EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are in their third week of training camp but are closer to the midpoint when it comes to preseason practices.

Minnesota has held 10 practices of 22 scheduled from July 29 to Sept. 2, including the annual night practice on Sunday.

Players have today off before resuming with three consecutive days of practice. The team will fly to the New York/New Jersey area Friday and visit the Giants at noon (CT) Saturday in the preseason opener for both teams.

This pause in camp action seems like a good time for us to share our biggest takeaways so far.

1. Quarterback back-and-forth

Returnee J.J. McCarthy and newcomer Kyler Murray have taken reps with the first- and second-team offense. There have been snaps with 1s vs. 1s, 1s vs. 2s, 2s vs. 1s and 2s vs. 2s.

There's been considerable banter on social media with hyper analysis of each player that likely lacks some elements of context. Prior to Sunday's practice, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke to media members who sought an update on the QB competition.

"What I've loved about it the most is just the constant environment of the attention to detail that you need at this position in the National Football League," said O'Connell before mentioning Drew Brees' Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.

The fifth-year coach and former NFL QB pointed out that there are occasions, particularly early in camp, when a receiving target doesn't run the correct route, or the protection doesn't last long enough, causing the QB to "speed up a throw, where it's a great rep in a quarterback world, but it's an incompletion."

"When the ball is snapped, you're trying to end the down first and foremost with possession of the football," O'Connell emphasized. "Then start working through the process of finding completions, taking explosives and being accurate when they're there, and kind of running the orchestra of a drive."

While there isn't a full-fledged takeaway in the form of a starter being named yet, both have competed against each other, akin to other position battles, and teammates have tried their best on each rep, regardless of the combination of players on the field at any time.

Camp isn't supposed to be easy, and it looks like neither will facing Minnesota's defense.

2. Instant rookie impacts

A defensive-laden draft class has shown up in encouraging ways through two weeks of camp.

Going down the list, No. 18 overall pick Caleb Banks has worked a good amount with the first defense. Banks is healthy, which is more important than anything, after he rehabbed a foot injury for the duration of the offseason program. He also has the appearance of how a team wants its first-round defensive lineman to look — like a mammoth problem for offenses. Third-round DL Domonique Orange also has played with the first unit, rotating at the nose with 2024 seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez, and he has rammed into the backfield to slow down rushes on multiple occasions. The other Day 2 rookie on defense who has flashed repeatedly is linebacker Jake Golday, who's getting the bulk of his reps off the ball but figures to factor into the pass rush as well because of his college history there and his combination of size and skill. Speaking of: Golday's range and instincts have helped him break up passes in the flats and in the middle.

Three more rookies — fullback Max Bredeson, cornerback Chuck Demmings and running back Demond Claiborne — have been steady playmakers in camp, too. Bredeson owns a bevy of space-plowing blocks already, and he's impressed with reliable — or as Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips quipped "adequate" — hands in the pass game. Claiborne, meanwhile, has more than lived up to his lightning bolt reputation.

It's Demmings, however, who deserves the highest praise for Vikings rookies so far. The fifth-round pick out of FCS Stephen F. Austin has contested numerous throws to starting receivers and is garnering serious belief from peers and coaches — a reflection of his extreme self-belief (and his daily mental tips).

3. On the radar: young receivers

Minnesota's "J trifecta" of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings has the potential to be scary good. But what about beyond them? One of the main questions at the receiver position going into camp was about depth — and the guys developing quickly enough to possibly become contributors.

With more important practices and three preseason contests left for evaluation, there's not a single, definitive answer but there are three options emerging: Jeshaun Jones, Tai Felton and Myles Price. Jones has dominated some periods in practices, winning reps with strong hands and subtlety in his routes that makes him a tricky cover. Felton's speed has been un-guardable at times — and he's capable of making circus catches like this one — but drops have occurred, thus he's searching for greater consistency. Price is maybe the most interesting because he demonstrated terrific playmaking potential in the return sector as a rookie. He's the most out-of-the-box of the young trio, however, based on his smaller stature and his largest college outputs at the position; both Jones and Felton had 790-plus yard seasons at Maryland — Price's receiving high was 523 as a sophomore at Texas Tech five years ago. It's entirely possible, though, that he's developed enough and could function as a quality slot option with high-end run-after-the-catch ability.

An expanded list of candidates includes Dontae Fleming and Dillon Bell. Both look the part, if you will, and they've performed well in spurts — but they haven't been involved as often as the aforementioned trio. In any case, the next receiver up must double up, or lead, rather, as an impact player on special teams.

4. Enthusiasm on the ground

Like we alluded to earlier, Claiborne has a top gear that Minnesota probably hasn't had since Dalvin Cook's days as a home run hitter. There's also intrigue for returning runners Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, Sr.; the former looks as strong as ever but even quicker this summer (the eye test suggests he traded some superfluous weight for muscle gains), and Jones hasn't shown any signs of wearing down, routinely finishing his touches with habit-building bursts into the end zone. There's a lot to love about the running backs room as a whole; and they'll benefit from an old-school blocker like Bredeson, as well as a revamped, vertical wide-zone run game that offensive linemen are doting over and Assistant Head Coach Frank Smith and offensive line coach Keith Carter are spearheading together.

