EAGAN, Minn. — With light rain sprinkling and players spending ample time with friends and family on the final day of 2026 Vikings Training Camp open to fans, Brian Flores strolled off the practice fields Thursday at TCO Performance Center with swagger and a wide smile.

It reflected the pair of joint practices that Minnesota's defense relished against Baltimore.

On both days, and especially today, Flo's group smothered Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. The front-seven pressure was palpable, and the backend featured a pick by Jackson's cousin James Pierre, who kept things professional afterward and praised Jackson's talent.

He's one of the league's best, after all, and is surrounded by a solid supporting cast led by Zay Flowers and Derrick Henry. Overall, it was two days of beneficial work for the Vikings as they prepare for their second game of the preseason at noon (CT) Saturday and get closer to Week 1.

Minnesota's offense also performed well, riding momentum from the final part of practice Wednesday when Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy steered long scores in a 2-minute drill.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with media before the session and noted appreciation for Vikings fans attending 16 sessions across nearly three weeks, including on hot days when they were "probably boiling up there in the bleachers." Cloud coverage Thursday felt like an appropriate award.

O'Connell also highlighted why he was so glad to host Baltimore and first-year Head Coach Jesse Minter, whom he holds in high regard for his defensive tactics, similar in a way to Flores.

"I think they do a really, really good job kind of making it murky. There's a lot of times you don't really, you know, similar to a lot of the principles Flo' has kind of implemented in addition to the pressure world that we've lived in has been," O'Connell shared. "There's a reason why I wanted to practice against it because it's given us trouble. … They've got really good pressures based out of the same looks, where maybe it's not the all-out pressure like we do, but it's in more of the zone world where they're dropping [players into coverage].

"It's a great test for us and it's one of my favorite parts about it," he continued. "They're gonna get us from time to time and then hopefully we can on the grass correct and prepare our guys, and the next time we block it, and that happened a couple times yesterday."

After the two-hour practice, Ravens players were treated to Minnesota Nice hospitality and worked out in the Vikings weight room. Here are six observations from Craig Peters and myself from joint practice No. 2:

1. Defending the North in 2-minute drill | By Craig

After watching Minnesota's offense go against Baltimore's defense Wednesday, I switched vantage points with Rob to spend most of Thursday watching the defense.

We'll start takeaways with the way Minnesota defended the North by not allowing Baltimore to cross its 45-yard line during two Ravens possessions in 2-minute drills (technically that was defending the west because of the layout of the fields this year).

The first- and second-team offenses were given the ball at the Baltimore 30-yard line with 1:15 remaining and needing a field goal to overcome a 23-21 deficit in the fourth quarter.

Baltimore opened with Jackson attempting a pass to Mark Andrews, but Jay Ward was able to break it up. Jackson followed with a completion to Devontez Walker for a gain of 6.

On what seemed to be Dallas Turner's only blemish of an otherwise dominant day, the outside linebacker jumped the snap count for an encroachment penalty and fresh set of first downs.

On first-and-10 from the 41, Jackson tried to find Flowers, but the receiver dropped the low offering. It didn't matter because a penalty was assessed against the Ravens for a 10-yard mark-off.

A quick receiver screen to Flowers went nowhere fast before a penalty against the Vikings that resulted in a fresh set of downs and the ball at the 36.

Jackson tried to connect with tight end Durham Smythe but was unsuccessful thanks to coverage on the play by Joshua Metellus, who showed his versatility on the next snap by surging through the line on a blitz for a sack.

A pass on third-and-18 to LaJohntay Wester got some of the yardage back, but Jackson tried a deep heave on fourth down that Pierre snagged with his diving interception.

Tyler Huntley found a couple of quick completions to receiver Xavier Guillory and tight end Josh Cuevas to move the ball to the 47, but the drive stalled at the Minnesota 45-yard line. On a third-and-3, Huntley's pass to Guillory fell incomplete thanks to coverage by Da'Veawn Armstead. On the following snap, defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie surged through the protection for a walk-off sack.

2. Vikings QBs stretch field in 2-minute | By Rob

Minnesota's offenses thrived, with a little yellow helping hand, in crunch time.

The first series began with back-to-back incompletions — one a throwaway out of bounds by Murray with Aaron Jones, Sr., in the vicinity, and the other a wayward pass to Justin Jefferson on a slant.

