Preseason Game No. 1 Brings Massive Intrigue for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t won a preseason game since 2019. Of course, that means their season hangs on the result against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. No, that’s not true, but the game brings massive intrigue.
Preseason Game No. 1 Brings Massive Intrigue for Vikings
When the Vikings put out their first depth chart, head coach Kevin O’Connell listed Sam Darnold as the starter. That has always been the expected outcome, and even if J.J. McCarthy were to start Week 1, the hand wouldn’t be tipped this early. With Darnold as QB1 and the head ball coach playing coy regarding snap counts, McCarthy will understandably get center stage.
There isn’t much for Nick Mullens to show in the preseason. He’s a veteran backup who routinely shows his deficiencies when put into regular-season action. He’ll get run in the exhibition slate, but no team interested in grabbing him from Minnesota’s depth chart needs to see additional tape.
What amount of snaps Darnold is under center for remains to be seen. The logical guess would be less than a quarter. He’s not the star getting a single-series treatment, but Darnold has shown enough in his career to understand what these games are about. Let him complete a couple of passes, and then call it a day.
That means McCarthy should be set for the bulk of the work. He’ll likely be operating alongside second-string units, but it will be fans’ first chance to see what he looks like at the next level. McCarthy has generated all sorts of opinions throughout training camp. What he does against an opposing defense and at game speed has yet to be seen.
Paired with what he has done during practice, it’s the exhibition slate where McCarthy could lay claim to the starting job. If he shows out similar to what Russell Wilson did all those years ago, well, then, the Vikings will have a decision to make. This is his first foray into that adventure.
It’s not just the quarterback, though. Minnesota’s third wide receiver role is also largely up in the air. Brandon Powell and Jalen Nailor both have qualities that could set them apart. Assuming neither Justin Jefferson nor Jordan Addison plays much, if at all, it will be the WR3 show.
It remains to be seen to what level either Powell or Nailor can stand out. This will be their first chance to show the coaching staff why they should be “the guy” for 2024. Minnesota should probably still consider a wideout addition, especially with an Addison suspension looming, but how dire the position looks will be shown off this weekend.
The Vikings don’t need to win the exhibition, but they do need to answer some real questions.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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