Minnesota Vikings News and Links: What Will You Be Watching For In Training Camp?

It has been a long wait but the rookies report in 3 days! Obviously, the QB “competition” is going to get a lot of attention but I am interested in seeing how the defensive line performs. There are a lot of new faces and lots of youts. The other group I will watch closer is safety. There is still no word on the Hitman but I have my fingers crossed. If he comes back one more year would that set back the development of another young safety? I imagine he does not need training camp to be ready to go but would it be nice

to have him there for his leadership? I think that is invaluable. Hopefully, he makes up his mind one way or another so that he can come in and lead the youts.

What will you be watching for in training camp?

The first training camp practice is 9 days away. Rookies report to training camp in 3 days.

Rookie Arrival: First-year players report to the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, on July 26.
Veteran Arrival: Returning players and full-squad activities begin two days later on July 28.

2026 Vikings Training Camp Full Schedule
https://www.vikings.com/schedule/vikings-events/training-camp/schedule

DATE : TIME : PRACTICE
Saturday, Aug. 1 : Noon- 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 5 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 7 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 8 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 9 : 5 – 11 p.m. : 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 13 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 17 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m. : Joint Practice with Baltimore Ravens
Thursday, Aug. 20 : Noon – 5 p.m. : 2:30 p.m. : Joint Practice with Baltimore Ravens

The Minnesota Vikings 2026 preseason schedule features three matchups
Week 1: Saturday, August 15 at New York Giants (1:00 PM ET)
Week 2: Saturday, August 22 vs. Baltimore Ravens (12:00 PM ET)
Week 3: Friday, August 28 at Denver Broncos (Time TBD)

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Justin Jefferson Sends Clear Message to Vikings Teammate J.J. McCarthy
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/justin-jefferson-sends-clear-message-110042938.html

“I feel like it’s going to be great, one for JJ to get that competition in that room, for him to have to step up his game a little bit and have to just be that dog and come to training camp every single day with that on his mind, pretty much treating training camp like a game every single day. Just coming in and making the most plays as possible. Making the right reads, being that leader that we need him to be.

For K1, it’s all about coming in and being that leader that we expect him to be. Obviously, with the things that he has already done in the league, we know he’s a playmaker. It’s just about coming to this team with that leadership role… I feel like it’s going to be a great battle.”

MN Vikings Pro Bowler Planning Hold-In?
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mn-vikings-pro-bowler-planning-201149948.html

Then Tuesday, in a story at The Athletic, Vikings insider Alec Lewis strongly insinuated that right tackle Brian O’Neill will kick off training camp by “holding in” for a new contract.

Brian O’Neill, T: Perhaps the team’s only offensive player with an unresolved contract situation heading into 2026. His early-camp participation (or lack thereof) will warrant attention.
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O’Neill is about to turn 31 years old so this could be his last opportunity to cash in big as a football player. Thus, it makes sense that he’d want to lock in a new deal now, before he puts that next big payday at risk for another 17-game season.

Could Nolan Teasley be holding this deal back?
But will new general manager Nolan Teasley oblige? It felt like a lock with Rob Brzezinski or Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in charge. However, Alec’s report today seems to suggest that hammering out an extension with Brian O’Neill may not be as smooth as it did with past general managers.

One Trade That Could Still Transform the Vikings’ Offseason
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/one-trade-could-still-transform-vikings-offseason-01ky33xtf59f

The Minnesota Vikings are breaking in the Nolan Teasley era in 2026, but the one question that fans have is what his first big move will be. The Vikings could use depth at edge rusher, cornerback or even the interior offensive line with camp approaching next week, but if the Vikings really want to go all in, they could target Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Carter is eligible for a contract extension as he enters the penultimate year of his rookie contract. While the Eagles have picked up his fifth year option for 2027, it comes at a $27 million cap hit that is guaranteed for injury only per Over The Cap. The Eagles have begun talks on a new contract, but it has become a standoff as he is set to report to training camp.
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Carter’s career has been in a decline over his first three years, with his overall grade dropping from an 89.0 grade during his rookie season in 2023 to a 60.0 grade last year according to Pro Football Focus. While there are some concerns with Carter, including his run defense, the one thing that hasn’t tailed off is his ability to rush the passer.

Over the last three seasons, Carter has posted 143 total pressures on 1,351 pass-rushing snaps, which equates to a 10.5 percent pressure rate. He also ranks 10th among interior defenders with 13.5 sacks since entering the NFL, providing a service that teams are willing to pay big money for.

The compensation in a trade would be the first hurdle the Vikings would have to overcome, but it could be less than anticipated because Minnesota would have to give him a massive contract extension upon his arrival like the Eagles did when they acquired Jonathan Greenard during April’s draft. FanSided’s Wynston Wilcox speculated that a 2027 second- and fifth-round pick could be enough to get a deal done, but it could take more than that given Carter’s ability to rush the passer.

That brings a potential extension into the picture. The defensive tackle market was reset when the Tennessee Titans signed Jeffery Simmons to a three-year, $105.8 million extension with $100 million guaranteed this summer. That has led Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus to ask for $35 million to $40 million per season to get a deal done.

Minnesota Vikings Rumors: Reporter Reveals J.J. McCarthy’s Potential Trade Value
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/minnesota-vikings-rumors-reporter-reveals-174521779.html

According to longtime Pioneer Press reporter Charley Walters via his new spinoff Substack ‘Don’t Print That’, McCarthy “could be worth a fourth-round pick.”

“Trading McCarthy could be worth a fourth-round draft pick for the Vikings.”