Carter is conditioning his group to fire off the rock, synchronized, and with urgency to travel north. The players have mentioned sorting through less mess and moving more aggressively. Their style is creating clearer cutbacks for the rushers, who are focusing on staying tight to their tracks and reacting to blocks.

The enthusiasm for the tweaks extends to the call sheet and the ways Minnesota will be able to pound the ball. Smith has implemented many designs from his tenure with the Dolphins, which has introduced more shotgun runs, more pistol runs, more misdirection and more manners to maximize players' skill sets.

It's worth noting that Miami last year dialed the third-most rushes from the pistol (119), according to Next Gen Stats, whereas Minnesota tied for 27^th (5). There was an ocean-sized gap in run plays with motion, too; the Dolphins presented the second most (359) and the Vikings were 28^th in that split (227).

5. Brandel cemented at center

After playing center in a game for the first time ever last season due to injuries, Blake Brandel is manning the position full time.

Brandel appreciated the luxury of an offseason focusing solely on center, after previously serving as a swing tackle — and occasionally a guard — for Minnesota.

"You've got to know all five responsibilities and make the call on the defense. And we only go where the center takes us," left guard Donovan Jackson said last week of Brandel. "So it's a mental as well as a physical load — but Blake did it seamlessly last year. And then coming into this year, he's just built on what he did last season. I'm excited to play next to him, excited to see where he leads us."

Phillips noted he's been impressed with Brandel's communication and command of the huddle despite being new to the role.

"Even early on, there's been a couple things, we've gone right into some situational stuff and we've gotten some fronts that maybe we haven't hit yet in a blitz walk-through as we're going through our progression of calls," Phillips explained, "and he's right on top of it, making the calls. … For him to come in Year 2, it feels like there's a comfort level and then a technique level that he's gotten a little more down from learning last year."

6. Have a camp, Gavin

After missing last season with a back injury suffered during spring programming, tight end Gavin Bartholomew is making up for last time.

The 2025 sixth-round selection has been catching passes left and right, seemingly able to haul in most everything thrown his way.

Bartholomew has shown a comfort level making those receptions from different quarterbacks, as well, and is exuding confidence after a healthy offseason.

Phillips noted Bartholomew is a "really good athlete" with impressive hands, and he's also demonstrated blocking ability.

"In the short time we had him last year, he showed that he could come off the ball in the run game. And he's got some twitch, some explosiveness to him that you see when he's catching some passes," Phillips said. "Generally, if a guy's big enough and willing enough, that usually translates to the run game, as well. He's a football guy; he's all about it, so I expect him to only improve as camp goes."

7. Tyrion ready for big step in Year 2

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has enhanced multiple aspects of his game entering his second season in Purple.

From dialing in his diet to improve body composition, to going over every single snap from his rookie season and now showing up with plays in training camp practices, Ingram-Dawkins is demonstrating he's ready for that next step.

Flores and O'Connell have noted Ingram-Dawkins may be asked to rush from the outside more than he was in limited action last season.

"He's had a great attitude, and we've really added to his menu," Flores said. "Like I tell all our guys, 'Your role's gonna be what you make it.' If you're playing in one grouping, that's great; it helps our team. But if you're a guy who can play in one, two, three, four groupings like [Joshua] Metellus, like [Andrew] Van Ginkel, we'll give you as much as you can handle."

Van Ginkel has noticed the younger defender's improvements, as well, predicting an impactful second season because of the way Ingram-Dawkins has stacked days.

"He's … eager to learn, and he's truly bringing it on a day-to-day basis," Van Ginkel said.

8. Vets leading the way at ILB

Blake Cashman looked game-ready at the annual night practice Sunday — ready to pick back up where he left off in 2025 when he averaged 12.5 tackles per game over his final 11 contests. Veteran Eric Wilson has been in tip-top shape throughout camp, as well, finding his way across the line for TFLs and pestering passes into shallow zones. Ivan Pace, Jr., also has stacked good days on defense — along with embracing a leading role on special teams — and seems hellbent on earning blitzing and run-stuffing opportunities.

All that to say, the Vikings are set up nicely in terms of experience and versatility at inside linebacker.

Oh, and we shouldn't forget that three-time All-Pro safety Jamal Adams has entered the mix as a hybrid who seems perfectly fit for Brian Flores' defense. Adams has worked with the linebackers and defensive backs during practice and is moving all over the formation. He's tough and explosive, and he's known for attacking offenses (and quarterbacks), which is Flores' intent. It's an elite LB group to bring along Golday.

Visit 2026 Vikings Training Camp.

See the Vikings 2026 Schedule.

View future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.

See more about the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota.