EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Behind the scenes, the Minnesota Vikings are excited. They prioritized their run game this offseason. And those changes, more extensive than any other since head coach Kevin O’Connell arrived, have already produced noise in practice.
They entered Saturday’s preseason game wanting to further establish a tone. That’s why left tackle Christian Darrisaw played in Saturday’s preseason game at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. That’s why the team’s first offensive snap featured heavy personnel and a handoff to running back Aaron Jones.
“That’s what (Kevin O’Connell) wanted to see,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “Guys come off the ball, get the run game going.”
This focus prevented Murray from airing it out in his first action with the Vikings. It did, though, clarify the direction, which took a step forward last week when the Vikings named Murray as their starter.
The run game is a good place to start when evaluating the Vikings’ quarterbacks.
Murray’s command at the line of scrimmage warrants mention as part of a complete breakdown, including insights on how J.J. McCarthy performed.
We’ll be back Monday with a more detailed roster breakdown after reviewing the tape from Saturday’s game.
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Kyler Murray’s Vikings debut
More than anything else, the Vikings wanted their starting offense to operate smoothly. No penalties. No miscommunications at the line of scrimmage. Minnesota wanted a professional operation, and that’s what they got.
Murray took nine snaps. The Vikings ran the football on six of them. Their rushing success matters because it was a priority in training camp, but so does one element of the play calls.
Even on Saturday, Murray checked into particular runs. His orchestration was subtle. But rewinding many of the rushes that resulted in effective cutbacks, Murray had begun the process with taps to his helmet, confirming a play call or signaling a run direction.
“Kyler’s done a great job from an above-the-neck standpoint being able to handle it,” O’Connell said. “That was really our first time off the play clock, working the sideline-to-quarterback communication with his command of the huddle. There were a lot of positive things that we saw out of that first group.”
The pre-snap control warrants attention given its importance within the Vikings’ offense. O’Connell’s plays often contain two separate options, equipping the quarterback with latitude to put the offense in the best situation. This taxes the mind. Last year, veteran center Ryan Kelly helped the Vikings maneuver in and out of calls, predicated on his vision. New center Blake Brandel’s inexperience adds more responsibility to Murray’s shoulders.
From a passing perspective, the Vikings unsurprisingly leaned on their creative downfield concepts. Murray completed two attempts. The first came on a play-action connection with fullback Max Bredeson in the flat route from under center. The second came on a shotgun dropback toward the sideline to receiver Jordan Addison.
O’Connell gave Murray one more throwing opportunity on a possible drive-extending play. Murray correctly scanned from right to left. Giants defenders blanketed multiple receivers, so Murray progressed to running back Aaron Jones, pivoting back in Murray’s direction on a comeback route.
Murray tried to lead Jones away from two defenders. Jones sat idle. The pass grazed Jones’s hand and forced a Will Reichard field goal.
“I saw it one way, and he saw it another way,” Murray said. “But I know we’ll make that play. And that’s the stuff you can’t replicate. In practice, it’s overlooked. Here, we’re walking off the field frustrated that we didn’t put the ball in the end zone.”
This sequence showcases the Vikings’ other priority on Saturday. They wanted to iron out any potential hiccups ahead of what they believe will be competitive joint practices this week in Eagan, Minn., with the Baltimore Ravens.
The more mess-ups they can rectify now, the faster they can start Week 1 versus the Green Bay Packers.
Until then, teammates like Byron Murphy Jr., who played with Murray in Arizona, said they’re enjoying his acclimation.
“When we came out of the tunnel,” Murphy said, “I was looking at K1. I’m just, like, ‘Man, this is a good feeling.’ To see him in the same uniform was a blessing.”
J.J. McCarthy’s opportunity
NFL teams tend to play simplified schemes in the preseason. This can complicate player evaluation. However, every snap carries meaning for a player as young and unproven as McCarthy.
Experiencing pressure in the pocket should only help his calmness. Visualizing coverages should only speed up his on-field awareness. The Vikings entered training camp with hope they’d see growth from their former first-rounder. Although O’Connell has talked positively about McCarthy’s development, many of the themes that torpedoed the 2025 season were on display Saturday.
McCarthy’s first play featured a mistimed exchange between him and receiver Jeshaun Jones that should have been a jet sweep. Two snaps later, McCarthy sailed an out route to Jones.
The 23-year-old responded from his first series. He found second-year receiver Myles Price over the middle. He lofted a ball down the right sideline that second-year receiver Tai Felton nearly caught through traffic.
“I think I just liked the familiarity in the system,” McCarthy said. “Seeing everything clearly. Just going out there and operating with the guys. It was a lot of fun playing football again.”
Next Gen Stats recorded four quarterback pressures on McCarthy in his 14 snaps. Once, Giants linebacker Jack Kelly blasted into Vikings running back Zavier Scott, who landed in McCarthy’s lap. McCarthy ping-ponged into a group of bodies and ultimately was tackled for a sack.
McCarthy finished 4-for-7 passing with 34 yards. He played three series and exited at the end of the first half, as planned.
Carson Wentz’s finish
The Vikings planned to provide both Wentz and Brosmer a quarter in the second half. Because of an injured thumb, Brosmer only played three snaps, forcing Wentz into more chances with the third-team unit.
He made the most of them. Wentz feathered a perfect fade ball to Price for the game-winning touchdown. He also kept a young group of offensive players engaged and prepared. As a byproduct of the circumstances, Wentz received 28 snaps, the most of any of the Vikings’ quarterbacks.
His 9-for-14 day for 81 yards exemplifies why the Vikings paid him $3 million for the 2026 season. Above all else, his composure allowed the Vikings’ offense to proceed as it normally would, which was the effect he offered last fall.
