We’re finally here! Competitive Vikings football. With the first preseason game in the books, that means it’s time for some overreactions and panic (or not?!?). My love of the NFL dates to the mid-1980s. Over the past 40 years, I’ve even picked up some things. Shocking. Two thoughts come to mind.
First, championships aren’t won in March. Free agency moves can often create a mirage and serve as an all-you-can-eat buffet for fans’ starving bias – one that constantly needs to be satiated. For every home-run 2024 class, there are a dozen that don’t move the needle as much as hoped.
Second, the preseason record (obviously) has no bearing on regular-season success. See: 2008 Detroit Lions. That goes without saying. However, in terms of the roster and accompanying depth chart, while surprises happen, it’s often quite challenging to dislodge established veteran depth, let alone starters. This is due to a variety of factors: experience, draft position, financial commitment, etc. Youmust earn it. Let’s call it Kyle Sloter Syndrome. You can get enamored with the preseason game “wow factor,” often against vanilla defenses, but that doesn’t mean it’s translating into practice reps, the film room, playbook knowledge, schematic nuances, blocking calls/assignments, special teams considerations (if any), etc. Again, it occurs (more on that momentarily), but the excitement is often found in seeing who we can sneak onto the practice squad for ongoing in-house development.
The Vikings are in a unique situation with a Top 10-drafted QBOTF in J.J. McCarthy as a first-time starter. There is an enormous amount of anticipation that comes with such a situation. Comparisons to 2000 and Daunte Culpepper come naturally: similar overall draft positions (#10 vs #11), sat out his rookie year, offensive-minded head coach, had the best WR in football, handed the keys to a playoff team, etc. Culpepper took the reins and was lights-out: 3,937 yards, 33 pass TDs, 16 INTs on the way to an 11-5 record and an NFC Championship Game birth. What happened in that game is a bit blurry (sarcasm my own). Can McCarthy replicate those numbers? Technically. Does he have to? Absolutely not. IMO, the 2025 Vikings roster is top-to-bottom better than the 2000 version – particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Their points against ranked 24th, for example. If our defense doesn’t fall comfortably in the Top 10 this year, I’d be floored. So…how did McCarthy do in his first competitive snaps of the 2025 season?
He showed the flashes you expected to see, particularly on the nice 18-yard out-route to Jordan Addison and the 4th down conversion on the ground. The miserabs/detractors/Colin Cowherd types will point to the 3rd and 4 miss to Lucky Jackson. It was the correct read (which is what you want to see), and I’m not sure Justin Jefferson doesn’t pull that in. It didn’t look as bad on replay as it did initially. It was a missed opportunity for sure, but that is what the preseason is for. If a veteran like Kyler Murray can throw one of the worst interceptions you’ll ever see in his first preseason reps, 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy can miss high on a mid-range crossing route. Other ball placement improvements can also be made. I’m confident they will be. Absolutely nothing I saw in the brief appearance dampened my enthusiasm one iota. J.J. McCarthy is going to have a great year.
Other Preseason Narratives I’m Following
As mentioned, the deference to established veterans is real, whether as starters or in key depth roles. Changes can happen, and there are a handful of opportunities that may arise in the final weeks of practice and preseason for newcomers to shake things up. Given recent developments, here’s an updated list of topics that I’ll be watching over the next 10 days or so.
RB3, who’s it going to be? Even before the Texans game, the buzz around Zavier Scott was legit. His impressive performance (7 carries for 40 yards/5.7avg, 1 catch for 11 yards) combined with Ty Chandler’s poor showing (5 carries for 5 yards/3 catches for 20 yards) opened the door for an interesting competition. Alec Lewis of The Athletic is already predicting Scott gets the RB3 spot, with Chandler and Tre Stewart the odd men out. I’m not there yet. Why? See above. There is a lot that goes into such a decision, in this case, special teams considerations, blocking ability, and so on. Chandler’s blocking has been an issue, but Scott didn’t exactly impress in this regard on Saturday either. I’m not counting Ty Chandler out, but this is an actual coin flip at this point.
LB depth picture is clearing up? The Vikings’ 2022 draft officially takes its place alongside Ishtar, The Postman, Battlefield Earth, Gigli, and post-2010 NFC Championship Game Aaron Rodgers as the most memorable flops in history. With former 3rd round pick Brian Asamoah II being waived, the spots behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr. seem like foregone conclusions. Or are they? The DN’s Warren Ludford noted in his usually awesome write-up on position battles that there’s still a lot to be sorted out. Eric Wilson (see: established veteran) appears fine. But Kobe King’s versatility – the hallmark of Flores’s scheme – remains an issue. A multi-faceted skill set is paramount. As he noted, don’t sleep on Chaz Chambliss. As someone originally pegged as an edge rusher, the ongoing reps he’s getting as an off-ball LB (probably more his natural position), in addition to his highly graded performance against the Texans, may make for a decision difficult.
As someone who watches a ton of SEC football, I saw plenty of Chambliss at Georgia. He’s a gamer. At worst, I’d love to see him back on the practice squad in September. The 3-4 edge rushers seem set, with Gabriel Murphy and Bo Richter rounding out the group. Both – especially Murphy – played well on Saturday.
Will the real Sam Howell please stand up? Oh, Sammy, we needed that. In my previous article, I noted Howell’s struggles so far in training camp and the questions that could’ve arisen if he played poorly on Saturday. One of them rhymes with dozens, as in the dozens of Kohl’s coupons that would be scattered across the Vikings locker room. Fortunately, Howell channeled Creed, took the level of his game “higher” to the tune of 11/13 for 105 yards (8.1 avg) and a rushing TD. He looked every bit the guy we expected under the guidance of KOC. Now we’re not out of the woods yet; he’ll see plenty of action in the next two weeks, and things could hit the rocks in practice, preseason games, or both. Let’s hope he seizes the opportunity “with arms wide open.” OK, I’m done here.
To sign a free agent WR or not? Spotrac has the Vikings at $28.5 million in available cap space, so that’s not an issue. With Addison’s three-game suspension, the awful Rondale Moore injury, Jalen Nailor’s inconsistency, and Lucky Jackson’s unproven track record, the question has merit. One does tend to get lost in highlight nostalgia when it comes to these things. Amari Cooper seems to be the most discussed option, and he did have over 1,200 yards receiving for the Browns and their QB carousel mess just two years ago. But he’s available for a reason. Gabe Davis has screwed me so many times in fantasy football, I’ve lost count. The guy is a jazz musician in his ability to give you 20 useless points when you’re up 35 and 4 points when you need 10. The point is, he’s erratic. Odell Beckham, Jr. last had over 50 receptions in 2019.
Listen, it’s just three games, and that’s why my gut tells me KAM stays the course with the WR group as is. The argument against risking it is compelling. If we had Mahomes or Jackson or Allen or Burrow, I’d say fine. But it’s going to be critical for McCarthy, for all intents and purposes a rookie, to hit the ground running in Week 1. With Jefferson’s injury, Addison has been his go-to guy for the duration of camp to date. On September 8th, it’ll be gone. Someone with Cooper’s veteran savvy and standing as arguably the premier route-runner of his generation soothes concerns that come naturally to Vikings fans. And with Nailor and Jackson looking shaky in the first joint practice with the Patriots, it alleviates nothing. We shall see.
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on. And you cast your fears…aside? Splitting the uprights from 38 and 48 yards against the Texans. Perfect on XPs. Going 5-for-5 in the August 13th practice, boosting his training camp conversion rate to 83 percent (24 for 29).