EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings enjoyed a change of scenery Thursday, moving their third and final minicamp practice to the Indoor Practice Facility at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

Spurred by afternoon rain showers, the switch provided the most intimate look yet at the 2026 team.

Competing quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy continued to split reps. All-Pro kicker Will Reichard split the uprights on (nearly) every field goal attempt. Jordan Addison ran crispy routes and caught just about everything that came his direction. A flock of players, including Myles Price and Demond Claiborne rotated returning kickoffs. And a handful of rookies, regardless of their origin (drafted or undrafted), kept doing what they've done throughout the offseason program — flash as playmakers.

Again, there was a crystal clear emphasis on teaching and absorbing. Head Coach Kevin O'Connell praised the play of all four quarterbacks — Murray, McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer — when he fielded questions from reporters afterward, and he described Brian Flores' defense as "humming around mid-season form in a lot of ways" despite introducing many youngsters to an advanced scheme.

Five players, including first-round draft pick Caleb Banks, who is recovering from foot surgery, did not participate. Neither did LB Blake Cashman, WR Terrill Davis, OL Tristan Leigh and WR Marcus Sanders, Jr.

O'Connell commented that the feedback he's received from defensive coaches such as Flores, Ryan Nielsen and Pat Hill, regarding Banks so far "has been phenomenal," and "there's a lot of different ways we can be activating Caleb's brain and the above-the-neck challenge of learning Flo's intricate system."

Along with O'Connell, star Justin Jefferson met with the media to assess the week and to honor the Rosemount High School girl's flag football team that won the Minnesota state championship Monday at TCO Stadium.

All in all, it was an intentional and encouraging three days of practice on the cusp of summer.

"I know minicamp is mandatory, but when you have the same group here for the better part of all of your OTAs and Phase 1 and Phase 2 — with all the things these guys have going on — it is really, really cool to have the participation level, the buy-in, the hunger to continue to raise the foundation of what's been built by our players here, but ultimately where we want to go as a team," O'Connell said in his intro. "I think they're ready to pick up right where we left off as we kind of fully enter the competition phase of being able to build our team, and kind of chase what our ceiling is going to be for the season."

To put a ribbon on minicamp, here are three Day 3 observations.

1. Helmets off

Players were able to let their hair down with helmets off during the final 15 minutes of Thursday's practice when the starting offense and defense walked through plays together on one side of the field and developmental groups did so opposite of them. The extra visibility revealed smiles and laughter.

In between snaps, Murray jelled with O'Connell, McCarthy talked with teammates, so on and so forth.

The period fit the theme of the week – intense learning and application of techniques and concepts – and reflected the camaraderie that Jefferson highlighted when he answered questions at the podium.

Even during the 11-on-11 walk-through, quarterbacks simulated reading coverages and transferring their sightlines across the field. They nodded off targets, smoothly progressing from left to right and vice versa.

The most out-of-place people, if you will, in this type of setting are the players in the trenches. But even their movements were notable, and specific to the starting five of Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries and Brian O'Neill, they were exciting. That's because at this point last year, the group was missing "Big Dog" and "Spud" as they rehabilitated an ACL tear (Darrisaw) and a broken leg (Fries).

2. Competitive 7s

McCarthy and Murray each had their moments in two 7-on-7 periods, but so did the "dark side."

One of McCarthy's sharpest throws was his first — a missile over the middle to Addison who nabbed it in stride and might have to ice his hands tonight (kidding). The placement was exquisite, sneaking right over a linebacker's outstretched arm. Later on, McCarthy had a comparable pass that was snared by Dillon Bell.

McCarthy's second toss, however, didn't meet its match in time. A ball launched up the right sideline to Jeshaun Jones, seemingly a little later in the play than preferred, was skillfully broken up by second-year UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn. It earned hoots and hollers from defensive teammates and coaches.

Impressively, undrafted rookie Da'Veawn Armstead potentially one-upped Vaughn and submitted a sweet rep with Murray at the controls. On a deep attempt to Tai Felton that floated past safety Jakobe Thomas, Armstead ran stride for stride with the speedy wideout and elevated to make an interception.

One of Murray's top plays of the day was an on-the-move pitch that arced into Felton's hands with no room to spare up the right sideline. The pass floated over the head of outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss.

3. Familiar faces

Two years ago, WR Trishton Jackson and DB Bobby McCain were leaders on the Vikings scout teams.

They returned to Minnesota this week in a different capacity but ready as ever to make an impact, as they participate in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program that runs through training camp.

It was easiest to spot both in their new roles Thursday in the IPF, which has a single field compared to multiple outdoors; Jackson helped drill his former position group, and McCain shadowed the secondary.

They aren't the only new visiting coaches, either.

O'Connell shared in his opening remarks that along with the two Vikings Legends, the team is adding Isaiah Bishop, P.J. Burkhalter, DeShawn Haney and Johnathan Lloyd as Walsh Diversity Fellows.

In regard to Jackson and McCain, O'Connell noted it's "a passion of mine," as well as the Wilf family, to help players find their calling once they're done competing between the lines. He cited offensive assistant and former tight end Ben Ellefson as an example. Ellefson has gained responsibility over the past three seasons, since switching lanes in 2023.

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