Baltimore was flagged after the second play, however, awarding 15 yards to Murray's group. And they took full advantage. In succession, Murray synced with T.J. Hockenson on a quick hit to his right, then checked down to Jones over the middle with 44 seconds left, except it was negated by offensive holding. It didn't matter. Murray positively answered the negative play, spinning a deep pass up the right side to a streaking Jauan Jennings who pierced it in stride.

That positioned the offense at about the Ravens 35 with 37 seconds to go. The offense gained 5 more yards on another Ravens penalty; and then Murray found Jefferson in the flat to his left, and "Jets" made an awesome cut inside that put a Ravens cornerback on skates.

That provided enough confidence to drain what was left of the clock, signal a timeout and bring on All-Pro kicker Will Reichard, who connected on a 46-yard field goal to win the drill.

McCarthy's offense also benefited from the Ravens' overzealousness — and going long.

After linking with Myles Price and Bryson Nesbit for short gains, McCarthy flicked a pass to Jeshaun Jones far up the right sideline. Ravens CB T.J. Tampa, Jr., was flagged for defensive pass interference, moving up the unit to the 30. Right after, McCarthy and Jones clicked for a few, and the receiver managed to run out of bounds with the clock stopped at 24 seconds.

Cue the fireworks.

In an effort to reposition the rock to the right hash and give Reichard another chance at a game-winning boot, McCarthy stuffed the ball into Demond Claiborne's belly going to the right. The running back ate. Actually, he devoured the opportunity, bouncing his off-tackle track to an acre of green grass and accelerating into the clear for an emphatic six points.

The moment got even sweeter when backup center Michael Jurgens sprinted to the end zone and hoisted Claiborne in the air to celebrate with his former Wake Forest teammate.

3. Doorstep denials by Vikings defense | By Craig

The teams spent a considerable amount of time of time working on different situations near and in the red zone (inside the defense's 20-yard line).

Minnesota's defense clamped down on multiple plays, showing up solidly to meet Henry and other backs on run plays and limiting completions.

Jackson and Huntley combined for the three completions, including one touchdown to Ja'Kobi Lane on a slant, but the defense had a case for logging five sacks over the course of 20-plus plays.

Prior to the team periods, linebacker Blake Cashman snagged an interception on a deflection in a 7-on-7 red zone period.

4. Doorstep knocks for Vikings offense | By Rob

The high- and low- red zone periods featured a handful of flashes for the offense on the ground and through the air, as well as some physical play between receivers and corners.

In the former, Murray delivered a dot up the seam to Hockenson; it was an ideal reply one play after four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson zipped into the backfield for a sack.

The coolest play in the latter period probably was a fadeaway TD pass from Murray to Jennings, who gained several yards of separation against Ravens safety Jaylinn Hawkins.

In addition to Murray and McCarthy threading the needle a couple times for scoring passes near the front-middle of the end zone — touchdown scorers were Jordan Addison and Gavin Bartholomew — there were several sharp, multi-cut runs from Jones and Jordan Mason.

Both quarterbacks also tried tucking the ball on zone reads, but neither had positive runs.

5. Have a day, Dallas Turner | By Craig

We alluded to Turner's big day earlier, and now it's time to give it more shine.

He was an absolute force around the right edge of the Vikings defense and left side of Baltimore's offensive line with several productive snaps against two-time Pro Bowler Ronnie Stanley.

There were successes on speed moves, and there were impressive displays of power conversions.

Perhaps the best part is how in sync Turner seemed with the rest of the group, from interior linemen like Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, to fellow outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to inside linebackers Cashman and Eric Wilson.

Turner's success would prompt an offense to consider providing tight end help, but that could free up some of the players mentioned above for Flores. The 2024 first-round pick could be primed for the next level in his first season as a Week 1 starter and third overall.

6. Claiborne scoots with something to prove | By Rob

O'Connell stated Claiborne's fumble at the end of a chunk run on Wednesday was a great learning moment for the rookie running back. He seemed to take it to heart given the effort he played with Thursday.

Before turning the corner and flashing like lightning for a touchdown in the two-minute drill, Claiborne stacked a collection of high-quality rushes in the high- and low-red zone periods.

On one rep, Claiborne ping-ponged off tacklers and stayed on his feet for long enough to fall into the end zone. On another, he wiggled into the teeth of the defense for a short score.

View the Vikings 2026 Schedule.

See future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.

See more about the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota.