What We’ve Learned from Vikings-Patriots Joint Practices
We’re in the heart of training camp, with three weeks having passed. The first preseason game has been played, resulting in a nice win over Houston, and joint practices with the Patriots are taking place this week.
The starters are getting their heaviest workload of the training camp/preseason period. Cutdown to 53 players is less than two weeks away.
Key observations from the Vikings’ joint practices with the Patriots, highlighting standout performances, positional battles, and early clues for the 2025 season.
Here are my reactions to the first joint practice with the Pats and preseason game No. 1.
Reactions to Vikings’ Joint Practice No. 1 with Patriots
It was a packed house at the Vikings facility on Wednesday for joint practice No. 1. All of the Vikings starters participated in the team drills except Justin Jefferson (seemingly recovered from his hamstring strain but not yet practicing), C.J. Ham, Andrew Van Ginkel and Levi Drake Rodriguez (all sitting out with minor injuries) and Harrison Smith (illness). Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw took limited snaps as he eases back in after his ACL injury.
The Vikings-Patriots first joint practice was highly competitive, with great work from starters vs. starters. In team drills, J.J. McCarthy demonstrated strong connections with T.J. Hockenson and Jalen Nailor, notably on a big screen play to Aaron Jones, where first-round guard Donovan Jackson delivered a key block. McCarthy also led a field goal drive in the two-minute drill, featuring a nice completion to Jordan Addison and a long run by McCarthy.
The starting offense also sputtered at times against the Patriots’ defense, which is to be expected this time of year.
The backup players had fewer reps in 11-on-11 team drills, as they will get all the play time in the game on Saturday.
The Vikings’ run defense was excellent, and the pass rush made an impact in team drills. When QB Drake Maye had time, he was effective in throwing to ex-Viking Stefon Diggs and other targets such as explosive second-round rookie back TreVeyon Henderson, who got loose on a wheel route for a long gainer.
Corner Jeff Okudah was beaten deep on a play with Josh Metellus coming over too late to help. Pro Bowl corner Byron Murphy Jr. has looked good as expected in camp and had a near pick. Safety Jay Ward intercepted a pass against ex-Viking Josh Dobbs, who is the Patriots’ backup. Blake Cashman had a sack on Maye as the Vikings’ defense won the 2-minute drill.
The two teams have another joint practice on Thursday, where most of the starters will get a lot of reps before sitting out the preseason game on Saturday.
Reactions to Vikings-Texans Preseason game
It was a solid performance in front of the home crowd for the Vikings in the 20-10 victory. Kevin O’Connell wisely played most of the starting offense for one series of 12 plays and then turned it over to the backups. He also wisely didn’t risk playing offensive starters such as Jefferson and Darrisaw, and most of the starting defense sat out, except for Ivan Pace, Theo Jackson, Isaiah Rodgers, and Okudah.
It was important for McCarthy to play a series with most of his fellow starters on offense. The result was positive as he led a good opening drive. He showed his arm strength and mobility in throwing and running for three first downs to set up a field goal. He still has a way to go before he’s ready for the opener in Chicago, as he missed a couple of throws to open receivers. But it will certainly help his cause when he has Jefferson and Darrisaw in the lineup.
I thought it was important for No. 2 QB Sam Howell to have a good outing, which he definitely accomplished. Howell had been inconsistent in camp, but he was going against an excellent Vikings defense on a daily basis. Even though the Texans didn’t play most of their defensive starters, such as ex-Viking star Danielle Hunter, I think Howell solidified his claim as backup QB by completing 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards, and he had a one-yard QB sneak for a TD.
Brett Rypien struggled (only one completion and sacked twice), and the team’s fourth QB — former Gopher Max Brosmer — threw a TD pass to Myles Price against the Texans’ backups, and he’s looking worthy of a practice squad spot.
Also impressive were wide receivers Jordan Addison and Lucky Jackson (each with three receptions), running back Zavier Scott (seven carries for 40 yards and an 11-yard catch) who is pushing Ty Chandler for the No. 3 back spot, edge rusher Gabe Murphy who had 1 1/5 sacks, safety Kahlef Hailassie with two picks and Tai Felton on special teams (he had a great punt cover that resulted in a forced fumble).
It was sad to see WR/kick returner Rondale Moore suffer a serious knee injury that has landed him on injured reserve and out for the season.
Overall, it was a good showing for a preseason opener. I always said in my career — if we have to play these lousy preseason games, we may as well win them, especially at home. Many fans don’t watch preseason games, yet they’re impressed if the team wins and unnecessarily negative if the team loses, often without considering how many starters played and for how long.
After this week’s joint practices with the Patriots, both coaches will likely sit all their starters for Saturday afternoon’s preseason game No. 2, which shapes up as a snoozefest, but it’s a very important game for bubble players competing for roster spots.
Brian Asamoah Released
The Vikings released 2022 third-round linebacker Brian Asamoah early, and O’Connell said he wanted to give Asamoah the best chance to make another roster by cutting him early in camp (and he was claimed on waivers by Tennessee).
It also indicates the Vikings want to go with nine-year vet Eric Wilson and rookie sixth-rounder Kobe King as the backups at inside backer to Cashman and Pace. Wilson and King should also be key special teamers.
That leaves third receiver Jalen Nailor (sixth rounder) and Ty Chandler (fifth rounder) as the remaining players on the team from the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Vikings have done better in drafting over the past three years and have overcome the disastrous 2022 draft by doing a tremendous job in free agency over the past two years by signing so many impact starters including 2024 Pro Bowlers Jonathan Greenard and Van Ginkel, past Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Jones and Ryan Kelly and last year’s leading tackler Cashman, plus starting guard Will Fries (and we have to include Sam Darnold in that list of great free agent signings). The jury is still out on free agent corners Rodgers and Okudah.
Around the NFL Observations
1. Does former Vikings OC and current Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski have a Shedeur Sanders problem? Sanders got the Browns’ passionate fan base fired up with two TD passes in the opening preseason win over Carolina. After falling to the fifth round in this year’s draft, Sanders faced an uphill climb to make the final roster with vets Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel ahead of him.
Pickett and Gabriel were nursing hamstring injuries last week, and Stefanski doesn’t need Flacco to play in the preseason, so Sanders got the start and performed well. But his momentum is now slowed by a strained oblique sustained in practice.
Flacco is the likely opening day starter, but Sanders has injected himself into the race for the No. 2 and 3 spots, and the fan base will be clamoring for him to be a factor going forward.
2. Ex-Viking star back Dalvin Cook’s younger brother, James, ended his holdout at Bills camp as he signed a four-year, $48 million extension with $30 million guaranteed. Cook is coming off two straight 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons and tied for the league lead with 16 rushing TDs last season.
You must be logged in to post a comment.