The Vikings kicked off training camp on Wednesday and that also served as the kickoff for the final stage of their quarterback competition.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Tuesday that Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy will both work with the first team as he makes his decision about who will be under center for Week 1. That approach means there will be plenty of attention paid to who gets what repetitions and the first day saw Murray in the lead spot.
Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports reports that Murray was the first man up when the Vikings moved into 11-on-11 work and that he hit wide receiver Jordan Addison for a 30-yard gain.
“I’m not really too focused on the long-term vision of it,” Murray said before practice. “I’m focused on the process and that’s day to day, coming out here with this walkthrough and then practice later. . . . Prove to the coaches and guys what I’m capable of.”
McCarthy will get his chances to prove the same point as well and all of the developments on the field in Minnesota will be closely followed until O’Connell makes his call.
Vikings Clips
Kyler Murray doesn’t know yet if he’ll be the Vikings’ No. 1 quarterback. But if he is, he knows Justin Jefferson will be his No. 1 receiver. And he’s grateful for that.
“I think it’s greatness,” Murray said when asked about Jefferson. “Not only does he believe he’s the best receiver in the league, he wants to be. From what I’ve seen out here, he’s proved it every single day. Those are the guys you want to be around. It’s few and far between having guys like that, but when you get around one, you see why. I’m just grateful I get to throw him the ball.”
Murray, in his first training camp with the Vikings, said there’s nothing better than the start of a new season.
“It’s the best time of the year,” Murray said. “The best time of the year. Grass is green, sun is out, the trees — beautiful scenery. Just getting to touch the field again with the guys, getting to play the game that I love to play. Best time of the year.”
Murray said the top priority in camp is getting accustomed to running the Vikings’ offense.
“It’s a reps thing,” Murray said. “Continue to do it over and over again, say it over and over again. The more you do it, the more you say it, the more it comes natural, the more it comes easier. I think that’s really the process for me. Once all that settles down, for me it’s just playing football.”
Murray hopes to be playing football in September, and throwing a lot of footballs to Jefferson.
The Vikings’ quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy is about to heat up.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters in his Tuesday press conference that Murray and McCarthy will each take reps with the club’s first-team and second-team offense to begin training camp. O’Connell also noted that Minnesota has a date in mind to choose the QB1, though he did not disclose it.
“I met with all those guys, really, on an individual basis over the last day or so. And really, just want to be able to articulate the vision and the plan,” O’Connell said. “I feel very good about our plan. Both Kyler and J.J. will take reps with the first team. They’ll also take reps with the second group, and I think that gives different layers to the evaluation as well.
“We want an elevator at the quarterback position. And in many ways, doing that in this system is kind of a ‘do-your-job mentality,’ which is running the show, throwing completions, and just showing the ability to execute our offense with comfort. That offense is an evolving thing, and we’re excited about what this year’s offense could look like. But we do want to be thorough, we want to be comprehensive with this. But at the same time, I think it’s important, when we feel good about a decision as a group and we’re ready to move forward, it’ll be good to do that so we can prepare that player for the season.”
O’Connell mentioned being “transparent” about the decision, which the club plans to announce when one has been made. But the process could take a little time.
“I think there’s an ideal date based upon training camp to make sure we check a lot of boxes for our team, but also for not only that player, but our entire offense,” O’Connell said. “So, yeah, there’s absolutely a date in mind — subject to what we think is best. If we feel like we can make the decision before that date, we will. If we feel like we need a little bit more time, we’ll take it.
“And, ultimately, a lot of work’s been done to this point, been evaluated — both on the field, where we think guys are at from their understanding and comfort of our offense. And now, we can apply it and really try to push this thing to the point where I think it’s going to enhance both players. And I think it’s going to give us clarity on where we need to go for this year.”
The Vikings and right tackle Brian O’Neill have struck a deal.
The team announced on Tuesday that O’Neill has signed a four-year contract extension. O’Neill is now tied to the Vikings through the 2030 season.
Minnesota did not reveal any financial terms of the deal, but Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the deal is worth $96 million.
O’Neill joined the Vikings as a 2018 second-round pick. He became a starter during his rookie season and has started 120 of the 124 games he’s played for the team since being drafted.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is under contract through 2029, so the Vikings are set at both of their tackle spots for several years.
The Vikings will be without defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander for the next few weeks.
The team announced on Tuesday that Alexander has been suspended three weeks after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated earlier this month. Alexander was arrested in April and his suspension, which began on July 24, will run through August 13.
“Following Gerald’s arrest earlier this spring, we remained in communication with the NFL while awaiting the outcome of the legal process,” the team said in a statement. “We take these situations seriously and believe this disciplinary action is appropriate.”
Alexander also released a statement through the team.
