NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell closed the 2025 preseason by resting players listed on the first team — and then some — on both sides of the ball.

For Minnesota's offense: quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Sam Howell, receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton, running backs Aaron Jones, Sr., Jordan Mason and Ty Chandler, fullback C.J. Ham, tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, and offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Brian O'Neill, Justin Skule and Blake Brandel did not play.

Minnesota opened with Max Brosmer at QB, Zavier Scott at RB, Ben Yurosek at TE, Thayer Thomas, Lucky Jackson and Jeshaun Jones at WR, Leroy Watson IV at LT, Michael Gonzalez at LG, Vershon Lee at C, Joe Huber at RG and Logan Brown at RT.

For the Vikings defense: defensive linemen Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave and Jalen Redmond, outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, linebackers Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace, Jr., and Eric Wilson, cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, and safeties Harrison Smith, Joshua Metellus and Theo Jackson did not play.

The defense opened with Tyler Batty and Bo Richter at OLB, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Jonathan Harris and Taki Taimani at DL, Austin Keys and Kobe King at LB, Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern, Jr., at CB, and Jay Ward and Tavierre Thomas at S.

Similar to Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel in Preseason 2, Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan opted to play multiple starters on both sides of the ball, including 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and veteran defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons.

O'Connell instead focused on creating a scrimmage atmosphere during Wednesday's practice and had players who didn't suit up Friday participate in a workout earlier in the day at Vanderbilt.

Brosmer, the undrafted rookie, started for the first time since leading the Minnesota Gophers to a bowl victory against Virginia Tech on Jan. 3, 2025.

He played the first quarter, going 5-for-8 with 33 yards and a passer rating of 71.4 in the opening stanza.

Brett Rypien entered the game with 12:15 remaining in the second quarter. He went 6-for-9 with 49 yards but was hit during a pass by former Vikings defensive lineman James Lynch, and the ball fluttered in the air. It was picked off at the Tennessee 1-yard line by linebacker James Williams, Jr., with 1:10 remaining in the first half.

Brosmer returned with 27 seconds remaining in the first half to lead a drive that began at the Minnesota 34 and gained 31 but stalled because of a 10-yard illegal hands to the face penalty against Joe Huber.

O'Connell opted to have Will Reichard try a 63-yard field goal with three seconds left on the clock, but the kick was just a little shy.

Reichard later kicked a 58-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13 Titans with 7:52 remaining.

Brosmer returned to action in the third quarter and played into the fourth quarter. He zipped a pass to WR Dontae Fleming for a gain of 36 and beat a blitz with a 21-yard touchdown to TE Bryson Nesbit.

Rypien returned to the game with 10:33 left to play.

"I thought the Titans did an amazing job with disguise during the preseason and threw some stuff at us that maybe they showed last year during the regular season and not during preseason," Brosmer said. "They got us a couple times on it, and hat's off to them for putting us in a tough situation a couple times, but that's NFL defense for you. You're gonna get stuff that you don't see on film and stuff that you do, and you got to be able to react and play the stuff that you see.

"On that play with a touchdown, I thought Bryson was very decisive. Pro (protection) was awesome. They popped out in [Cover 0], which is not something they showed on film right away. And so Bryson did an amazing job of getting to the right spot and making a guy miss the tackle and scoring. The protection was great. That play was great all around."

Brosmer finished 15-of-23 passing for 161 yards with a passer rating of 100.1. Rypien went 7-for-14 with 62 yards, the bad luck INT, and a passer rating of 32.4.

The Titans were able to mount a 90-yard drive in the second quarter over the course of 13 plays. Julius Chestnut capped the possession with a 1-yard TD run after it lasted 8:33. Tennessee also scored a quick-strike touchdown when Van Jefferson capitalized on Zemaiah Vaughn slipping and strolled 65 yards after a pass from Brandon Allen.

Joey Slye added field goals of 63, 30 and 53 (thanks to a double doink) in Tennessee's 23-13 victory.

O'Connell said Batty suffered a right knee injury early and Scott suffered an ankle injury on his kickoff return. Williams suffered a right hamstring injury, and Rypien was evaluated for a concussion but cleared.

Here are four more observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:

1. Receiving targets make plays (and nearly a huge one)

Fleming's 36-yard reception from Brosmer on a timing route down the left sideline provided a nice spark in the third quarter. The ball was delivered in stride.

The two added a 17-yard completion and almost connected again on a fourth-and-4 deep pass. Brosmer led Fleming, who laid out for the ball but was unable to complete the catch as he hit the turf.

Fleming led Minnesota with 53 yards, Nesbit followed with 45, and Jeshaun Jones added 41.

2. Young defensive linemen get involved

Elijah Williams is listed at 6-foot-3 and 270 yards, but he showed the ability to pick 'em up and put them down during a kickoff return.

Williams barreled into Jha'Quan Jackson during a kickoff return in the first quarter. He stopped Jackson cold after a return of 26, and the ball was moved further back

It's been quite a preseason for Williams, who joined the Vikings on a tryout basis during rookie minicamp.

He recorded two tackles and two quarterback hits in Minnesota's opener against Houston and added five tackles against New England.

Other young defensive linemen also entered the box score.

Rodriguez, a seventh-round pick in 2024, recorded a sack of Allen, and Ingram-Dawkins, a 2025 fifth-round pick, batted a pass at the line of scrimmage.

3. Special teams roundup

Reichard was good from 42 yards with Ryan Wright holding, and the battery also worked together on a 58-yard field goal. The second make was a bounce back after being just shy on the 63-yard attempt to end the first half and a 55-yarder that was off the mark with Oscar Chapman holding.

Myles Price returned one punt for a 3-yard gain and fair caught two others. He also was back on one kickoff that resulted in a touchback.

Silas Bolden returned two kickoffs 57 yards with a long of 29, and Scott returned a kickoff 29 yards.

Wright punted twice for 80 yards, placing both inside Tennessee's 20-yard line.

4. In the run game

Scott finished with five carries for 28 yards, highlighted by him popping a Vikings 25 preseason long of 23 yards on a carry in the first quarter.

Tre Stewart rushed five times for 22 yards with a long of 14, and recent addition Xazavian Valladay rushed eight times for 39 yards with a long of 14.

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