single day," O'Connell told Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett in a halftime interview. "Certainly felt it spending a few moments with him before they took him in. You're just crushed for him. The role that he was kind of paving for himself, and then him just having the personality, experience, toughness that he brought in such a short amount of time — we're gonna miss him, and we're gonna need to see some guys here step up. But what I told Jamal is, our organization, we've got our arms wrapped around him — and he's a part of this thing, but you absolutely hate to see that."

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