The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Minnesota Vikings' camp is taking place in Eagan, Minnesota, and Vikings reporter Kevin Seifert has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Vikings camp. We will update this file often. Who will win the starting quarterback battle between incumbent J.J. McCarthy and free agent addition Kyler Murray? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Thursday.
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Tuesday, Aug. 11
After his first public practice with the Vikings this spring, Kyler Murray uttered a four-word phrase that hovered over the team's quarterback competition all summer.
"My confidence," Murray said in May, "is unshakeable."
That helps explain why Murray didn't sound much different Tuesday after coach Kevin O'Connell named him the team's starter as the third week of training camp began. Murray said he did not expect to be handed the job and acknowledged that not every practice this summer has gone smoothly as he split reps with J.J. McCarthy.
"There's going to be good days," Murray said. "There's going to be bad days. We're facing adversity every single day. But I'm definitely getting more comfortable as each day goes."
Murray had a sharp practice Tuesday while taking all of the first-team reps for the first time since Week 5 of last season when he was with the Arizona Cardinals. McCarthy said he would address the decision publicly Wednesday.
More observations:
Right guard Will Fries did not practice Tuesday. He was replaced on the first team by second-year guard Joe Huber.
Sunday, Aug. 9
As the third week of training camp began in the evening, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was not ready to name a winner in the QB1 competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.
"Nothing has really changed from a standpoint of the timeline and things like that," O'Connell said before the Vikings took the field at TCO Stadium for their annual night practice. "So we'll see how the reps continue to go and when we feel like we're at that place, we're going to make sure we communicate that both in house and internally and obviously to you guys as soon as possible."
The Vikings have a scheduled off day Monday to reset the competition if they desire. Murray entered training camp as the favorite for the job, and sources say they believe he still is. Asked Sunday where Murray is in the offensive system compared to where he thought he would be at this point, O'Connell said: "I think mentally he's definitely probably ahead of where I thought." O'Connell went on to say there are some parts of the offense that are new to everyone.
It was a rough practice for the offense as defensive pressure made it difficult for quarterbacks Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy to get into a rhythm. Murray threw two interceptions, to cornerbacks James Pierre and Isaiah Rodgers, the latter when he was scrambling and tried to get the ball to Justin Jefferson on the sideline. McCarthy continued his theme of hitting deep out routes, including another to receiver Myles Price. McCarthy completed a deep pass to Jefferson down the right sideline but it forced Jefferson to slow down to bring it in, and he struggled later in a red zone drill.
Part of the protection issue was caused by the absence of left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who took a veteran's rest day. The Vikings also rested rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks, who remains on a maintenance plan to ensure full recovery from a broken left foot.
Defensive linemen Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins also sat out the practice, giving rookie nose tackle Domonique Orange extensive first-team action.
Safety Jay Ward is in the latter stages of the concussion protocol, O'Connell said.
Saturday, Aug. 8
Two members of the Vikings' draft class -- both Day 3 picks -- made splash plays during a low-key practice.
Rookie tailback Demond Claiborne ran about 70 yards off left tackle using a nifty jump cut to get outside. Claiborne, a sixth-round pick from Wake Forest, has mostly worked with the third team behind Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason. He could also get some work as a kick returner during the preseason.
Meanwhile, cornerback Charles Demmings -- a fifth-round pick from Stephen F. Austin -- broke up a J.J. McCarthy pass intended for receiver Tai Felton near the goal line. For Demmings, it was the latest in a series of pass breakups, including two earlier in camp while he was defending Justin Jefferson. The Vikings seem to have their top three cornerbacks set with Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre, and it is always dangerous to get too excited when a rookie makes splash plays. But to this point, he has demonstrated he could provide an immediate contribution this season should defensive coordinator Brian Flores need him.
