EAGAN, Minn. — Summer heated up Wednesday at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center as the Vikings hosted the New England Patriots for the first of two joint practices ahead of their game Saturday. Click here to browse ticket options.

Fair weather and spirited competition greeted a sell-out crowd that included Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer.

The practices return eight former Vikings to their old stomping grounds: C Garrett Bradbury, WR Stefon Diggs, QB Joshua Dobbs, S Marcus Epps, T Vederian Lowe, G Tyrese Robinson, DL Khyiris Tonga and K Parker Romo. A 9^th former Viking, defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy, is on New England's Injured Reserve.

Asked about the structuring of the two sessions, with 2024 top-10 draft pick quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye trying to make strides in the Vikings and Patriots systems, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell explained that it's beneficial to hold the practices this far into camp to really assess what will be asked of the 22-year-olds. Still, O'Connell noted the reality that there will be "unscouted looks all over the field."

That leads to stiffer challenges in an environment that doesn't require much to raise the temperature.

"This is not something where there's 10 weeks of film on both sides, and we can anticipate exactly how personnels are going to be used [or] anticipate some tendencies and things like that – it is not that," shared O'Connell, adding what he wants to see from his young quarterback. "I don't want to speak for 'Vrabes,' but I think we're both looking for a lot of the parts of things that they can control to consistently be to the standard that we ask and then be able to evaluate the post-snap work to have a great understanding of where the player's at and while we still have a nice runway here leading up to the regular season of how we then need to prepare from there.

"Drake obviously got some good experience last year. He's in a new system this year," O'Connell continued. "J.J. didn't have the work last year, but he's in the same system for the second year. So there's differences, but I think both organizations are really excited about the players. So it's gonna be fun to watch those guys compete."

Justin Jefferson remains sidelined by a mild hamstring strain but is "definitely progressing," per O'Connell. Other non-participants included fullback C.J. Ham, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, safety Harrison Smith (illness), tight end Nick Vannett and defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez.

During his pre-practice press conference Wednesday, O'Connell also provided an update on receiver Rondale Moore, who suffered a significant, season-ending knee injury in Saturday's preseason opener.

Moore missed all of 2024, as well, after injuring his right knee in training camp with Atlanta.

"Crushed for Rondale," O'Connell said regarding the 25-year-old who was placed on Injured Reserve Tuesday. "All he had done since he had gotten here is do everything right, and he was progressing. And as I told him, we don't always have answers, and things don't always need to make sense to us, but I have no doubt that Rondale will be back better than ever and be ready to continue his football journey."

With the increase in action scattered across multiple fields, we expanded our practice observations to six. They are presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:

1. No running allowed

We got a dose of déjà vu watching Minnesota's first defense smother the Patriots run game.

In three different team periods Wednesday, New England's running backs found little room to squeeze between the tackles. Although whistles were quick, there were plenty of thuds and loud pops in holes.

On one snap, Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman flew downhill into a gap and met Antonio Gibson for a loss. On another, second-year defensive lineman Taki Taimani blasted a run by JaMycal Hasty, generating an echo chamber of "Yeah, Tak! Yeah, Tak!" courtesy many players and coaches standing on the sideline.

Last year, Minnesota's run defense ranked second in the NFL in yards allowed per game (93.4). The group's overall continuity, plus the arrivals of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, paints a scary image.

New England's best rush of the afternoon came from undrafted rookie Shane Watts, who bounced a couple times to his left for a first down and chewed up green grass before the play was whistled dead.

On the other field, however, New England was successful in stuffing runs by Minnesota.

Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott each ripped off a nice run in team drills on a day that emphasized first down, second-and-long and some third-down situations.

2. Sacks! Sacks! Sacks!

New England's offense never went more than a few plays without Minnesota's sideline celebrating an apparent "sack."

Maye targeted players deep a fair amount, which forced him to hold the ball a tick longer than normal, but even on quicker attempts, he faced a good amount of pressure from Minnesota's unapologetic front.

In one instance, the No. 3 overall pick spun a pass off his backfoot to Diggs – except Cashman and Allen were on him, inciting calls for a sack from the Vikings sideline. Shortly after that, Maye was "sacked" again, with pressure applied from numerous angles and multiple guys, including second-year pro Dallas Turner.

Of course, pressure doesn't always equate to a sack – but it can similarly get the job done.

Late in practice, Maye tried a screen pass but failed to locate his outlet or a way to fit him the ball, because Greenard, Harrison Phillips, Ivan Pace, Jr., and Jeff Okudah shot their arms into his sightline.

