Forget Quarterback: 5 Vikings Players to Watch as the Ravens Get to Minnesota for Joint Practices

Quarterbacks matter. In the words to follow, they don’t matter at all.

The 5 Vikings players to watch for the upcoming Ravens practices span the offense and defense. Some hang out in the trenches while others can be found surrounded by plenty of green grass. Look for who needs a couple of huge days in what is a climactic moment of training camp.

5 Vikings Players to Watch as Ravens Visit TCO Performance Center

Player No. 1 – DT Caleb Banks

Quite possibly, there’s nobody who faced more scrutiny for the Giants preseason game than Caleb Banks.

The hulking defensive tackle sees the size of his frame matched only by the size of his potential. Unlocking that potential isn’t automatic. Part of the problem has been injury, keeping him off the field in the same way that J.J. McCarthy missed development time due to injury. Banks wants his career’s trajectory to move in a very different manner.

So far, there has been quite a lot of chatter about the DT’s pad level. The conversation should consider his ability to stay sturdy against double teams, pack electricity into his mitts, and offer the competitive snarl that he promised after speaking to the media when getting drafted. Pushing around the Ravens’ o-lineman — including Baltimore’s own 1^st-Round selection in Vega Ioane — would inspire optimism.

Player No. 2 – WR Myles Price

Consider something that may not be super obvious to the casual observer. That terrific one-handed Myles Price touchdown catch to end the play was only possible due to his release coming off the line of scrimmage at the beginning of the play.

Everybody agrees that Price worked hard in the offseason. Where that showed up is not just in the quality of his hands. It also showed up in the shifty explosion coming off the line of scrimmage. Seeing him do some of that against Baltimore’s impressive secondary – Malaki Starks, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey — would be another gust of wind in Price’s sails.

Player No. 3 – CB Chuck Demmings

He prays, he raps, and he challenges receivers in man coverage. Can’t help but be impressed by the young lad.

Baltimore’s top receiver is Zay Flowers. The shifty WR1 is capable of shaking most corners out of their cleats. Does he get a chance to do so vs. Demmings? Nobody is looking for the 5th-Round rookie to become the CB1 in his debut season. Seeing him push for CB3 snaps would become likelier, though, with a strong effort against a strong opponent.

Player No. 4 – FB Max Bredeson

Deemed “adequate” as a pass catcher by OC Wes Phillips, FB Max Bredeson is more than merely adequate as a blocker. He’s going to earn a beefy workload as a rookie.

Baltimore’s defense has veteran linebacker Roquan Smith at the center of things. Taking on the former top-ten selection isn’t for the faint of heart; Smith’s All-Pro honors have been well earned. Can the rookie fullback still hang with one of the players to be recognized as the gold standard of LB play in recent seasons?

Player No. 5 – C Blake Brandel

At Oregon State, Blake Brandel played offensive tackle. He then got drafted with the ambition of seeing him become a strong OT3. Along the way, Brandel figured out that learning every o-line position would make him more valuable to the team, something he told Vikings Territory.

Fast forward from 2020 into the summer of 2026. Brandel is now the Vikings’ C1. Some have concern about his abilities, or lack thereof. Some of the recent social media hubbub has mentioned Brandel’s snapping. Does that prove to be an issue when lined up across from DT Nnamdi Madubuike and Calais Campbell?

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Advertisement