Other observations:
Veteran Jamal Adams said he appreciates the Vikings giving him a chance to work at safety, the position the New York Jets drafted him as in 2017, and that his new number of 32 is "definitely a better feeling" than the number he opened camp with (54). But Adams agreed it was likely he will also resume his linebacker duties at times in Flores' scheme. "I think it's going to be a little bit of everything, just being versatile in a lot of ways," he said.
Adams continued to get first-team work at safety in some packages with fellow safeties Jay Ward and Jakobe Thomas sitting out team drills.
Right tackle Brian O'Neill appeared to be taking a veteran's rest day.
Receiver Jordan Addison (left thumb) caught passes from quarterbacks for the first time since he suffered the injury while working in some team drills.
The Vikings will have their annual night practice Sunday at TCO Stadium.
Friday, Aug. 7
NFL training camps can be tediously routine at times, but some days close observers can be surprised.
The Vikings changed linebacker Jamal Adams' jersey number from 54 to 32 and worked him in some of their safety specialty packages during full-team drills. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is well known for experimenting with personnel during training camp, and it's quite possible that Adams could alternate between linebacker and safety.
Two other safeties, Jay Ward and rookie Jakobe Thomas, did not appear to be taking part in team drills.
According to NFL rules, linebackers can wear numbers between 1-59 (and also 90-99). But defensive backs can't wear numbers higher than 49, which necessitated Adams' number change.
Adams was drafted as a safety by the Jets in 2017, but he moved to linebacker for the Raiders last season. The Vikings signed him on the eve of training camp.
More observations:
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy had one of his better days of camp as the competition with Kyler Murray continued. McCarthy hit wide receiver Dontae Fleming on a deep out, a route McCarthy has excelled at this summer, and also threw three touchdowns in a four-play red zone sequence.
Wednesday, Aug.5
The Vikings haven't won a playoff game since 2019 and have three playoff victories in the past 25 seasons. So during his annual training camp meeting with reporters, co-owner/president Mark Wilf was asked about the patience his family has exhibited during its tenure as owners.
"We try to be patient as an ownership, and that we know [leads to] ultimate success," he said. "But of course, patience isn't infinite. We understand that, but I feel really good about the direction of this football club and we're going to get to those benchmarks."
Mark and Zygi Wilf hired general manager Nolan Teasley this spring to work with fifth-year coach Kevin O'Connell. Of their early interactions, Mark Wilf said: "I just think they work well together. I had an opportunity to watch them interact, and I just see how comfortable they are with each other. They have different characteristics but from my perspective, it's working well. And I think coach can focus on what he has to focus on. Nolan can focus on what he focuses on and they share and they collaborate and everyone in the building feels that."
More observations:
Facing pressure during a two-minute drill, quarterback Kyler Murray made a smart decision: He lofted a jump ball for receiver Justin Jefferson. Predictably, Jefferson extended over cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and safety Theo Jackson to make the catch and scoot into the end zone. Murray also had a key scramble during the drill, keeping the drive alive.
Receiver Jordan Addison jammed his thumb Tuesday. O'Connell said tests revealed no serious injury. During practice, Addison was in full pads and ran routes during individual drills. But he did not have a pass thrown in his direction, and he worked out on a side field during team drills.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
As members of the 2023 draft class begin getting contract extensions, Vikings receiver Jordan Addison said that he was focused on "being where my feet are."
Four receivers were drafted between picks No. 20-23 that year, and two of them -- Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Baltimore's Zay Flowers -- have agreed to new deals. Addison and the Vikings have had to navigate two arrests and one citation during his time in the NFL, and Addison said: "I'm just putting in the work in right now, going through camp, making sure I'm becoming a better receiver, and I feel like everything is going to take care of itself."
Addison leads the 2023 class with 22 career touchdown receptions. He ranks eighth with 175 receptions and fourth with 2,396 receiving yards.
"He loves football," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. "He's a great teammate. Clearly he was a young player when he came into the NFL. I think he's learned, matured and he knows exactly what's out in front of him. He knows what's important to him. I'm proud of his growth and development in that phase as well and I think there's a lot of folks in this building that deeply, deeply care about Jordan and what's best for him on and off the field moving forward, and you can count me as one of them."
