EAGAN, Minn. — The curtain is officially drawn on Minnesota's mandatory minicamp.
The 2025 Vikings will be heading into a break from team activities after finishing their third minicamp practice Thursday. The team will regather – and up the ante – for training camp toward the end of July.
Repeatedly referenced by Head Coach Kevin O'Connell as a "passing camp" because of its slower-paced nature and emphasis on teaching and learning, Minnesota's minicamp offered a glimpse into the future.
On Thursday, J.J. McCarthy completed a collection of short and intermediate-level throws to tight ends, running backs and receivers. In one instance, rookie third-round draft pick Tai Felton coolly secured a sweet deep pass from Sam Howell that just snuck past the coverage.
At the end of the session, which included individual drills, two separate 7-on-7 periods and some 11-on-11 action, the offense navigated a "mayday" sequence where McCarthy checked the ball down and the field goal unit hurried into position, enabling Will Reichard to send one through the uprights.
Overall, O'Connell was incredibly pleased with the team's attendance and attentiveness to improving above the heads. Players built an inventory of skills that will inevitably show up in games down the line.
"I just told those guys, I don't know what in this day and age the offseason program means around the league, you know, what it means to 31 other teams, but I know we got better," O'Connell emphasized. "The participation of our team and guys showing up and being here totally present, getting something done, I thought was a really big deal for our team and has set us up to have a really good training camp."
Here are three observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
1. Pass catchers and deniers
In addition to Felton's big catch, there were several splash plays made Thursday by both sides of the ball.
Defensively, linebacker Eric Wilson nabbed himself an interception. Wilson, who began his career in a Vikings uniform in 2017 and left after 2020, returned this spring after starting 12 games last year for Green Bay. He displayed veteran instincts and fresh legs on the play, expertly reading Brett Rypien's eyes to ultimately leap in front of a pass over the middle, tuck it away and caravan to the opposite end zone.
Cornerback Reddy Stewart closed aggressively on an out-breaking route by Thayer Thomas, causing a pass to fall incomplete. Blake Cashman strongly contested a pass, too, running in stride with Aaron Jones, Sr., up the sideline before jutting his hand into Jones' catch window and knocking the ball away.
On offense, Felton's reception generated the loudest reaction. Lucky Jackson also made a tough grab.
2. Returning the rock
One day after Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels quipped he'll have to check with "upper management" about utilizing Isaiah Rodgers, who is penciled in as a starting cornerback, on the kickoff return team, we got an up-close look at what the Vikings defender can do with the football in his hands.
Rodgers and fourth-year running back Ty Chandler lined up as the deep men in the first kickoff return group. Rodgers, who boasts a 27.1-yard average, with a touchdown, over 69 kickoff returns, fielded their single rep and exploded forward, pressing the juke button to fit through traffic and burst into the clear.
Thomas and undrafted rookie receiver Silas Bolden shuttled in for Rodgers and Chandler on the next kickoff. Thomas collected the kick cleanly, scanned for enough space and pushed down on the gas pedal.
3. UDFA joins the mix
For a few 7-on-7 plays in the final third of practice, the Vikings defense featured six fairly proven players in Cashman, Ivan Pace, Jr., Theo Jackson, Harrison Smith, Byron Murphy, Jr., and Mekhi Blackmon. The seventh player part of that lineup was undrafted rookie and former Utah Utes corner Zemaiah Vaughn.
Vaughn's unmissable length is accompanied with speed. While he didn't cash in for an interception Thursday, he did get his hands on passes a couple of times earlier in the week. If he is able to consistently match production to his physical profile, Vaughn will vie for a role in a deep CB room.
O'Connell said Thursday he thinks a lot of guys are going to be "competing like crazy" at cornerback.
"I think we've got four or five – six guys, potentially – that all could push to make our team," O'Connell noted. "I think it's going to be up for grabs, and it's very similar on the backend of that corners room that I'm sure 'Jets' would agree the receivers room is like; from a standpoint of we're going to be seeing guys compete, and that's the best thing about it, is the standard has been set high at the top of those rooms."
