EAGAN, Minn. — Ninety degrees felt hot, but there were no complaints.

That's because Wednesday brought 90 minutes of football back, offering a fresh look at Minnesota's 2026 squad and ongoing QB competition at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. The first session of Vikings Training Camp was open to media members.

Returnee J.J. McCarthy and free-agent addition Kyler Murray picked up where they left off this spring. Both met with local reporters before the session, and so did right tackle Brian O’Neill after he re-upped his contract with the team Tuesday. The only thing missing was a sea of fans. Well … and "The Hitman."

There's no shortage of confidence in the secondary sans Harrison Smith, who hasn't decided on if he will return for his 15^th season or head for the sunset, but there's certainly a surplus of expertise that is gone.

"I think, collectively, there's a sense of trying to bring what he brought to the table from a communication [and] leadership standpoint with him being absent, or not being absent, but not being here; I still haven't gotten over it," Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores told media before practice.

"Obviously, he brought a lot to our team," he continued with a smile. "We love him dearly. Hope he hears that and knows what I mean by that. But, yeah, I think his impact on the other guys as far as leadership, communication, ownership of the defense, I think he especially took to that ownership and the ability to change [the defensive call] based on what they see" as a group.

Flores stated his belief that there's at least a few other players who learned from Smith in that regard.

Beyond the missing 2-2 jersey, here are three observations from Day 1 of Vikings Training Camp.

1. I Spy: Agent Caleb Banks

You can ignore our ridiculous play on words (we blame the heat), but not the Vikings first-round pick.

A full participant in practice Wednesday, the 18^th overall pick Banks turned heads without making any tackles for loss or sacks. His size alone was something to behold. Calves. Thighs. Torso. Arms. You name it, Banks, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, looked like he was dressed in full pads in his debut.

Banks spent the offseason program finishing his rehab for a foot injury and shared afterward that his first NFL practice was fun. He called it "different" than anything he's experienced before, and described Defensive Running Game Coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who led defensive line drills, as "a very serious guy."

Banks added that Nielsen is someone "that I feel like every defensive tackle would want in their corner."

During team periods, Banks was seen rotating on the first team with second-year DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins; they played beside Levi Drake Rodriguez, who lined up as a nose tackle, and Jalen Redmond.

2. Defensive newcomers show up

The newest veteran on the Vikings, Jamal Adams, acclimated quickly to his change of scenery and new uniform No. – 54. The 30-year-old former safety settled in with the inside linebackers during individual drills and got plenty of work in the second level with the second defense in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods.

Adams showed feel for space and sinking into zones. On one snap, he provided tight underneath coverage in tandem with a deep safety on a McCarthy pass that was denied over the middle of the field. Later, he nearly disrupted a seam shot to TE Gavin Bartholomew, but McCarthy had just the right touch.

Another veteran preparing for his first Vikings season, James Pierre, forced the only turnover of the day. The 29-year-old cornerback who signed in free agency high-pointed a pass that Murray probably wanted back (it appeared to be affected at the line of scrimmage by Redmond). Pierre plucked it with ease, but he stayed on the ground for a moment, likely due to a cramp, and eventually jogged off.

Earlier in the session, Pierre tapped into his length and closed his cushion with purpose on an in-breaker intended for Justin Jefferson and broke it up. He also was in ideal position on a laser beam over the middle to Addison, but the receiver wrestled the rock away and made a strong catch with his fingertips.

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3. Dazzling backfield

Of course, it's difficult to gauge knockback and the success of a run play in the absence of shoulder pads.

But it was simple to spot the sauce in Jordan Mason's step on a short reception via Murray in the left flat. Mason, better known for his bruising than his finesse, evaded safety Joshua Metellus, one of the team's soundest tacklers, with a well-timed change of direction. A good-natured and rip-roaring scene followed.

In addition to Mason's exciting catch-and-run, 31-year-old Aaron Jones, Sr., epitomized "all-out effort" by finishing every one of his touches with a burst into the end zone. On one rep, Jones nabbed a short pass to the right side and was instantly tagged by two defenders, but he still legged out almost 30 extra yards.

Rookie fullback Max Bredeson displayed soft hands, reeling in a dump off to the right from McCarthy —  his teammate at Michigan — before exploding for a few yards. Awesomely, Bredeson followed up his catch as a lead blocker for fellow rookie Demond Claiborne, who teased his speed and sprinted to the third level.

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