More observations:
The Vikings had a relatively light practice in shells, one day after their first full-pads practice of summer. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy elicited murmurs from fans in the stands after overthrowing three consecutive passes in the red zone against no defense, but he came back later with two strong throws on deep outs to receivers Myles Price and Dontae Fleming.
Monday, Aug. 3
Neither Kyler Murray nor J.J. McCarthy took a step forward during the fifth practice -- and first in full pads -- of their competition to win the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback job. The pair roughly split first-team snaps during 11-on-11 team drills, with Murray getting 10 and McCarthy eight.
Murray found Justin Jefferson crossing across the field after evading the pass rush, but he also threw high over the middle to receiver Jordan Addison. On the play, Addison and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers collided in the air, flipping Anderson and sending Rodgers sprawling.
The practice ended with a rough two-minute sequence for both quarterbacks. In five snaps, McCarthy went 0-for-3 with two tipped passes and an interception on a throw to Jefferson that cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. stepped in front of. Murray took over for two snaps with the second team, going 0-for-2 with a pass behind tight end Josh Oliver on the first and a miscommunication on the second.
More observations:
Receiver Tai Felton, a third-round draft pick in 2025, made the catch of camp in 7-on-7 drills, leaping high to grab a Murray pass in the back corner of the end zone. Felton has been working as the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.
Cornerback James Pierre returned to practice after sitting out at the end of last week. Rookie running back Demond Claiborne was in full pads but worked out on a side field for players who are rehabilitating injuries."
Saturday, Aug. 1
Quarterback Kyler Murray had by far his best day of training camp, pinpointing a series of downfield throws in traffic while taking the majority of the Vikings' first-team reps as his competition with J.J. McCarthy continues.
Murray was on the field for 16 of the first-team offense's 22 snaps in 11-on-11 team drills. McCarthy took the other six. Murray hit receiver Justin Jefferson on a deep dig route over the middle and he threw another perfectly placed pass on his next series that receiver Myles Price dropped. All three of Murray's passes to Jefferson were complete, and Price's drop was Murray's only incompletion among seven passes in team drills.
McCarthy did not find similar success while working mostly with the second team against the first-team defense. He threw one pass on the run that rookie linebacker Jake Golday tipped, and was intercepted by linebacker Blake Cashman. McCarthy's best throw of the day came during a stint with the first team, but tight end T.J. Hockenson was unable to come up with the ball in traffic in the end zone.
Full house of fans to see the Vikings on a warm and breezy Saturday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/WcbYmpvnrI
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 1, 2026
More observations:
At one point, the Vikings had three rookies working in the same package on their first-team defense: defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, along with Golday.
Cornerback James Pierre was not in uniform for Saturday's practice. Rookie running back Demond Claiborne was not seen in team drills.
Friday, July 31
Rain pushed the Vikings' third practice of training camp indoors, and the condensed area left them working at close to a walkthrough pace. But their quarterback competition continued, and for the first time J.J. McCarthy (32) got more team snaps than Kyler Murray (26) during full-offense drills against either the scout team or the defense.
Receiver Justin Jefferson, asked what he has seen from quarterbacks this week, said: "Improvement." Jefferson later said he hopes McCarthy will benefit from the competition no matter how it turns out.
"Just obviously having somebody pretty much breathing down your neck and being pretty much being a replacement or a person that's taking that starting role," Jefferson said, "it's always going to be pressure. It's always going to be that competition feeling.
"So I hope it definitely betters J.J. because he's definitely a younger guy. To be coming off of last year with a difficult year and improving every single day as he is, that's definitely great to see him come out here with that mentality."
