EAGAN, Minn. — The mention of Kyler Murray conjures up these types of plays. Highlights where he’s scooting around in the pocket, evading bodies rushing at him from all sides and launching deep balls with touch.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback orchestrated one of his signature plays on his last snap of Wednesday’s practice. It had been an otherwise uneven practice against the Baltimore Ravens defense. But he sent this pass into the air while moving to his left, and when the ball fell perfectly into the hands of superstar receiver Justin Jefferson for a touchdown about 40 yards away, the TCO Performance Center erupted.
“Baller,” center Blake Brandel said afterward. “I think it was off his back foot. That was awesome.”
The moment captured the big-play potential of the Minnesota offense.
What’s the next act for JJ McCarthy in his NFL career?
Derrik Klassen
The rest of the day underscored all of the work that remains.
At one point, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey undercut a Murray attempt for a near-interception. On another snap, Murray tried to fit a pass to receiver Jordan Addison, and Ravens corner Nate Wiggins stepped in and deflected the ball away.
The best way to sum up the afternoon? The passing game felt a bit off during its first true test against another defense.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. Nor is it worth grave concern.
“It’s good to see different looks,” Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill said. “It was good to see the way (Jesse Minter’s defense) played different blocks, different structures. We’ve gone against very difficult defenses every day, but there’s a certain style they like to play. So, it’s good to see a different style.”
The Vikings defense prefers pressure packages with defenders constantly lined up on the line of scrimmage. On Wednesday, the Ravens plucked at Minnesota’s protections with savvy blitzers, including safety Kyle Hamilton.
Early on during an 11-on-11 period, Murray looped around on a bootleg, and Hamilton beelined into his face, forcing Murray to dirt the ball. Pressure seemed to also affect Murray’s accuracy during the first two team periods.
The final throw punctuated the day with positivity. It will make for a fascinating Thursday, where Minnesota’s offense will have a chance to adjust to the Ravens’ style and speed. Here are some additional sights and sounds:
Revamped run game receives critical challenge
Few Vikings leaders speak more directly than O’Neill. On Wednesday, he complimented the offensive line’s ability to diffuse the Ravens’ stunts and games, but he did not mince words about the group’s performance on the ground.
“I think there was a lot to be desired in the run game today,” O’Neill said. “I think we were playing a little slow. Trying to be perfect, rather than going on attack mode.”
Brandel agreed, adding, “I think we wanted to be better in the run game today.”
These comments speak to the Vikings’ emphasis on improving the run in 2026. The team’s previous running scheme required offensive linemen to make many post-snap adjustments, which meant a lot of thinking. Following fundamental offseason changes, the plan now requires the offensive linemen to sprint off the line of scrimmage with less regard for identifying the positioning of defenders.
This becomes a trust fall, of sorts. Two weeks ago, I wrote: “The caveat (with the Vikings’ revamped run game) is the time it takes to sync. All links in the chain (handoff, running back track and offensive line movement) need to work for the runs to explode. One mishap can ruin the momentum.”
O’Neill said this nearly verbatim after Wednesday’s practice.
“It gets easier the more you do it,” he said. “Hopefully, it gets easier tomorrow after seeing this kind of front, if that makes sense. There’s different tells and indicators you learn from our defense. Personally, I thought we were a tick slow. We’re trying to attack. And I felt like we were playing not to mess up.”
His fellow offensive linemen agreed. But their attentiveness to the fix also points to a new clarity in what they’re trying to accomplish.
Best of the rest
• Quarterback J.J. McCarthy finished his day with a beautiful, 40-yard deep shot to receiver Myles Price. Like Murray’s pass to Jefferson, the touchdown resulted in a major reaction from teammates.
McCarthy took all of the second-team reps. His performance was up and down. He sailed a pass to his left. Multiple hitches on another snap ended in the pass getting deflected at the line of scrimmage. He completed several other balls to Price, but few targeted the middle of the field.
• Running back Jordan Mason continues to stand out. Even on a day when there was little running room, Mason slashed through pockets with burst.
He and veteran Aaron Jones split carries for the most part. But Mason’s progression — in a run system that mirrors what he grew accustomed to in San Francisco — has earned the staff’s acknowledgment.
• Rookie running back Demond Claiborne showcased his explosiveness and vision Wednesday with a between-the-tackles run. He hop-stepped past defenders, evoking the juice the Vikings coveted when they drafted him in the sixth round.
At the end of the run, however, the ball squirted out of his hands. Ball security warrants a mention, considering Claiborne fumbled five times in 179 attempts last season at Wake Forest. His teammates and coaches have raved about his potential, but the reliability and consistency must improve for the team to involve him once the season begins.
