Everything we learned from Vikings minicamp

Emptying the notebook from TCO Performance Center

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By Matthew Coller

On Thursday the Vikings wrapped up minicamp. Here’s everything we learned over the last week….

JJ McCarthy is good to go physically

After missing the entire 2024 season following meniscus surgery, the Vikings’ quarterback didn’t start doing on-field work until January so it was a significant step for him to get back into full-speed reps during the spring.

Throughout OTAs and minicamp, McCarthy looked like the same player that we saw in training camp in 2024. He had good velocity on the ball and there were no hitches in his throwing motion or issues with his movement in the limited amount of reps that required a real drop-back.

“I've never felt it at all,” McCarthy said following Thursday’s practice. “It feels, honestly, stronger than ever, and fully cleared in the physicals last time….so we're good to go.”

McCarthy is going to make the most of the break before camp

Having worked during the winter to be in physical shape to lead the Vikings offense in OTAs/minicamp, McCarthy said that he is going to allow for some recovery before training camp but plans to keep focusing on learning the offense and will eventually get together with his receivers to stay sharp as they prepare for training camp.

“The thing I'm looking forward to most is just being able to study, rejuvenate my body, have the baby shower coming up so doing that,” McCarthy said. “Really just take advantage of this time with the guys, and just get as many reps as I can with Justin [Jefferson], Jordan [Addison], T.J. [Hockenson], all the guys, and just make sure that we hit this ground running when we get back here in July 20.”

As far as where he stands in the process of mastering Kevin O’Connell’s offense, he insinuated that the coaching staff has not held back when it comes to putting more and more on his plate.

“I wish I could show you guys a call sheet,” McCarthy joked. “It's been awesome because they've really pushed the limits on just what I can handle, and that's what I asked for. I'd rather sweat in training, and limit the bleeding on the battlefield when we get there. But they've just been doing a tremendous job of preparing us.”

Justin Jefferson is fully embracing a leadership role

The presence of the Vikings’ superstar receiver at OTAs sent a message to the entire franchise that he is serious about taking this team to another level. He mentioned that in past years he hadn’t considered himself a vocal leader but took a big step into the forefront last season. Now he is putting the onus on himself to guide McCarthy through his first season as a starter.

“Really just trying to get him to understand that I'm here to conversate about the different things that he's seeing on the field,” Jefferson said. “And I'm also there for him off the field as well. Just being a friend, a guy that understands his position, understands that he has a lot going on.”

Jefferson added that he has been working with Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor trying to get them to be more vocal as well. He said he plans to work out with Addison between the end of minicamp and start of camp.

“I feel like him maturing and him going on his third year,” Jefferson said of Addison. “Of course, he's a lot more comfortable than his offense. He's still learning as well. He's learning from me, learning from Coach Keenan, just learning from different guys. I told him to come work out with me, while we have this time off to make sure we have that bond together. He's like little bro too. So just carrying under my wing and making sure that we both understand that we have a big role in this offense and the team needs us to be on our A game.”

Jalen Nailor got bigger, looked more comfortable as WR3. The battle for WR4 is wide open

Winning the award for the player who obviously hit the weight room this winter was Jalen Nailor. He clearly put on extra muscle and looked as comfortable as we have ever seen him in the WR3 role.

There is not a competition for Nailor’s spot entering camp but WR4/5/6 behind the starting three is wide open. Kevin O’Connell broke down the receiver depth on Thursday:

“When you start talking about the depth behind there, [I] think we forget sometimes guys like Lucky [Jackson] and Jeshaun [Jones] and Thayer [Thomas], those guys have been getting coached by Keenan McCardell in a room with those other guys showing them the way, leading the way,” O’Connell said. “These guys, they're becoming really good football players. And then you add in the additions via the draft, free agency with Tai [Felton] and Tim [Jones] and some of our other guys. And then don't forget about Rondale [Moore]. I mean, he's getting healthier every single day, catching punts, running routes on the side field. I can't wait to get him going as well. So, it's going to be a very, very competitive situation.”

On Thursday, Tai Felton had his most impressive play of the spring, catching a bomb from Sam Howell down the sideline while double covered. He flashed his speed and ball tracking on the play.

Christian Darrisaw was back working. The timeline is still unclear but KOC has been blown away by his rehab

We didn’t expect to see Christian Darrisaw doing anything during the spring as he recovers from an ACL tear but he was on the practice field twice out of the three days in minicamp doing individual drills.

O’Connell has been blown away by his work during the rehab process.

“Every single day, talk about a guy with laser focus on what's right in front of them, and that can be very difficult when you're a player coming back from an injury, and a lot of it is outside of his control,” O’Connell said. “But I can tell you, whatever is in Christian Darrisaw’s control, and maybe more so than most going through an injury like that, he has been phenomenal.”

O’Connell did not put a timeline on Darrisaw’s return or give any indication about whether he could be ready for Week 1.

“It was just a matter of he's progressed to a point that if you put some trainers out in front of him, we're going to have to go find those trainers after he throws them over the fence because he's that strong. So, we had to get him back around real football players because of where he's at. That doesn't mean his timeline has necessarily changed or what we thought. All I've told Christian is let's worry about that when it's time to worry about that.”

We did not see guard Will Fries or receiver Rondale Moore participate in any events during the spring.

Dallas Turner appears to be ready to play all over the field