MINNEAPOLIS — Waves of reserves competed for roster spots and roles as Minnesota hosted Baltimore in the second preseason game of 2026 to conclude a productive week packed with purple.

The Ravens prevailed 13-3 by keeping the Vikings off the score board in three separate quarters and taking advantage of a drive that was extended by a roughing-the-passer penalty in the second half.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter opted to rest starters Saturday after having those groups take the brunt of practice reps on Wednesday and Thursday during joint sessions.

J.J. McCarthy opened and experienced a couple different ups and downs, playing only the first quarter behind an offensive line of Henry Byrd, Joe Huber, Michael Jurgens, Vershon Lee and Ryan Van Demark from left tackle to right tackle.

The opening possession started at the 12 after a special teams penalty on the opening kickoff. McCarthy's first throw on an out to Myles Price was high and hot. A false start penalty put Minnesota in second-and-15 from the 7, and McCarthy worked his way out of that with back-to-back 8-yard completions to Tai Felton and Price for a fresh set of downs.

The run game, however, didn't start as fast as it did in Minnesota's preseason opener.

Rookie Demond Claiborne was stuffed for no gain on his first carry and a loss of 3 a play later. The Vikings were unable to convert third-and-13 on a pass to Felton that gained 8.

McCarthy's second series featured the highlight of his day but ended with a lowlight. On second-and-7, he navigated through the pocket, evading a rusher and launched a 50-50 ball to Felton, who secured the catch for a gain of 50 to the Baltimore 10-yard line.

McCarthy followed by working through the progression over to Claiborne for a catch-and-run of 7.

A pass on second-and-goal at the 3 screaming toward Felton (it needed to be a hard throw) was not secured, and a Claiborne run on third down gained nearly 2. Minnesota opted for a shotgun formation pass on fourth down, and McCarthy had Price open but missed him. A little less mustard would have done the trick.

The Vikings had two more series with McCarthy at QB. One play after a sack by Mike Green, McCarthy drilled a pass to Jeshaun Jones for a gain of 19 despite taking a hit. It would have converted third-and-14, but Byrd was flagged for holding, creating a third-and-23 on which Claiborne ran for 9 before a punt.

The Vikings committed a false start on their fourth possession. McCarthy took a hit for the fourth time but was accurate with a pass to Price on third-and-13, but Chandler Rivers was credited with a pass defensed.

McCarthy finished 5-of-10 passing for 81 yards and a 77.5 passer rating before he was replaced by Carson Wentz in the second quarter.

Here are four more observations:

1. 2-minute drill

Wentz played two series, including a 2-minute drill to close the first half.

He picked up third-and-8 during the drive with a 9-yard pass to Dontae Fleming before firing to Jones for a gain of 35. Jones completed the catch despite an initial bobble and contact that sent him to the turf.

Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, who called plays the entire game (O'Connell normally does), dialed up a beautiful tight end screen to Gavin Bartholomew. Walter Rouse got down the field from the left guard spot and absolutely pancaked defensive back Amani Oruwariye to spring Bartholomew for a gain of 16.

A sack on second-and-8 from the 27 led Minnesota to opt for a 52-yard field goal by Will Reichard to tie the game at halftime.

Wentz finished 9-of-11 passing with 92 yards and a passer rating of 101.5.

2. Punter comparison

The Vikings continued evaluating veteran punter Johnny Hekker and rookie Brett Thorson, who held for the long field goal by Reichard.

Thorson did not hold at Georgia, so this is the first time he's been tasked with that role, by the way. He punted two times for a gross average of 41.5 with a long of 42 (which means his other was 41), pinning Baltimore inside its 20-yard line with both punts.

Hekker punted three times for a gross of 165, averaging 55.0 and uncorking a long of 65 to help flip field position when Minnesota was backed up.

3. Turnovers shortchange opportunities

Many parts of the box score were not too dissimilar, but the turnover margin was Minnesota at minus-2.

The Vikings lost a fumble after a short catch on the third play of a possession that spanned the late third quarter and start of the fourth. Baltimore capitalized on getting the ball on the Vikings side of the field and added a field goal to make it 13-3.

Max Brosmer was leading the offense down the field in the fourth quarter but a possession that covered 57 yards ended on the 11^th play when Brosmer was intercepted by Silas Walters.

Brosmer finished 11-for-17 with 98 yards and a passer rating of 55.5.

4. Lack of explosives in ground game

Both defenses bottlenecked the run game.

The longest run allowed by the Vikings went for 8 yards on a scramble by QB Joe Fagnano.

Minnesota reserve RB Jermar Jefferson produced the game's only run of 10 or more yards when he got loose for a gain of 15.

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