On my Wednesday visit to Vikings training camp, I saw a heavy emphasis on the running game. I expect that to continue in Saturday’s preseason opener against Houston and on into the early regular season.
Kevin O’Connell loves to throw the ball and try to hit chunk plays downfield. But the Vikings’ play-caller choosing to lean on the running game at this juncture is not surprising. It keeps things relatively conservative for J.J. McCarthy as he begins his tenure as the Vikings’ starting QB.
Why not utilize two excellent running backs in Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason behind an improved offensive line, especially when starting wide receiver Jordan Addison is suspended for the opening three games?
The Vikings may be building a more balanced offense than expected. With Jordan Addison sidelined, the run game and WR depth have started to reshape the unit.
The Addison suspension was expected, but it’s not good news for the offense that has struggled to move the ball in training camp, albeit against one of the league’s best defenses in Brian Flores’ unit. With Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave added up front, it is better than last year’s defense that led the league in takeaways and was top five in points allowed (as long as the corners hold up).
It’s always a challenge for teams to overcome the loss of a key player, whether due to injury or, in Addison’s case, a suspension. Others have to step up, and that will start with Jalen Nailor, the No.3 wide receiver who has eight career starts and had six TD receptions among his 28 catches last season.
The team’s wide receiver depth is good, which is critical. Nailor becomes the No. 2 wideout in Addison’s absence. Nailor is having a fine camp and looks stronger. Justin Jefferson seems close to returning from his hamstring strain, and it’s obvious he must be healthy for the regular season.
When Addison’s out, I expect Nailor and tight ends T.J. Hockenson (who returned to practice Wednesday from his lower body injury) and Josh Oliver to have more targets along with backup receivers Lucky Jackson, Rondale Moore, and possibly Tim Jones, Jeshaun Jones, and Thayer Thomas. And of course, Jefferson should always have double-digit targets in any game.
The running game, which has looked good in practice this week, will be extra essential to help McCarthy until the passing game is at full strength. But when defenses — starting with the Bears on opening night —put eight in the box to try and stop the run, McCarthy is going to have to hit some play action passes downfield or throw to his backs — who all catch the ball well — out of the backfield and on screens.
And McCarthy has the speed and athleticism to run for first downs and TD when required, but he has to protect himself in the process.
Former Vikings Boss Jeff Diamond on the Team’s 2025 Offense
The Vikings’ defense, which has been great in camp, must carry it over to the regular season. That should happen with the talent on defense.
Running the ball effectively, succeeding in play action, and having the defense dominate will likely be O’Connell’s formula to beat the Bears and Falcons against second-year QBs Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. in the first two games. A strong running game could also be key in controlling time of possession and limiting Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins’ snaps in Week 3 against the Bengals.
By Week 4, when Addison returns and McCarthy has three games under his belt, the offense should be more of the balanced version that O’Connell seeks.
More Training Camp Observations through 10 Days
The full house of enthusiastic Vikings fans at the Monday night practice did not have any big plays by the offense to cheer. The running game created the most effective plays, including McCarthy and the backup QBs taking off for big runs when the protection broke down.
The defense has outplayed the offense through the first 10 days of camp, and that was clearly the case in the Monday night practice. The defense had several would-be sacks, including by Blake Cashman and Dallas Turner, and two interceptions off the backup QBs.
We can cut the offense a little slack as they were missing four starters on Monday night — Jefferson, Hockenson, and O-linemen Christian Darrisaw and Ryan Kelly. Hockenson and Darrisaw practiced on Wednesday, and since the injuries to Jefferson and Kelly are considered minor, they should return to practice soon, likely for the joint practices with the Patriots next week.
The good news, besides the fine defense at the Monday night practice, was kicker Will Reichard making all six field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder. He had been a bit inconsistent early in camp, but looked great in this practice.
It definitely makes sense for O’Connell to start McCarthy in Saturday’s preseason opener at home against Houston, which is the case. That should be his only game action until the opener in Chicago, as he’ll get plenty of work in the joint practices, hopefully without getting hit, since no contact is allowed on the QBs in these practices.
The Vikings released their first depth chart, and it was interesting to see how the team listed the kick returners (an area the Vikings are looking for significant improvement over last season). Rondale Moore is the starting punt returner, a role he had early in his career with the Cardinals. Third-round pick Tai Felton, who hasn’t been impressive so far in camp as a receiver, is the starting kickoff returner, ahead of Ty Chandler, who had the role last year.
Around the NFL Observations
Micah Parsons remains a holdout at Cowboys camp as he seeks an extension of over $41 million per year to surpass T.J. Watt as the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Contract drama with a star player is business as usual for Dallas owner/GM Jerry Jones, who loves to string out his best players into contract hassles, including QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb in recent years.
Jones is inevitably going to pay top dollar for the 26-year-old Parsons, who has been a Pro Bowler in all four of his seasons and is a three-time all-pro who has averaged 13 sacks per season. The Cowboys could’ve saved a lot of money by extending Parsons last year before Watt and Myles Garrett reached the $40 million per year plateau. It was the same with Prescott, who wound up as the league’s highest-paid QB at $60 million per year despite his 2-5 playoff record and never reaching the NFC title game.
I never let contract negotiations with my best players reach the acrimonious stage that Jones does regularly, to the point that Parsons is asking to be traded. I always figured I’d extend my team’s top players early and save money on the salary cap on players who weren’t All-Pro caliber.
Jones told Cowboys’ fans this week, “Don’t lose any sleep over it,” in talking about Parsons’ negotiation. He also said he was uncertain if his star edge rusher will play in the regular season opener against the Eagles.
Jones loves the spotlight, and I expect him to string this out until the Friday before the Eagles game and then announce a record-breaking extension with much fanfare.
