EAGAN, Minn. — Another game is at U.S. Bank Stadium in 24 hours (and counting down). How'd we get so lucky?

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell stated starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy won't play, largely because the joint practices with New England were designed to maximize his reps against a foreign, starting defense.

"We were able to do some things that we would do in a regular season, game planning an opponent, trying to do some things that make sense from a rhythm, timing, spacing standpoint," O'Connell told a mass of media that attended the two days of work. "But that's all on the players to then absorb that, and specifically J.J., to go out there and execute the way he did. It felt decisive. It felt [like an] incredible amount of conviction to some of the decisions he made, location of the football, and a lot to build on.

"Another checkpoint for us as a team, and I'm really proud of the work the guys put in," O'Connell continued. "Like I said, far from perfect — it never is, but joint practice gives you the chance to see some game-like situations and feel tempo without some of the game-like negatives that can come out from an injury standpoint. And that's because we practice against a team that knows how to practice."

Obviously, McCarthy isn't the only draw to watch the Vikings. There are many players competing to cement their standing in the organization, climb the depth chart and refine their crafts before Sept. 8.

Monday Night Football at Chicago isn't that far away (24 days). But first, there's a preseason showcase. Thus, here are three storylines to monitor when Minnesota hosts New England at noon (CT) Saturday.

1. Backup QB battle part 2

Last week, we highlighted "the arms after McCarthy" as a critical topic. Ditto for this week.

Sam Howell silenced external skepticism with a close-to-flawless effort in Minnesota's first exhibition (11-for-13 passing, 105 yards, and a TD on a sneak). Incumbent QB3, Brett Rypien, took a couple sacks and finished 1-for-4 passing with 6 yards, granted his stat line could have looked drastically different if Jeshaun Jones secured a long on-target throw. Max Brosmer, whom we dubbed "the biggest unknown" seven days ago, was the coolest story, clipping 5 of 8 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown 2 miles from his college campus at the University of Minnesota. A former New Hampshire star turned Gopher turned Viking, the 24-year-old played 19 snaps in his first NFL action and is primed for more reps in his second.

"I think he's earned it. I think he's earned it," O'Connell created an echo chamber at the podium. "But at the same time, I think Sam and Ryp' did some really good things – and have. I think when you look back to the game last week, I think Ryp' — we had a chance on a go ball down the sideline to Jeshaun, just a competitive NFL play, I thought he threw a great ball. Does his day look totally different in the box score if that catch is made there? And then what plays ultimately come off that?"

O'Connell reiterated that all three quarterbacks will play. He felt it was important to articulate that to them to help them prepare, "but then we've got to be ready to adjust as the game comes to us," he said.

Asked the most important attributes for a backup QB, O'Connell said the following:

"I think first and foremost they have to be guys that can have ownership of the plan without having taken reps. All the reps, if there's a few that don't go to the starter – you can count them on one hand in the normal practice week once you get to that game week, especially when you've got a young [starting] quarterback. So you're looking for somebody that can be in the meetings, take the coaching points, maybe take reps."

O'Connell explained mental reps, essentially shadow reps, where quarterbacks are taking pseudo drops behind the play going on, envisioning the full rep based upon the defense's alignment, is a huge element.

"You see it sometimes in the background of the film, and it's the things you need to see to know that in the moment you're going to go out there and you're going to be called on to execute a third down," O'Connell commented, noting Nick Mullens converted two third downs on his first two snaps last year. "If you're gonna be a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, you need to be able to maximize the meeting room, the walk-throughs, the reps, whether you're taking them or not, 'cause ultimately we want guys that can step in and execute the game plan that week and do it with confidence. They wouldn't be here if we weren't confident in them. Ultimately, we want the football team to feel like no matter what, we're going to do the things at that position in the confines of our offense to win a game."

2. Punt returner up for grabs

Rondale Moore's season-ending injury was crushing for football and non-football reasons alike.

The 25-year-old receiver rehabbed diligently from a dislocated right knee suffered during Atlanta's training camp last August. He was often smiling at team headquarters and was easing into a promising role with the Vikings – on offense and special teams. Moore has tallied 22 punt returns, sporting an 8.3-yard average, and was listed as the club's starting punt returner on its first unofficial depth chart.

Now that spot is entirely "up for grabs," according to O'Connell.

O'Connell shared his belief Wednesday in the players currently vying for ownership of the punt return role – Silas Bolden, Tai Felton, Lucky Jackson and Myles Price – although their greenness has shown.

