The forthcoming action on the grass will start to reveal the potential of the 2026 Vikings.

In case you didn't know (hopefully, you did, and if not, you do now), training camp practices get underway Wednesday at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. So, with a day to spare, let's conclude the offseason with a final look at NFL Power Rankings courtesy FOX Sports and The Athletic.

Minnesota was pegged a few spots higher by the former, checking in at No. 17. Reporter Ralph Vacchiano noted the success of the season will be tied strongly to the quarterback position.

In the FOX Sports assessment, Vacchiano grouped NFC North foes Detroit and Green Bay nearby at 15 and 16, respectively. Meanwhile, the defending division champion Bears are inside his Top 10 at No. 8.

Vacchiano's Top 5 favors the franchise that traded for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and brings back MVP QB Matthew Stafford. Counting from 5 to 1, it goes New England, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver and the Los Angeles Rams. For what it's worth, his 32^nd club is Arizona. Check out his full ranking.

The Vikings were touted a bit lower by The Athletic's Josh Kendall (being slept on can be advantageous).

At No. 20, Kendall highlighted the quarterback competition – like everyone else covering the league – between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray as the focus of interest. McCarthy has played just 10 games and rode a roller coaster of results, and Murray is very much embracing an opportunity to maximize his skills.

Kendall sided with Detroit (No. 10) as the division's finest, followed by Chicago (12) and Green Bay (15).

You can read Kendall's pre-training camp power rankings here.

'Feels like home'

Observers at training camp are going to notice someone missing: 2-2 or Harrison Smith.

"The Hitman" hasn't made up his mind on football, yet. Whether he returns for his 15^th season in Purple at 37 years old or heads off, quietly (true to his nature), into retirement is uncertain. Smith missed a chunk of camp last season due to an illness, but by the end of the year garnered conference recognition.

In other words, his tank wasn't empty – and the Vikings will welcome him back in a heartbeat.

As for the safety position sans Smith, there's a few faces with returning defensive experience (Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson and Jay Ward) and a couple youngsters, including third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas.

Thomas was the subject of Emily Leiker's recent piece for the Star Tribune.

Specifically, Leiker laid out how Thomas restored his passion for football during his final college season at Miami after initially progressing at Middle Tennessee State and transferring to Tennessee. Thomas played sparingly on defense for the Volunteers in 2024 and wrestled over his future … "decisions past football."

Leiker shared how a visit from his mom one night in spring 2025 helped change the course of his career.

Here's an excerpt from Leiker's story (read the entire feature here).

She drove three hours from their home in Tullahoma, Tennessee, to go talk to him face-to-face on campus. They walked and talked around his neighborhood until the sun came up and Jakobe had to report to a 6 a.m. workout. Brandi drove back home, changed and went to work.

After another couple of phone calls later that day, Jakobe told his mom he had put his name in the transfer portal.

"They completely had just broke my son down to nothing where he didn't even believe in himself," Brandi said.

Jakobe transferred to the University of Miami, where he helped the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff Championship Game last season. More important, his time there reignited a passion for football that'd been dampened after a season spent on the sideline in Tennessee.

In Coral Gables, Florida, Thomas once again found the type of football environment he had thrived in throughout high school and at Middle Tennessee — a structured, well-disciplined one, with coaches who were tough but cared for players like family.

Thomas was selected by Minnesota with the 98^th overall pick in this year's draft. The pick was acquired on Day 2 of the event from Philadelphia in the trade that sent star OLB Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles.

It was a dream come true moment for Thomas, and a reminder Smith can't play forever even if he does return this season. The most encouraging part is Minnesota "feels like home" to Thomas, just like Miami.

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