Just about all 32 NFL teams have made it back to the practice field for Training Camp, and the NFL is officially BACK! After the long offseason wait, teams will return to the field to get familiar with their new teammates, rookies will learn the ropes, and the Super Bowl Contenders will begin their journey for the Lombardi Trophy.
One of those teams aiming for their first Lombardi Trophy in team history is the Minnesota Vikings whose rookies and veterans have reported and are aiming to build off a surprising 14 win season in 2024.
The following are some things to watch for as the Minnesota Vikings make their return for the 2025 season.
- New Starting Quarterback J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy takes over after the Sam Darnold experiment in Minnesota ended sour, with Darnold and the Vikings offense getting destroyed in its final two games against the Detroit Lions for the NFC North Title, and losing to the Rams in the Wild Card Round. McCarthy brings a different approach with the Vikings offense, being much more mobile, and more effective in the play action game. McCarthy’s supporting cast is also one of the best in the NFL featuring the 1-2 punch of the best in the league Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at receiver. T.J. Hockenson as his tight end, and Aaron Jones behind him to hand the ball off too. McCarthy also has a coach who has a history of developing quarterbacks to a new level of their game. McCarthy has the keys to the car, he simply will need to drive.
2. The Newly Revamped Offensive Line and the Health of Christian Darrisaw
After surrendering 9 sacks in the Wild Card Loss to the Rams, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was on a mission once free agency hit the NFL offseason. The Vikings went out and upgraded their center position by signing former Indianapolis Center Ryan Kelly, and cut Garret Bradbury. The Vikings also went out and signed a teammate of Kelly in Indianapolis guard Will Fries. Leaving a starting 5 on the offensive line of Kelly at Center, Fries and rookie first round selection Donovan Jackson at the guards, and Brian O’Neill at the tackle with the left tackle being something to highlight going into the 2025 Season.
Christian Darrisaw is coming off a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in October of 2024 against the LA Rams. There have been mixed reports of when Darrisaw will be good to go for the season. Some have said it could be early, some have said it could be around the half way point. The health and arrival of Darrisaw will be critical to the offensive production of the Minnesota Vikings and first year starter J.J. McCarthy. When healthy, Darrisaw is a ALL-PRO caliber left tackle and is a big difference between an anchor of the offensive line and a backup playing left tackle in the NFL.
3. Minnesota’s Secondary more importantly Cornerbacks
One of the weakest position groups on the team will have a lot of eyes on them, as the Vikings prepare for another year in the NFC North that’s full of potent offenses. Minnesota at the start of training camp starts a cornerback room of Isaiah Rodgers, Byron Murphy Jr., and the returning from Injury Mekhi Blackmon. After the starters listed, the depth at cornerback is… slim. Former first round draft bust Jeff Okudah, Tavierre Thomas, Dwight McGlothern and Ambry Thomas fill out the rest of the cornerbacks. Minnesota will hope that some of the backups can develop into emergency fill ins incase of injuries to the starters, or the Vikings could be looking into the trade market by midseason.
4. The Even More Beefed Up Defensive Front
Cornerback might be the weakest position on the Vikings roster, but they might not be depended on so much when the defensive front is consistently attacking the opposing quarterback. One of the Top defensive units in the league last year did nothing but getting better during the offseason as well as adding experienced depth. To go with Jonathan Greenard, Alex Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and Harrison Phillips, the Vikings went out in Free Agency and signed former Washington defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, as well as bringing in former Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers anchor defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
This lineup is stacked, not to mention the potential and ability of last years first round draft pick Dallas Turner waiting in the weeds for his opportunity to break out. Minnesota’s front 7 could become one of the best in the league.
5. The Backup Quarterback Situation
The debate and wondering is over from the offseason, J.J. McCarthy WILL be the teams starting quarterback. But what if by happen stance, things that happened in 2024 were to happen again? If we remember, J.J. McCarthy made quite an impression on the Vikings fanbase in his loan preseason appearance last season, but it was followed with the news McCarthy had torn his MCL and would be out the remainder of the season. If McCarthy is going to be injury prone during his career, the Vikings will need to have an immediate backup plan if something were to happen to McCarthy. The Vikings will have the traded for Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and the rookie from Minnesota Max Brosmer who has been turning heads during rookie camp, and mini camp. Training camp will establish the battle of the backups and who will plays second to J.J. McCarthy in the Vikings depth chart.
Minnesota will play its first preseason game on August 9th at home against the Houston Texans and kickoff the 2025 NFL season on September 8th against the Chicago Bears.
Photo Credit: The Minnesota Vikings, the NFL
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