“I take full responsibility for the situation I put myself in and apologize for not meeting the mark,” Alexander said. “I know it’s unacceptable. I understand the suspension and am committed to learning from the matter and ensuring I come back a better version of myself.”
The Vikings hired Alexander this offseason. He worked on the same staff as Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami and Pittsburgh.
Running back Adrian Peterson played for seven NFL teams. He’ll always be remembered as a Viking.
On Monday, November 9, the Vikings will induct Peterson into their Ring of Honor.
Peterson, who won the NFL’s MVP award in 2012 with a near-record 2,097 rushing yards a season after suffering a torn ACL on Christmas Eve, ranks fifth on the all-time rushing list, with 14,918 yards. In ten years with the Vikings, he rushed for 11,747 yards.
Peterson’s career was marred in 2014, when he missed nearly all of the season on paid leave following felony child-abuse charges that resulted in a no-contest plea to misdemeanor reckless assault.
The following season, he led the league in rushing, with 1,485 yards.
In all, Peterson was a seven-time Pro Bowler for the Vikings. He was named offensive rookie of the year in 2007, and he was a four-time first-team All-Pro and a three-time second-team All-Pro.
He’ll become the 29th member of the Vikings’ Ring of Honor — and it’s just a matter of time before he enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Vikings’ veterans are reporting to training camp today, and they’ve added two new veteran players.
Running back Jordan Mims and linebacker Jamal Adams have signed, the team announced.
The 30-year-old Adams’ signing was reported yesterday and became official today. Although he was one of the best safeties in the NFL early in his career with the Jets, Adams went into a steep decline after his blockbuster trade to the Seahawks, and he has never been the same player. But after switching to linebacker last year with the Raiders, he was effective enough to be active for all 17 games.
Mims has been in the league since he signed with the Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2023. He has spent time with the Saints, Titans and 49ers and hasn’t had a major impact in any of his stops, but he’ll compete for a roster spot at running back and on special teams.
The sixth overall pick in the 2017 draft will be joining his sixth team.
Jordan Schultz reported that Jamal Adams will be signing with the Vikings. Adams has since confirmed it, tweeting, “Year 10 #skol.”
Adams spent three years with the Jets, making it to two Pro Bowls and finishing 2018 as a second-team All-Pro and 2019 as a first-team All-Pro.
He was traded to the Seahawks in 2020, qualifying for a third Pro Bowl and finishing on the All-Pro second team. The next year, he signed a four-year, $70 million extension that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
He stayed with the Seahawks through 2023. In 2024, he played for the Titans and Lions. After switching last year from safety to linebacker, Adams appeared in 17 games with four starts for the Raiders.
Adams has earned more than $71 million in his nine-year career.
It’s unclear whether he’ll be playing safety or linebacker in the Brian Flores defense. Given the flexibility and creativity of the scheme, he could play both.
The Vikings will open training camp when veterans report on Tuesday and they set the stage for the first day by announcing a handful of roster moves.
They announced that they have placed running back Kejon Owens on the non-football injury list. They also waived linebacker Keli Lawson and wide receiver Luke Wysong with Wysong carrying a non-football injury designation.
Owens signed with the Vikings after going undrafted in April. He ran 213 times for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns at FIU last season.
Lawson and Wysong also joined the Vikings as undrafted free agents this summer. The Vikings did not sign any players, so they will have room to add some bodies to the roster early in training camp.
Defensive end Everson Griffen hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2021 season, but he is not ready to throw in the towel on returning to the field.
Griffen’s second stint with the Vikings ended with him landing on the non-football illness while dealing with mental health issues and he missed time for similar reasons during the 2018 season as well. Griffen has had multiple arrests for driving under the influence since he last played in the league, but told Josina Anderson on The Exhibit Show that he’s been sober for a year and hopes to resume his career.
“My desire is to play again. . . . I know the things that I’ve done,” Griffen said. “I’ve burnt bridges, but I feel like that’s reparable. I’m willing to do anything to mend them. I’m saying clear, you don’t have to worry about me going back to using again.”
Griffen had 85.5 sacks during his career, but is 38 and the baggage of his time away from the game isn’t likely to fade away despite his sobriety. Griffen was charged with driving without an ignition interlock device after being stopped for speeding in Minnesota last week. Griffen was required to use the device, which blocks a car from starting unless the operator passes a breathalyzer test, after his previous legal problems.
Anderson asked Griffen about last week’s incident and he said that he’s no longer mandated to use the interlock as long as he passes a driving test, but failed it when he took it and “forgot” when he got in a car that did not have the device installed. That matter will make its way through the legal system, but the timing is unlikely to help Griffen convince NFL teams that he’s in position to overcome his age and layoff to become a productive player once again.
