EAGAN, Minn. — Consider it a day circled on the calendar by defensive players (and fans) when they process the training camp schedule.
Vikings players reached the first padded practice milestone Monday and took advantage of the opportunity to pop.
"I think especially for defensive tackles, because it's so hard to strike a guy with a T-shirt on, and then your hands get high. You can't really show what you can do," said interior defensive lineman Harrison Phillips. "You get the pads on, you can clearly see knock back. You can clearly see shedding. The only question now is, 'Did you actually tackle him, or would he have run through your arm tackle?' Because the most important thing in this is getting better every day, and the second most important thing is that every player that walks on the field can walk off the field, so we always are Vikings playing the Vikings, but we definitely brought that physicality today."
Freshly re-signed Joshua Metellus returned to action after being sidelined for a few days with an ankle injury. Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss passed his physical and returned from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list. Will Fries participated in some team drills.
Justin Jefferson is sidelined while dealing with a "very minor hamstring strain" (more details here) but continued to support teammates. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers did not participate.
Here are three observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
1. 'D-cisive' 2-minute drill
The Purple People Eaters — the elite group that laid the foundation of "meeting at the quarterback" — would have been proud of the 2025 defense.
Practice closed with a 2-minute drill by the first-team offense against the first-team defense and the second-team offense against the second-team defense.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell had the offense start the drive with 1:15 left on the clock and down 13-10.
Javon Hargrave and Ivan Pace, Jr., quickly converged in the backfield on J.J. McCarthy for a loss of 5. After an offsides penalty against the defense, the unit forced an incompletion on a pass to Jordan Mason. On third-and-14, a convention of defensive players that included Jonathan Allen met in the backfield.
While not great results for the offense, it was a reinforcement of the signings of Hargrave and Allen to add to the interior pass rush.
The second-team defense also prevailed quickly, forcing three consecutive incompletions by Sam Howell.
View photos of players from the team's first padded practice of 2025 Training Camp on July 28 at the TCO Performance Center.
2. 81 filling in for 18
Flip the jersey numbers from 18 to 81, and you'll know who has taken the most receiver reps in filling in for Jefferson: Lucky Jackson.
Jackson first joined the Vikings in 2023, spending most of that season on the practice squad before being elevated for two games in December and signing to the 53-man squad before the regular-season finale.
He played only three offensive snaps but did log 32 special teams snaps in those contests. Jackson returned for the 2024 offseason but spent the entire year on the practice squad.
Jackson made a couple of nice catches on Saturday and again delivered Monday, pulling in a deep shot from McCarthy that arrived just before safety Theo Jackson could close on the football. The receiver trotted the rest of the way for a touchdown.
Lucky Jackson also was hit in stride by Brett Rypien on a go ball in a 1-on-1 drill against Mekhi Blackmon.
3. Second-year showings
Two players in their second year turned in strong plays in multiple practice periods.
Dallas Turner continued to impress and showed variety in 1-on-1 pass rush drills against Leroy Watson IV. Turner opted for a spin move on his first rep and utilized power on his second rep to sweep the drill. He also would have likely recorded a sack of Howell but pulled up. After slight contact, Howell launched the football to Dontae Fleming for a reception completed at the 1-yard line.
Dwight McGlothern also showed up multiple times. He picked off a Max Brosmer pass intended for Rondale Moore during 1-on-1 drills and later made a diving pass breakup on a pass from Howell to Tai Felton.
The ball popped up in the air and was intercepted by Jay Ward.
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