More observations:
Rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks, the No. 18 pick of the 2026 draft, opened camp working with the second team but on Friday worked almost exclusively with the first team alongside nose tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez and defensive end Jalen Redmond.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw took his first veteran's rest day of camp, part of the Vikings' plan to keep his left knee healthy following a season in which lingering soreness from an October 2024 injury limited him to 10 games.
Thursday, July 30
One of the Vikings' most important players offered up some excellent news after the team's second training camp practice.
"Feel the best I've felt in two years," left tackle Christian Darrisaw said, referring to the long road to a full recovery from multiple ligament tears in his left knee in October 2024.
Darrisaw returned from the injury in time to participate in training camp last summer, but he started only 10 games and left five of those early before the Vikings ended his season with two games remaining. He said Thursday that he turned the corner this offseason and has been "just feeling like myself truly" because he is not worried about the leg being stiff.
"It's just like night and day from how I came into the season and how I'm feeling now," Darrisaw said.
The Vikings are likely to give Darrisaw, 27, some regular rest during camp and practice week. But Darrisaw said he is on track to be a full-time player in games once again.
"That's the goal," he said. "Stay healthy and just go out there and dominate."
More observations:
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the competition between quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy is that Murray is more often pushing the ball downfield. He threw an accurate floater about 45 yards downfield to receiver Dontae Fleming, as well as a deep corner to receiver Justin Jefferson. He also missed tight end T.J. Hockenson down the right sideline.
Wednesday, July 29
On the first day of their training camp quarterback competition, the Vikings were true to their word: Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy rotated evenly during team drills. There were two sets of 11-on-11 drills. Murray took the first eight snaps, four coming with the first team and four coming with the second team. McCarthy then took the next eight under the same parameters. The second set was cut short, leaving McCarthy with only four snaps.
That brought the Day 1 total to 16 total snaps for Murray and 12 for McCarthy.
McCarthy's best throw of the day came during 7-on-7 drills, when he threw a deep corner to receiver Myles Price. Murray overthrew Justin Jefferson on a deep pass down the left sidelines in 7-on-7 drills but had several productive connections with receiver Jordan Addison. McCarthy attempted an 11-on-11 pass over the middle to Jefferson, a big emphasis for him, but he was late with the throw and safety Jay Ward tipped it away.
Earlier in the day, McCarthy had said he believed "100%" that the competition would be fair.
Murray said he felt "great" after an uneven performance in OTAs and minicamp this spring. "Really helped me going through OTAs for sure," Murray said. "Obviously this time it's about to be real, but I truly believe that going through OTAs has prepared me for what's to come."
Best time of the year ☀️ pic.twitter.com/Pmi004yPez
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 29, 2026
More observations:
Rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks, who sat out spring practices as his broken left foot healed, said he has been fully cleared for camp. He worked into 11-on-11 drills with the second team but is expected to challenge soon for a starting job.
Linebacker Jamal Adams said he believes the "sky is the limit" for his playmaking skill set in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' system. But Adams also acknowledged the obvious. As a player who signed for the veteran's minimum, his first job is to ensure he makes the team.
Tuesday, July 28
A day before the Vikings' first training camp practice, coach Kevin O'Connell laid out some of the logistics for his plans to hold a quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.
O'Connell said Murray and McCarthy will rotate between the first- and second-teams during the early part of camp. The split might not be 50-50 on any given day, O'Connell said, but there will be an effort to keep the reps even over time.
"I know we'll be thorough," O'Connell said. "I know both guys will feel like they've got an opportunity to compete."
O'Connell said he has a rough idea of when he would like to arrive at a decision and said he will balance the desire to be "comprehensive" and leaving enough time for the eventual winner to take control of the offense before the season begins.
"There's absolutely a date in mind and subject to what we think is best," he said. "If we feel like we can make the decision before that date, we will. If we feel like we need a little bit more time, we'll take it."
New general manager Nolan Teasley said he will be in position to provide "a different vantage point" but added: ultimately you want to give your coaching staff that freedom to make that choice."