McCarthy also encountered pressure in the pocket. Patriots prized offseason acquisition Milton Williams won a rep and provided a learning opportunity for Vikings rookie Donovan Jackson, and Harold Landry III dipped and zipped around Brian O'Neill on a play later on.

At this time we'll mention that in our history of covering joint practices, the defenses for both teams almost always have more to write home about.

3. Taking away the rock

The Vikings tied for the league-lead last season with 33 turnovers forced – and picked up their efforts Wednesday with a pair of sweet takeaways and a couple more plays that almost entered the box score.

Dwight "Nudie" McGlothern got the fun rolling with an instinctive interception of Dobbs in the first 11-on-11 period. McGlothern matched the receiver's route and broke downhill to collect a quick throw by Dobbs to his right. The pass landed in Nudie's lap and the 2024 UDFA zoomed it back for six points.

Coincidentally, McGlothern bolstered his case to make the 53-man roster last season with an interception in the team's joint practices at Cleveland. He supported a strong performance in that setting with a pick and 90-yard return to the 8-yard line in the exhibition that followed against the Browns.

In the final "compete" portion of practice, safety Jay Ward axed a New England 2-minute drive by baiting and jumping a short Dobbs pass over the middle. It helped even the score after a TreVeyon Henderson touchdown catch earlier in the period (more below).

While Maye avoided any interceptions Wednesday, he nearly paid the price twice.

Byron Murphy, Jr., who plucked six picks in his 2024 Pro Bowl campaign, created excitement in a team period when he bolted for a ball distributed to the left sideline and broke it up. In the second 2-minute drill, Isaiah Rodgers slid and almost snatched an underthrown pass by Maye to a similar part of the field.

4. Recapping 2-minute drills

The Vikings and Patriots first teams (on offense and defense) and second teams (on offense and defense) each logged important work in a 2-minute drill near the end of practice.

The offenses took possession at their 30-yard line, trailing 24-21 with 1:15 remaining.

McCarthy started the drive with a completion to T.J. Hockenson for 9 yards and followed with a screen pass to Aaron Jones, Sr., that gained 11, quickly moving the ball to midfield.

A false start by the offense, however, created a first-and-15. McCarthy faced pressure and tried to hit Jalen Nailor on first down, but the pass was a little behind the receiver. He also lived to face another down by avoiding pressure and throwing the ball out of bounds on second down.

On third-and-15, he scrambled for a gain of 10, stopping the clock by cruising out of bounds. On fourth-and-5, the protection was good, allowing him to throw a strike to Jordan Addison for a gain of 14. Minnesota opted to run on the play that followed instead of taking a shot at the end zone and then sent out Will Reichard for a 48-yard field goal. Reichard made that one and followed with successful kicks of 33, 44, 48 and 53 during the final period of practice.

Minnesota's second-team offense stalled at its 41-yard line thanks to pass breakups by Kobee Minor and Jordan Polk on first and third down, respectively.

Minnesota's first-team defense allowed a long touchdown to Henderson, the second-round pick out of Ohio State. The running back who housed a kickoff return last week in his NFL debut found space on a wheel route and cruised to the end zone on the second play of the drive.

After Ward's interception of Dobbs, the first teamers took one more opportunity. Cashman logged what would have been a sack on the second play, Rodgers recorded the pass breakup, and Okudah sealed the series with coverage on Mack Hollins.

5. Jackson's action

Jackson, Minnesota's first pick of 2025, had a role in one of the most memorable plays of the day.

On a second-and-7 play during a team period McCarthy dodged pressure and found a window to deliver the football to Jones on a screen pass. The running back wasn't accounted for and started cruising down the right sideline.

It almost unfolded in slow-motion as Jackson hustled down the field and Jones set up his blocks.

Jackson sent Patriots DB Jaylinn Hawkins sailing through the air to create more yards on the play before a New England defender eventually tracked down and tagged Jones.

6. 'Sons' star in 7-on-7

The first competition period between the Vikings and Patriots involved 7-on-7 passing that featured Addison, Hockenson and others.

McCarthy opened the possession with three consecutive completions to Addison, including one for about 20 and another for more than 10 yards.

He followed with a completion to Jeshaun Jones to finish his first four reps. After four completions by Sam Howell, including two to rookie tight end Bryson Nesbit, McCarthy added completions to Nailor and Hockenson, who made multiple other impressive catches on the day.

Minnesota's final two passes of the period, however, were a throw deep left to Addison that was broken up by Miles Battle and an overthrow to Nailor that was intercepted by Marcus Jones.

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