EAGAN, Minn. — In just over a fortnight, the Vikings will begin playing football that counts.

Of course, that's not to say spring and summer don't because they do — just in a different way. Time on the grass then is for competition among positions and building team camaraderie. The month of August, specifically, is reserved for getting on the same page and solidifying standards.

All the dog days are being stacked in anticipation of the regular season, which opens Sept. 13.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell met with media Wednesday at TCO Performance Center to comment on playing the Broncos on the road at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday in the preseason finale. He shared that some players will be inactive, and it's undetermined who will start at quarterback between J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer. O'Connell is hopeful McCarthy can get more reps, but he did not practice Wednesday due to an ankle issue that he picked up last weekend vs. Baltimore.

In previews for the first exhibition and second exhibition, we shined light on 10 young players — Chuck Demmings, Jake Golday, Jacob Roberts, Jacob Thomas and Elijah Williams on defense, and Gavin Bartholomew, Dillon Bell, Demond Claiborne, Jeshaun Jones and Walter Rouse on offense — and a few topics from training camp. We also shared several of the best quotes from joint practices.

With Sunday's roster cutdown deadline at 5 p.m. (CT) zooming into focus, time is of the essence.

Here are three areas of depth worth watching when Minnesota wraps up its preseason at Denver.

1. Outside linebacker

Firstly, Dallas Turner is garnering rave reviews going into his third year. Mild-mannered Christian Darrisaw this week got as excited as he ever gets when he talked about D.T.; C.D. expects him to have a special season. Also, Andrew Van Ginkel is healthy. That means he has NFL Defensive Player of the Year potential in Brian Flores' scheme, the ideal match for Gink's coverage and hunting skills.

So, we have those two pieces established. The rest of the room's pecking order is to be determined. Players trying to carve out roles include four Vikings who were signed by the team as undrafted free agents after the annual event — Bo Richter (in 2024), Tyler Batty (2025), Chaz Chambliss (2025) and Cam'Ron Stewart (2026) — and another 2024 UDFA (with Carolina) who entered recently and notched a sack in last weekend's exhibition, Kenny Dyson. That non-rookie foursome of Richter, Batty, Chambliss and Dyson have logged 158 career snaps combined on defense and produced two QB pressures. Richter, Batty and Chambliss previously served as cogs within Vikings special teams.

There are reasons to like all five. Richter has shown good closing speed to the passer and batted down a throw against the Ravens. Batty's hustle is easily observable, and he plays with a hard edge. Chambliss, wearing No. 40 now, is super versatile; he has drilled some with the inside linebackers this summer and he was spotted in a recent practice taking a single, intriguing rep at fullback (maybe he could back up Max Bredeson?). Stewart is long like Batty and has looked quick to the ball. Dyson didn't waste time making a nice impression, recording a sack against Baltimore to cap his first week with Minnesota. Each one could benefit tremendously from an irrepressible outing.

2. Interior offensive line

Again, let's backdrop this section with excitement for the starting triangle of left guard Donovan Jackson, center Blake Brandel and right guard Will Fries. "Donny" received high praise from his left flank Monday; Darrisaw said the 2025 first-round pick Jackson has had the physical tools since he arrived, but he's sharper in the classroom since his rookie season. That bodes well. Smarts also are a staple of Brandel's game and will anchor him as the full-time pivot for the first time in his career. Brandel's shotgun snapping isn't perfect 100-percent of the time, yet, but folks are confident about his upward trajectory. After grinding through 2025 (following a broken leg suffered with the Colts in 2024) Fries is ready to take another step — and teammates and coaches make it sound like he will.

Again, what about the players slotted after them?

Working inside out, the Vikings IOL depth includes centers Michael Jurgens and Gavin Gerhardt; they were drafted in the seventh round in 2024 and 2026, respectively. Jurgens started three games in 2025. Gerhardt started 49 in college, which tied for third in Cincinnati program history regardless of position. The offense rolled out Vershon Lee and Joe Huber as second-team left and right guards in the first two exhibitions. Rouse switched from tackle to guard in the offseason and filled the right-side spot at the Giants and the left against the Ravens. Henry Byrd also has guard experience, but he has taken ample tackle reps this summer. Other interior options are newcomers Delby Lemieux, Tomas Rimac and Joshua Gray. The former two were UDFAs signed after this year's draft, and Gray overlapped with Brandel at Oregon State in 2019 and initially signed with the Falcons as a UDFA in 2025. From that non-center collective, Huber's the only one with starting experience in the regular season, and Rouse, a 2024 sixth-rounder, is the only that Minnesota invested in with draft capital.

3. Cornerback and safety

Last but not least, there's opportunity to be seized in the secondary without Harrison Smith, who logged more than 13,000 snaps from 2012-25. The door is left ajar for "The Hitman" to return if he puts off retirement, again, and returns for Year 15. O'Connell noted Wednesday that he even spoke with Smith about a variety of topics this week. No matter, there's increased focus to identify dependable guys behind or side-by-side veterans Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. The team may also be finalizing its cornerback hierarchy, and a fifth CB spot is potentially up to be won.

In reverse position order, let's go through the players. Veteran newcomer James Pierre and Day 3 rookie Chuck Demmings have flashed CB3 chops. Pierre had a career year in Pittsburgh under new Vikings Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Gerald Alexander in 2025 and was prioritized by Flores in free agency. Demmings impressed in spring and has really wowed this summer, making the FCS-to-NFL jump with calming confidence. Another emerging CB is 2025 UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn, who has great length, and who was on the practice squad last year and has repeatedly broken up passes in camp. The current room is rounded out by a bevy of young, developmental prospects; Da'Veawn Armstead and Marcus Allen, both undrafted this year, have been part of the group since the initial UDFA class — they've stood out on occasion, especially Armstead of late — whereas rookies Bryce Phillips and Jarod Washington were added later via San Diego State and South Carolina State, and veteran Tre Hawkins joined the bunch Tuesday when Dwight "Nudie" McGlothern was waived with an injury designation. Rookie Tyreek Chappell also was waived this week and reverted to Injured Reserve. The residing CB group has appealing competitive toughness and ball-hawking prowess that should supplement a scheme that lives in attack mode 24/7/365.

Flores prefaced his assessment of the safety position as a whole Tuesday by talking about the short-lived but oversized impact that Jamal Adams had on the defense before tearing his quadriceps tendon at MetLife Stadium on Aug.15, about three weeks after signing with the Vikings.

Adams was listed on the roster as a linebacker, but he was aligning at numerous places and playing well enough for Flores to include him in certain packages. He attended Wednesday's practice and displayed great energy riding around in an electric scooter. Without Adams, just like sans Smith, someone else — some people rather — must step up. Two Thomases appear ripe to be picked for roles: Jakobe, the 98^th overall selection in April out of National Championship runner-up Miami, and Jacob, a former high school quarterback who committed to Richmond before betting on himself and walking on at James Madison where he evolved into a leader of a College Football Playoff team. The former Thomas rejoined team drills Monday after back stiffness limited him for several weeks, and he should make his preseason debut Friday. The latter Thomas stood out in the first two games, recording an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 92.2 (tops among rookies on either side of the ball), with 10 total tackles and an interception. Both players fit Flores' scheme that favors defenders who can do a mixture of things; they can affect offenses at the line, as well as on the second/third levels.

Minnesota also has safeties Kahlef Hailassie and Tavierre Thomas. The veteran-most Thomas on the roster is a returning third-phase ace, and Hailassie is in his second season at safety after converting from corner last year. He made 10 appearances for Cleveland (one start) from 2023-24.

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