A fourth-round pick seems about fair for a player who’s made just 10 starts through two seasons. Yet, would that be enough for the Vikings to move on from a QB who they may still believe has star upside?

View Link

Just kidding!

J.J. McCarthy Isn’t Just the Vikings’ X-Factor, He’s Their Next Decade
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/j-j-mccarthy-isnt-just-183000830.html

Recently, Athlon Sports’ Doug Farrar gave out his picks for every team’s 2026 X-factor, his pick for the Vikings came as a bit of a shock as he chose QB J.J. McCarthy as a player to watch for this season, but really, this is the only actual answer, especially given how he defines what makes an X-factor.

Farrar mentioned with regards to X-factors that “Whether it’s veterans who have recently underwhelmed, free agency acquisitions who must align with their new teammates, or draft picks of whom much is expected, here’s one player for every NFL team who has to bump up his game for the best possible things to happen.” That definition squarely matches up with what J.J. McCarthy is for the Vikings.
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In order for the Vikings to have the best year possible, they will be relying on McCarthy to improve and provide a type of impact that he has yet to give them in previous years. He needs to step up and not only improve his production, but, also become a leader now that he is in his third season in the league. The Vikings can’t afford to let their heavy investment in him result in mediocre play. They got him in order to develop him into a championship caliber-quarterback, and that’s what Vikings fans are still holding out hope for, even if it seems like that potential is getting farther and farther away.

I would argue that McCarthy isn’t just the Vikings’ X-factor for 2026 but rather the entire decade. It all hinges on his success. Yeah, it would be great if Kyler Murray could help them get a winning season this year, but is that actually what the Vikings organization or the fans want? Do they want to be one and done in the playoffs this year, or do they want to build something that could last years? That’s where the J.J. McCarthy X-factor comes in, he’s not just another guy competing for a starting spot, he quite literally is the face of the next ten years of Vikings football if he can just develop into the guy they hoped he was when they drafted him.

Is Kyler Murray the Answer to Vikings Superstar Returning to Prominence?
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kyler-murray-answer-vikings-superstar-173000635.html

How quickly Kyler Murray can fit into the Vikings’ offense
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/quickly-kyler-murray-fit-vikings-170408412.html

Kevin O’Connell Isn’t Letting Vikings QB History Repeat Itself
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/kevin-oconnell-isnt-letting-vikings-qb-history-repeat-itself/

One Viking Whose Offseason Struggles Shouldn’t Worry Fans
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/one-viking-whose-offseason-struggles-shouldn-t-worry-fans-01ky0gtxr5fe

Vikings rumors: Crowded QB room will have needy teams keeping tabs on roster dilemma
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/vikings-rumors-crowded-qb-room-143800564.html

Exploring Minnesota Vikings Narratives: What’s fact, what’s myth, and why they matter
https://atozsports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-news/minnesota-vikings-narratives-jj-mccarthy-kyler-murray-kevin-oconnell-brian-flores/

Minnesota Vikings Remain High on 25-Year-Old Quarterback After Rough Debut Season
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/minnesota-vikings-remain-high-25-120000124.html

The Vikings Need To Fix One Nagging Nightmare Stat In 2026
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/the-vikings-need-to-fix-one-nagging-nightmare-stat-in-2026/

Big Citrus, Brad Childress & Jettas’ Bounce-Back: Vikings Camp Preview
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/big-citrus-brad-childress-jettas-140320291.html

3 under-the-radar players on defense for the Vikings in 2026
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-under-radar-players-defense-151903254.html

3 Storylines To Watch At Vikings Training Camp
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-storylines-watch-vikings-training-042933866.html

3 Minnesota Vikings could lose their starting jobs during training camp due to multiple factors
https://atozsports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-news/minnesota-vikings-lose-starting-jobs-training-camp-theo-jackson-aaron-jones-jj-mccarthy/

Irksome Injury Hits Vikings Defender with Training Camp Days Away
https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/top_news/irksome-vikings-defender

2026 Vikings Training Camp Preview: Defensive Line
https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-training-camp-preview-defensive-line

2026 Vikings Training Camp Preview: Cornerbacks & Safeties
https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-training-camp-preview-cornerbacks-safeties

Ranking the Vikings’ position groups in 26′ heading into training camp
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ranking-vikings-position-groups-26-232535156.html

One sleeper to watch in each position group on the Vikings’ offense
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/one-sleeper-watch-position-group-212528279.html

4 Vikings Players With the Most To Prove Entering Camp
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/4-vikings-players-with-the-most-to-prove-entering-camp/

Vikings May Have Found Next Hidden Gem in Undrafted Rookie
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/vikings-may-found-next-hidden-041452791.html

49ers Site Issues Warning about Jauan Jennings
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/49ers-issues-warning-jauan-jennings-210100600.html

How Will Demond Claiborne’s Speed Affect the Vikings’ Offense?
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/how-will-demond-claiborne-speed-affect-the-vikings-offense/

Could Kyle Van Noy Be the Vikings’ Next Veteran Defensive Addition?
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/could-kyle-van-noy-vikings-010602575.html

U.S. Bank Stadium Celebrating 10-Year Anniversary with 10 Days of Giveaways
https://www.vikings.com/news/us-bank-stadium-10-year-anniversary-giveaways

The Lesson Learned from Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Camryn Bynum, and Danielle Hunter (Among Others)
https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/opinion/lessons-learned-dalvin-cook

ESPN Is Selling the Vikings Short In the NFC North
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/espn-is-selling-the-vikings-short-in-the-nfc-north/