Great energy and competition popped Wednesday at the first practice of 2025 Vikings Training Camp.

Top moments included J.J. McCarthy's low-flying go ball to Jordan Addison for a long touchdown; Ivan Pace, Jr., and Andrew Van Ginkel returned interceptions off backup quarterbacks for scores; and different players on both sides exchanged nice cuts on off-tackle rushes for aggressively defended coverage stops.

Local and national media, including Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, had a sideline view of the session.

On Wednesday evening, Breer filed a takeaways story loaded with Vikings nuggets. Naturally, the main draw was McCarthy, beginning his second camp and first as the unquestioned starter, and his progress.

Breer wrote the following:

He's shown himself to be a fast processor. He's been consistent in making anticipatory throws, and the coaches have worked hard on trying to make him more proficient at layering the ball into tight windows, and taking miles per hour off his fastball at times. So, he's got a full head of steam going into camp, with the plan being to let him take steps naturally while relying on a strong offensive roster and scheme.

Breer also noted McCarthy's development will accelerate, hopefully, practicing against Brian Flores' defense, which can send voluminous different looks at him in a controlled, feedback-centric setting.

In addition to watching practice, Breer was afforded conversation time with Vikings brass to glean info about the upcoming season and the franchise's vision for the 22-year-old quarterback and other players.

According to Breer, no one is going to ask McCarthy to be Superman. But his situation is super.

Breer assessed that the biggest piece favoring the 2024 No. 10 pick is Minnesota's reworked offensive line. The specific addition of four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly stands out. Vikings Assistant General Manager Ryan Grigson drafted Kelly 18th overall in 2016 when he was at the top of the Colts front office.

That "institutional knowledge" on Kelly, plus the center's experience carrying a "heavy mental load in making calls and adjustments with a ton of different quarterbacks" was integral in pursuing his services.

There's also built-in chemistry between Kelly and former Indianapolis teammate Will Fries, the projected starter at right guard, that ideally goes a long way in assimilating rookie first-rounder Donovan Jackson.

Holding the group together, however, as it transitions is perennially underrated right tackle Brian O'Neill. Breer remarked O'Neill was the tone-setter this offseason; and projected the Vikings o-line as a real strength if left flank Christian Darrisaw is fully recovered (and can return to elite form) from an ACL tear. Darrisaw was on the field for a bit but did not participate in team periods during Wednesday's practice.

Similarly, McCarthy is in an advantageous situation because of a well-established offensive skill group.

Jalen "Speedy" Nailor boosts a solid list of usual suspects – Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, Sr., are some but not all of the club's dependable playmakers – and should have the opportunity to show up in a contract year. Breer commented Nailor's play strength has been harped on by the staff, and said, based on early indicators, the receiver has taken another big leap in that area.

Flipping to the defense, Breer identified second-year outside linebacker Dallas Turner as "one of the more interesting players at camp." Breer pointed out Turner's physical talent was apparent during the spring, and his pass-rush get-off is elite, but there's been a learning curve in fundamentals, technique and football acumen. He expects creativity – i.e. Van Ginkel playing off the ball – to get Turner on the field more. As a whole, Breer envisions significant strides from the pass rush due to interior upgrades.

Lastly, Breer delved into the secondary and started by underlining the level of experience. Bringing in Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers, and re-signing Byron Murphy, Jr., gives the Vikings an experienced trio in their physical primes (they have 16 NFL seasons between them and are 27 or younger). That experience extends to safety, with Harrison Smith and Joshua Metellus. Furthermore, Theo Jackson is a candidate for a big camp and a chance to assume some of the departed Cam Bynum's snaps.

Read Breer's full notebook-style article here.

The Athletic lists NFL's most versatile players

Before plunging into an outline of the league's kings of versatility, we feel obliged to note an oversight.

Metellus was left off Ted Nguyen's Top 10 as well as his honorable mention.

It's impossible to knock the players featured, or their inclusion, in Nguyen's writeup. They're all deserving, and it's a subjective listing. But Metellus is deserving, too. So here's our elevator pitch (utilizing metrics from Pro Football Focus): Metellus has played snaps at every conceivable position on defense, except defensive tackle, the past two years. Strong safety. Free safety. Slot cornerback. Wide cornerback. Inside linebacker. Outside linebacker. And he's performed each assignment at a starter level.

Most recently, Metellus earned the highest run defense grade among Vikings with at least 500 snaps (83.1). He received the third-best pass-rush grade (70.9) by that same standard and manned the fourth-most coverage snaps (615) on Flores' unit. He's invaluable to one of the NFL's stingiest defenses.

OK, we digress.

Another deserving Viking that caught Nguyen's eye is Van Ginkel.

A Second-Team All-Pro choice at outside linebacker in 2024, Gink' probably is known for the plays he made last season abandoning his normal attacking stance, although he had 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. On two occasions, Van Ginkel bamboozled quarterbacks. First, he timed a quick pass and jumped into former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' window to snare a pick and return it for six points. In a sequence of déjà vu four weeks later, Van Ginkel faked a pressure and sunk into the throwing lane that was targeted by future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Pick six, again! Not your ordinary linebacker.

Nguyen elaborated:

There isn't a player who embodies Flores' wacky system more than Van Ginkel. … When you want to pressure, give the illusion of pressure, and disguise coverages as much as Flores does, you need players like Van Ginkel, who can be an effective pass rusher and instinctual in coverage. … His ability to play different techniques, zones, and assignments as an edge linebacker is rare, and Flores weaponizes it.

In alphabetical order, here's the remainder of Nguyen's most-versatile selections: Eagles LB Zack Baun, Lions S Brian Branch, Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, 49ers TE George Kittle, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb, Giants DL Dexter Lawrence, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey and Bears OL Joe Thuney.

Dolphins RB De'Von Achane, Eagles DB Cooper DeJean and Jaguars rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter were touted as honorable mentions. You can check out Nguyen's story on the jacks-of-many-trades here.

Van Ginkel, by the way, made another trademark play during Wednesday's first practice of training camp.

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