The Vikings Just Confirmed 5 Huge Things at Training Camp
The Minnesota Vikings have begun their ninth training camp at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, with fans arriving on Saturday to have a look.
The Vikings confirmed 5 major items as training camp begins, from J.J. McCarthy to injuries and more. Here’s what you need to know after the press conference.
Beforehand, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to reporters on Tuesday, an annual tradition prior to the boots-on-the-ground work that will pave the way for the regular season.
In a nutshell, here’s what Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell confirmed.
5 Takeaways from Vikings Training Camp Press Conference
Here’s what you need to know with training camp underway.
1. J.J. McCarthy’s Energy Is Real
If you’ve followed the Vikings through a busy offseason, you know about a common theme regarding quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who will take the reins of the purple offense in 2025 after missing his entire rookie campaign with a torn meniscus.
Put plainly, the optimism is through the roof, and Adofo-Mensah + O’Connell confirmed that on Tuesday.
“He’s absolutely had a phenomenal offseason, from the time before the offseason program started through the nine weeks that we were allowed to be on the grass, and then I think it’s been awesome this summer seeing these guys getting together, working,” O’Connell told the media.
“You feel the energy and the enthusiasm not only that J.J. has brought to the group, but that they’re reciprocating right back to him.”
From January until now, Minnesota has prepared McCarthy for the bright lights of QB1, batting away temptations to sign Aaron Rodgers and letting Sam Darnold + Daniel Jones leave for new teams in free agency.
It’s the summer of McCarthy, and Tuesday’s press conference upheld that sentiment.
2. Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries on a Fast Track
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL last October, and newcomer guard Will Fries missed most of 2025 with a broken leg.
They’re both trending in the right direction, though, avoiding the PUP list, which many believed they’d find, at least for a while, this summer.
“I want to highlight the work they put in this summer, to put themselves in a position to be out on the grass, practicing all in different capacities,” O’Connell mentioned. “We are very pleased with where those guys are at and, you know, their timelines to fully return to daily participation.”
He said Darrisaw, “will likely participate in individual drills to start out and progress from there,” and should “work into some of the combination periods, working across from some of our defensive players.”
The current vibe feels like Darrisaw and Fries could be ready in September.
3. Josh Metellus Mystery
Safety Josh Metellus needs a new contract. Full stop. It’s the one lingering contractual matter for the 2025 Vikings.
Adofo-Mensah opined, “We have a great dialogue with his agent, we’ll continue to have that, and navigate from there.”
It’s worth noting that this brand of Vikings leadership does not have a history of dragging their feet with players who deserve new deals. So, an extension should be finalized before too long.
Metellus personally tweeted Tuesday, “Year 6! Still proving them wrong, Still chasing greatness!”
The mysterious part? Metellus’ spouse posted a cryptic reply on Instagram about Metellus partaking at training camp.
Stay tuned.
4. Supersized Team Optimism
Minnesota isn’t a little engine-that-could team this season. The optimism is palpable, and the franchise expects to contend for a Super Bowl that has eluded it for 64 years.
O’Connell on his group: “We feel proud of some of the things we’ve accomplished, but at the same time, I think it’s time for all of us to continue to look inward first.”
“It’s time for us to acknowledge what we’re actually trying to build here, and what that’s going to take is — in my opinion — an invisible presence of understanding that we’re capable but we’ve got to put in a lot of work to feel totally worthy in those moments to get to where we want to get to.”
Some Vikings seasons entail a Wildcard ceiling, at best, but the 2025 squad doesn’t view itself that way. Not by a long shot.
5. Suspension Watch
Wide receiver Jordan Addison pleaded guilty last week to a “wet and reckless” charge, stemming from his 2024 DUI infraction in Los Angeles. The NFL is likely to impose a significant penalty, possibly resulting in a three-game suspension to start 2025.
Adofo-Mensah said about the upcoming penalty and the NFL’s role, “They’re going through their process, and we’ll know as soon as they know.”
That sounded like the acknowledgement of a suspension, perhaps plopping Addison on the shelf for the season’s first few games.
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