EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are back like they never left.
Monday's edition of Minnesota's 2025 Training Camp felt more like the dog days of summer thanks to sticky heat that was unforgiving without a safety blanket of shade. But it wasn't a bad day by any means.
How could it be with football in full swing and the Vikings fresh off a solid win in front of fans? Who cares that it doesn't count. There were awesome moments in all three phases of Minnesota's first exhibition, particularly for players competing for roster spots. And they returned to the grindstone, accordingly, with loads to look forward to this week.
Javon Hargrave, whose nickname is "Gravedigger," rejoined the fold after a stint on the sidelines and resumed where he left off in prior practices, providing uncompromising inside pressure on multiple reps.
Two days removed from his brief but positive showing at U.S. Bank Stadium, quarterback J.J. McCarthy distributed the ball to many different playmakers, including multiple to Jordan Addison.
Justin Jefferson rocked blindingly bright red cleats and was communicating often with teammates and coaches but remained sidelined by a mild hamstring strain. Safety Harrison Smith, fullback C.J. Ham, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez, outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy, center Ryan Kelly and receiver Robert Lewis did not participate, either. Nor did receiver Rondale Moore and center Zeke Correll (both were carted off with significant injuries in Saturday's tilt).
Minnesota is scheduled to conduct a walk-through Tuesday before welcoming New England to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center for joint practices with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday.
Here are three observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
1. Off the edge
With Murphy, the sack master of Minnesota's first exhibition, out of the mix Monday, undrafted rookie Chaz Chambliss seemed to handle more work than usual and stood out with two pressures on McCarthy.
Chambliss also was active over the weekend, notching four tackles across 31 defensive snaps. In an 11-on-11 drill between the first offense and second defense, he broke into the backfield for a potential sack from the left and right sides. Bo Richter also busted in for a sack of McCarthy on a play-action pass.
In a separate team period later that pitted the first units against each other, Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner got free and met at McCarthy. They escaped blocks by Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill.
View photos of players during 2025 Training Camp practice on August 11 at the TCO Performance Center.
2. Timing it up
The "compete" portion of practice began with 7-on-7 – and two coverage "sacks" by the defense.
McCarthy scanned the field for 4-5 seconds on both reps but didn't have a clear outlet for the ball. For the purpose of finishing the drill, he wound up fitting his first attempt to tight end T.J. Hockenson for a short gain, with safety Theo Jackson on the brink of breaking it up. McCarthy's second throw was intended for running back Aaron Jones, Sr., but it was promptly batted away by cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr.
Later, McCarthy arced a completion to Addison for about 20 yards.
That rep helped set the tone for the other quarterbacks, who rotated in and pocketed nice passes. Sam Howell zipped a quick out to his right to rookie Tai Felton; Brett Rypien put some touch on a throw to Thayer Thomas for a chunk over the middle; and Max Brosmer rifled a deep out-cut to Dontae Fleming.
McCarthy's timing was apparent on the final snap of practice, as well, when he nailed Jalen "Speedy" Nailor in stride on an end-zone crosser in the low-red area.
3. Brosmer bomb
Brosmer carried Saturday's momentum into Monday's session.
The Gophers product parlayed 19 snaps in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 20-10 win over Houston into 5-of-8 passing for 47 yards and a touchdown. He flicked another TD at the tail end of practice.
In a team period against the first defense, Brosmer shrugged off an incompletion on a slant route that bounced through Fleming's hands by spinning a beaut' to Tim Jones, who gained a step of separation on Isaiah Rodgers. The pass down the left sideline nestled into the receiver's hands near the front left pylon for a 40-yard score.
The deep ball more than salvaged a sequence where Brosmer was nearly intercepted by Blake Cashman on a quick pass. Brosmer also completed an impressive cross-body throw over the middle to Silas Bolden when he was rolling to his left (although Brosmer likely would have been sacked by Greenard).
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