Vikings Camp Journal: Day 13

It was a light practice for the Vikings but players had a lot to say prior to Vikings-Patriots joint practices

Photo courtesy Minnesota Vikings

---

By Matthew Coller

EAGAN — There is a buzz around TCO Performance Center this week with the New England Patriots coming to town. But on Monday there wasn’t a ton of action as the team practiced in shells as they prepare for very physical Wednesday and Thursday workouts. Still, there were things to take away so let’s dive in…

What I heard

Josh Metellus was back at practice after missing a significant portion of camp thus far with an ankle injury.

“It always lets you know where you’re at,” Metellus said. “It’s one thing going against the same guy and you know all his weaknesses and strengths but somebody you don’t know is nice.”

Metellus talked about how much Brian Flores’ defense has been shape shifting this year and mentioned that he thinks it’s a good thing for JJ McCarthy to see all the different looks.

“Going into the game Saturday, it probably felt weird for him to see guys just sitting there and you have a clean pocket and the DBs aren’t moving and there’s nobody flying around from the A gap, it probably felt weird,” Metellus said. “I know once he gets into gameplan stuff and he sees how much more stagnant most defenses are and less complex and less multiple, it’s going to be good for his development.”

Guard Will Fries is still ramping up from a leg injury that kept him out for more than half of last season and the spring practices. This week against the Patriots will be a good barometer for his progress.

“Super important,” Fries said. “It’s a good test to see where you’re at, to see where the chinks in the armor are and tighten up what you need to tighten up and improve technically. Even just getting confidence going into Week 1, it’s good to go against a variety of different guys and see it all. That way you’re feeling good going into Week 1.”

Fries also talked about his first impressions of rookie Donovan Jackson.

“Super smart kid, super thoughtful, has played physical so far in this camp so it was exciting to see him go out there and get his first NFL action and carry some things over from practice,” Fries said. “Was it perfect? No. But he’s going to continue to get better.”

Speaking of confidence, backup center Michael Jurgens has seen a lot of work this summer, including some first-team reps earlier in camp with Ryan Kelly banged up and 43 snaps in the preseason game. He said that he’s come a long way from his rookie year in 2024.

“There’s so much verbiage in the offense that last year it was like drinking through a fire hose,” Jurgens said. “You’re just focusing on making the correct calls. Now I feel like I’m in a place where make the correct calls and understand the reason behind it.”

In terms of what he’s taking away from working with the four-time Pro Bowler Kelly, he said:

“I think the play style,” Jurgens said. “He projects confidence in the way that he plays. He makes things that are 300 level seem like they are 100 level. A lot of people on the team are really smart but he has a wisdom to it too. It’s one thing to know everything, it’s another thing to be able to explain it well…he’s helping me see more layers to the offense.”

Safety Kahlef Hailassie put his name on the map by getting two interceptions against the Texans.

“I knew this was coming,” Hailassie said. “Before this game, I didn’t have any interviews. I told myself that after this game I was going to have a lot of interviews. I knew my time was here.”

The Vikings moved him from cornerback to safety, where he seems to have found a home. Metellus said that every player in Flores’s defense has to have versatility, so it makes sense that Hailassie would be able to make the switch.

Does he have a shot at the 53-man roster? Possibly.

What I saw

The Vikings only practiced in shells so the intensity was not ramped up but there were still a few plays and lineup notes that stood out…

— Justin Jefferson was still not practicing. It seems unlikely that he will be participating in the joint practices if he wasn’t ramping things up on Monday.

— Christian Darrisaw was getting more work during 11-on-11s. If he’s able to play against the Patriots in any capacity, it would be a huge win for his progress returning from ACL surgery