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The Minnesota Vikings have two full weeks of training camp in the books, with the first preseason matchup on the way this Saturday – – at the New York Giants. And even before that showdown, several Vikings-themed expectations have been flipped on their heads. Here’s a look at important items that have changed. J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray work through a drill during Minnesota Vikings training camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

The days of mandatory rest for Minnesota Vikings starters in preseason games are evidently over. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is preparing his club for an exhibition showdown with the New York Giants on Saturday, and according to the man in charge, all players – – starters included – – have been told to be ready. When O’Connell first arrived, starters would hardly play preseason snaps. Kevin O’Connell smiles on the field during Minnesota Vikings training camp at TCO Performance Center.

John Harbaugh’s first whiff of semi-real football as the head coach of the New York Giants will come Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings, as the NFL preseason is underway. Training camp has already settled some Vikings-themed mysteries – – Kyler Murray took home the QB1 bacon after a battle with J.J. McCarthy – – but more will be gleaned from the preseason. Here’s what Saturday’s game will help illuminate that perhaps training camp cannot.

The Vikings did not draft Max Bredeson in the fifth round to give him the ball 15 times per game. They drafted him to do the work that makes those carries better. Bredeson, a 250-pound rookie fullback from Michigan, arrived in Minnesota as the replacement for C.J. Ham, the longtime Vikings fullback who retired after a decade in that role.

Does J.J. McCarthy still have a chance to win the Minnesota Vikings’ up-for-grabs QB1 job this month? Nope. Is he likely to play some QB1 snaps in 2026? Maybe. Accordingly, as McCarthy trends as the Vikings’ backup quarterback in 2026, he checks in at No. 20 on our most important players countdown By season’s end, McCarthy, in theory, could be the most important player on the team, depending on how the season shakes out, but for now, No. 20 feels just about right.

The Minnesota Vikings will travel to MetLife Stadium this Saturday for their first preseason action, taking on the New York Giants – – four days after the club named Kyler Murray the starting quarterback. Murray’s quarterback competition against J.J. McCarthy headlined training camp, but with that in the rearview, other roster spots are now in the balance. Listed alphabetically, these five players need big performances to secure depth chart security.

Kevin O’Connell did not present Kyler Murray’s promotion to Vikings starting quarterback as the result of one hot practice or a rushed reaction to training camp. He described it as the end of a deliberately built competition. “We wanted a group of guys that would challenge each other every day,” O’Connell said Tuesday, explaining that Minnesota created a quarterback room with players at different points in their careers.

It took two weeks. Minnesota Vikings veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday, July 28, and by Tuesday, August 11, the club had announced a starting quarterback for the 2026 regular season: Kyler Murray. Murray arrived in Minnesota five months ago as a cast-off from the Arizona Cardinals, and he’ll start for the 2026 Vikings. The decision by head coach Kevin O’Connell is not surprising, but the timing is telling. Kyler Murray speaks to reporters during Vikings training camp.

After the Minnesota Vikings’ three preseason games, head coach Kevin O’Connell, his staff, and new general manager Nolan Teasley will trim the current roster from 90 players to 53. Accordingly, about 40% of the team will leave or join the practice squad, placing some players on the roster bubble as early as right now. And on Sunday night, Teasley explained what he wants to see from players fighting to make the cut — production and playmaking. So, a message to all bubble players: be a playmaker.

The Minnesota Vikings opened 2026 training camp with a genuine quarterback battle for the first time in 12 years. But through two weeks, no totally undisputed frontrunner has emerged to seize the QB1 job, with Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy producing hot-and-cold outings, often at the same time. And while some have expressed concern about Murray especially, it’s important to remember that Sam Darnold followed this path two years ago – – and the Vikings later won 14 games.