The two undrafted signings, Bolden and Price, are the "vets" in terms of applicable experience. The former housed a punt return for Oregon State in 2023 and Texas in 2024, and he averaged 12.5 yards on 33 college punt returns. Bolden is dangerously fast and showed shiftiness on an 8-yard return last week. He's 5-foot-8, 160 pounds. The latter averaged 13.9 yards across 42 career punt returns with Texas Tech and Indiana. Price is 5-foot-9, 183 pounds. He had two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown last week.

Felton fielded only two punts at Maryland, and Jackson's only punt return history is in exhibitions. Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels recently cited Moore and Byron Murphy, Jr., as Vikings players with a punt return on their NFL game records. Isaiah Rodgers has returned a few too.

Among the sought-after characteristics for the job, Daniels outlined decision-making – i.e. knowing when to signal a fair catch, make a return or steer clear of the ball – and the ability to stop and start. That's what Daniels and O'Connell want executed in a live setting.

"We've got some talented guys, maybe without the experience level that you would always want, but at the same time, the upside and the ability should be a really good competition," O'Connell remarked, also providing context on an ongoing position battle on offense. "With that [fourth] receiver spot, it's still the same thing. I think there are guys that have done some really good things all across the depth of that receivers room and will continue to give guys opportunities to go make plays, and they're going to get some great work against a really good secondary next couple of days and on into the game on Saturday."

O'Connell on Thursday circled back to certain players helping their case.

"I felt like Thayer [Thomas] showed up to me. I think Lucky showed up. I think we had a chance in the 2-minute to maybe end the drive on the first play there with Tai down the sideline on a double move," O'Connell replied to a reporter asking about the playmaking behind Justin Jefferson (and Jalen Nailor, who exited Thursday's practice as a precaution after jamming his hand). "Some detail showed up from those guys. I thought across the board, [we] threw a lot at them today and they handled it well."

Thomas routinely gets open in red-zone periods and is skilled at elevating and lowering his body for tough receptions. He catches 200-300 balls on the Jugs machine each day – a routine that began when he walked-on at North Carolina State; and has spent the past two years on Minnesota's practice squad.

3. Fantastic front seven depth

Adding Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the equation should move the pass-rush needle and help Minnesota's defense improve on its 2024 totals of 49 sacks and 180 pressures, which were Top 5 marks.

A once-over of the depth chart is intoxicating: The Vikings front seven houses Jonathan Greenard, Allen, Harrison Phillips, Hargrave (aka "Gravedigger") and Andrew Van Ginkel up on the ball and Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr., stacked off. They "should be a leading presence of our football team," O'Connell noted.

Quarterback pressure has been omnipresent throughout Vikings Training Camp, including in the joint practices.

The front seven, sans Van Ginkel, who did not practice this week, made life difficult for the Patriots offensive line. Greenard had a phenomenal two days; Turner was particularly disruptive in Thursday's 2-minute drill. O'Connell noted interior counterparts, including diamond-in-the-rough Elijah Williams.

"I think you've felt, obviously, Grave' and J.A., but it's been some of those other guys too – all four of those other guys that really are in that rotation," O'Connell said. "Then we've got, I know I talked about him, but Eli, a guy that came to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and continues to show up and make plays. Some of those guys are gonna get a lot of snaps on Saturday, and I can't wait to watch them play."

Palpable pressure in practice extended to the preseason opener and should again Saturday.

Although Allen, Phillips and Hargrave did not play in the first exhibition, the Vikings defense recorded 2.0 sacks and 11 hits on quarterbacks. Gabriel Murphy was credited with the bulk of that (1.5 sacks, 5 QBH), but four other front-seven players had at least one QB hit as well – LB Austin Keys, DL Jalen Redmond, OLB Bo Richter and tryout sensation Williams; CB Reddy Steward joined the fun for one on a timed-up blitz.

Based on the group's activity so far, those depth players and others are more than likely to find opportunities this weekend. Outside 'backers Tyler Batty and Chaz Chambliss were busy against the Texans; Redmond was a problem in sessions with New England; fifth-round rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has rotated in now for a handful of practices with the first defense, signifying he's on the right path; and second-year players Levi Drake Rodriguez and Taki Taimani are fighting to make the 53 again.

Rodriguez did not suit up for practice after picking up an ankle injury against Houston. The 2024 seventh-rounder has looked the part of a developmental player ready to take on a larger role, though.

Last year, the Vikings kept 15 front seven players (defensive linemen, outside linebackers and inside linebackers) on their initial 53-man roster. This season, new personnel have stiffened the competition.

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