Camp questions: What to expect from the stars

The focus on Vikings training camp is often on roster battles but what's the outlook for the top players on the team?

Photo courtesy Minnesota Vikings

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By Matthew Coller

Leading up to training camp, most of the major questions are about unproven players. Of course, 2025’s Minnesota Vikings training camp features an extra level of unproven-player energy around JJ McCarthy, but otherwise the typical types of TE3, WR4, CB4 (and maybe even P1) battles get the most focus rather than the proven, highly-paid vets whose camp is more about prep than performance.

This year, however, there is a little more intrigue around some of the Vikings’ stars than their has been in the past. So let’s dive into five(ish) of the most important Vikings stars and the storylines surround them once camp arrives…

WR, Justin Jefferson

How many wide receivers in the NFL can you name that are quarterback proof? Probably not many. Yet Jefferson has been just that (except the time that Josh Dobbs sent him to the hospital) as he has thrived with Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens and Sam Darnold. In total, when any Vikings quarterback has thrown the ball in Jefferson’s direction over the last five years, their total QB rating is 111.1 and he has grabbed 73 of 141 contested-catch opportunities (per PFF). That rating would be even higher if teams didn’t double/triple him in the red zone.

Last year, Darnold acted as a pretty good test case for whether he could elevate any QB since the majority of Jefferson’s success had been with Cousins. The proof was in the production as the superstar receiver still grabbed 103 passes for 1,553 yards, 10 touchdowns and 17 of 31 contested catches.

If Jefferson can do all that with Darnold, who was considered one of the biggest busts of the previous decade, assuredly he can do it with the 10th overall pick in 2024 JJ McCarthy, right?

Nothing will be answered until the actual games but last year Darnold and Jefferson started connecting more and more as training camp went on. By the time they reached the regular season, they had stacked up a bunch of practices in which they hit downfield shots and built up impressive chemistry.

Jefferson said during minicamp that he has been telling McCarthy to trust him, even if he’s not wide open.

“It's really fascinating to watch him catch some of those fastballs because it just sticks right to his hands,” McCarthy said of throwing to Jefferson. “Those tight windows, usually you want to throw with more anticipation and have that – I'd say anticipation is the word. But having guys where you could just rip it and know that they're going to catch it and make a move and do something with it, it's truly special.”

How will that go with McCarthy? Will we walk out of camp feeling like Jefferson and McCarthy are ready to set the NFL on fire or will we think that the process between them is going to take time?

Another storyline with Jefferson is that he has reached a point in his career where he is no longer a young, rising star player. The step that he took last year toward being a true all-time great receiver was in the leadership category, where he seemed to put the onus on himself to not only drive victories but accept the weeks where he was a decoy and find ways to contribute in other areas.

That leadership experience could pay dividends as he is the player that McCarthy will be most looking toward for guidance. Where will that manifest itself during camp? How will they work through the challenging moments?

Also, it seems unlikely but, is it possible Jefferson could appear in a preseason game?

OLB, Andrew Van Ginkel

Those who were familiar with Van Ginkel’s game before 2024 weren’t that shocked to see him make an enormous instant impact for the Vikings last year (he was the 8th highest graded edge player in 2023, after all) but his career-high sack production was a bit unexpected. Part of the reason that he picked up as many sack as he did was his usage by defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He was key in stunts and blitzes and ended up with a number of free-runner type sacks. The biggest question concerning Van Ginkel in 2025 camp is how Flores is planning on using Van Ginkel to his maximum again while getting Dallas Turner onto the field regularly as well?

Last season, Van Ginkel split his snaps between the left and right outside linebacker 489 to 263, which was quite different from 2023 when he exclusively played on the right side. Could we see hints of even more movement from Van Ginkel from side to side or even inside linebacker, where he played 89 snaps in 2024? Or will AVG remain in a very similar role and Turner will play more on third downs or line up as an inside LB? Will there be more rotation between AVG, Jonathan Greenard and Turner?

The other interesting thing from Van Ginkel’s camp last year was that he had a pick-six during the night practice that was reminiscent of the two pick-sixes that he had during the regular season. What tricks does he have up his sleeve for the 2025 season? What new ways can Flores use his incredibly versatile skill set? We are going to start to find out.

C, Ryan Kelly and G, Will Fries

The rebuilt interior offensive line has a first-round rookie at left guard and a strong former-Colt combo in Ryan Kelly and Will Fries at center and right guard.

Kelly’s job during training camp will be hard to perceive from onlooking reporters from the sidelines because the most important part of his game is the connection with McCarthy and his ability to master the Vikings’ blocking scheme and all the pre-snap calculous that comes along with it. Flores’s defense throwing everything under the Eagan sun at Kelly and McCarthy should help in their preparation for the rest of the league, which is in the process of copy-catting Flores.

For Fries, his camp starts with health.