EAGAN, Minn. — An early afternoon thunderstorm preceded a gorgeous afternoon of football Friday at TCO Performance Center as the Vikings picked back up in full pads after a day off.

In case you've lost track of the 2026 Training Camp action, Minnesota will be headed to New Jersey a week from now to prepare for its preseason opener at the New York Giants on Saturday, Aug. 15.

As far as the ongoing quarterback competition between Kyler Murray, who turned 29 today, and J.J. McCarthy, both players made a couple difficult throws in a session heavy with specific game situations, and they had a couple more fall incomplete by the skin of their teeth. Two stuck with us: Murray laid one up the seam to TE Ben Yurosek that almost resulted in a diving catch, and McCarthy arced one up the sideline to TE Gavin Bartholomew that looked grabbable — granted, it would've been a head-turner.

On the defensive side, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman supplied some of the most notable pressure on the passers, and Jalen Redmond played with ownership of the trenches.

Here are three observations from practice No. 8, which was officiated by NFL referees:

1. Super specialists

We got our first long look this summer at All-Pro kicker Will Reichard, and he looked as advertised.

During an extended period (nearly 20 minutes), the offense worked third- and fourth-down calls, and depending on the result either finished the sequence by sending out the field goal/punting units or leaving the offense on the field to convert. Ultimately, Reichard was tasked with five FG attempts.

The 25-year-old drilled his initial try from 57 yards and then narrowly missed his second from 58 yards, which hit the crossbar. He responded with makes from 46, 43 and 48 yards to finish 4-for-5.

As well as he performed, it's not outlandish to say rookie punter Brett Thorson stole the show. Thorson followed veteran Johnny Hekker, who punted twice (one of Hekker's was downed at the 20-yard line, the other bounced through the back of the end zone), and placed his first ball at the 1-yard line (Tai Felton gunned down the field and missed a chance to down it before it rolled into the end zone).

Afterward, in a separate special teams period, Thorson took all the punter reps and compiled his own highlight reel, smashing ball after ball to smithereens. We couldn't get a perfect read on the distances but are comfortable saying several traveled 60 yards. The returners were in retreat mode.

It was a fun introduction for fans to the Australian punter and the Ray Guy Award winner at Georgia.

2. Update on Adams

Jamal Adams sported a new number, 32, after donning 54 in his first seven Vikings practices.

The 30-year-old defender probably feels a little bit more at home in it after rocking 33 on the Jets and Seahawks (and Titans and Raiders). Adams likely also felt more himself as he moved all around Minnesota's defense.

Adams is listed as a linebacker on the roster and was just that to begin his Vikings tenure, playing alongside the likes of Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace, Jr. On Friday, however, Adams got more exposure to Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores' creativity and played in the box, over the slot and as one of two deep safeties next to Joshua Metellus. It's worth noting that safety Jay Ward did not practice, and rookie Jakobe Thomas did not participate in team drills. Nevertheless, it was neat to see Adams patrolling several areas.

Due to Adams changing his number, OLB Chaz Chambliss switched to 57, which he wore in 2025.

3. Familiar flashes

There were a few occasions Friday of past-and-present teammates victimizing each other.

During a 7-on-7 period, cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., jumped a route by Justin Jefferson and intercepted Murray, his 2019 draft classmate on the Cardinals. Murph' stuck like glue to "Jets", again, in 11-on-11 and drew a pass interference penalty when Jefferson attempted to push off him.

The offense reached into its bag of tricks in the red zone versus a scout defense to wrap practice — and this time, there was a triple Big Blue connection that favored McCarthy and Max Bredeson.

On one snap, Bredeson took his fullback stance and spearheaded a touchdown rush by Aaron Jones, Sr., with a sledgehammer block that would make C.J. Ham proud on former Michigan LB Josh Ross; they go back to Bredeson's freshman season, when Ross led the Wolverines with 106 tackles!

On the very next snap, McCarthy found his college buddy in the flat for an easy pitch-and-catch TD.

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