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What to Look Out for in Vikings Preseason Opener

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Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison attempts to catch a pass against Giants cornerback Cordale Flott.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

We are back. The Minnesota Vikings are back on a football field on Saturday as they head to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants in their preseason opener. It’s the first of three Vikings preseason games before we get to the real thing.

What to Look Out for in Vikings Preseason Opener

Minnesota will also travel to Denver to face Sean Payton’s Broncos, while hosting the Baltimore Ravens in between, all before US Bank Stadium plays host to the Green Bay Packers for a big divisional matchup in Week 1. With the preparations for the new season kicking up a gear, here are my things to look out for in the Vikings preseason opener.

How the QB Reps are Shared

Kevin O’Connell’s habit is to use his starters sparingly in the preseason games. They tend to start the first game and then be quickly taken out, and that’s it until the season starts. Kyler Murray has been confirmed as the team’s QB1 but is still settling into the team. Will Murray get some reps in each game? I’d suggest he should. If Murray can get into a rhythm, he can do well in Minnesota. Get him out there for a good chunk of the preseason.

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NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Oct 10, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) calls a play during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Coduto-USA TODAY Sports

There should be plenty of reps for JJ McCarthy, which can be good for him as he now looks to rebuild his career after a failed first attempt at being a starting QB. He can play some football without the spotlight shining so brightly and the pressure off. After that, there is Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer to fit in, with Brosmer hoping to do enough to stick around on the practice squad. We know what we are getting from Wentz as a veteran presence, so he probably doesn’t need to see the field too much.

The Rookies

This will of course be the first look we get of the 2025 rookie class as they make their bid to get on the final roster or move up the depth chart. A lot of focus will be on first-round pick Caleb Banks, especially given his injury problems over the last year. Day 2 picks Jake Golday and Domonique Orange also should be striving to show they are ready to get straight into the action when the season starts. Third-round tackle Caleb Tiernan should get plenty of chance to show he can be ready if Minnesota hits injury problems on the OL again this season.

Vikings DT Caleb Banls on the draft bigboard in Pittsburgh in 2026
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With the Vikings’ secondary looking to have openings for potential playing time, also look for Jakobe Thomas and Charles Demmings to be staking their claim. Demmings has particularly impressed during training camp. Hopefully we will get an early look at how O’Connell plans to use Max Bredeson as a fullback and Demond Claiborne will be out there trying to stake his claim to be RB3 and perhaps eventually take over from Aaron Jones.

We Have A Punter Battle

Minnesota kept the same special teams unit together for the last couple of seasons and with some success. Will Reichard was the first-team All-Pro kicker last season, while Andrew DePaola has alternated between first and second-team All-Pro longsnapper for the last four seasons. The weaker link was Ryan Wright and the Vikings opted to move on after the end of Wright’s fourth season as the team’s punter.

Andrew DePaola snaps the ball during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
A Minnesota Vikings special teams unit lines up at the line of scrimmage as long snapper Andrew DePaola (42) delivers the snap, initiating the play with precision and timing Aug 14, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, during a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders with execution key to the sequence. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Minnesota has recruited for his replacement from two opposite ends of the scale. On one side we have the 14-year veteran Johnny Hekker. A Super Bowl winner, six-time All-Pro, and four-time Pro Bowler, Hekker brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven ability to be able to hold for Reichard (an often overlooked part of a punter’s role). Then there is rookie punter Brett Thorson who has been booming huge punts during training camp. He doesn’t have the experience but he would be cheaper and potentially a longer-term solution. It should be an intriguing Vikings preseason battle for one of the few roster spots that are definitely open for the taking.


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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

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Jayden Daniels breaks silence on sending cease-and-desist letter to LSU over NIL rights

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has spoken about the ongoing legal dispute between his representatives and Louisiana State University over his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights.

On Thursday, Daniels shared a statement on Instagram Story as reports surfaced that his representatives had sent LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry a cease-and-desist letter.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner said he wants the issue to be resolved privately. He also made it clear that his main focus is preparing for the upcoming NFL season.

“I have been locked in on training camp and that’s been my number one focus,” Jayden Daniels wrote. “I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately. My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.”

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Source: (Via Instagram/ @thatkidjayden)Source: (Via Instagram/ @thatkidjayden)
Source: (Via Instagram/ @thatkidjayden)

The dispute began after LSU gave the No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett for the upcoming season. Jayden Daniels wore No. 5 during his historic 2023 season, when he won the Heisman Trophy.

LSU has not officially retired the number. However, Daniels’ representatives said he had asked for the number not to be given to another player after he left the school for the NFL.

According to a cease-and-desist letter sent by attorney Adam Kenner, LSU’s contractual permission to use Jayden Daniels’ NIL expired 180 days after his final college game. The letter asked LSU to immediately stop using Daniels’ name, image or likeness for commercial purposes, promotions or publications.

The letter was sent to Ausberry and dated Aug. 5.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin also spoke about Pickett receiving the No. 5 jersey during a news conference at LSU’s fall training camp on Aug. 5.

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When asked about Pickett wearing the number previously worn by Jayden Daniels, Kiffin said the decision was made before he arrived at LSU. Pickett had reportedly been promised the jersey when he committed to LSU in December 2024 under former coach Brian Kelly.

“I’m not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn’t here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it,” Kiffin said. “So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”

Kiffin was named the head coach at LSU on November 30, 2025. He assumed control of the program for the 2026 season.


Jayden Daniels’ mother Regina Jackson gets dragged in Commanders QB’s legal dispute with LSU

Regina Jackson is not just Jayden Daniels’ parent. She is an NFLPA-certified agent and serves as his primary business manager. When news of the cease-and-desist letter broke,fFormer NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz posted his opinion on X on Aug.13.

“Whoever gave him this advice… (It was probably his mom),” he wrote.

He shared the remark alongside a GIF of television host Jimmy Fallon booing.

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“That narrative is simply not accurate”: Ryan Clark fires back at Jayden Daniels-Joe Burrow chatter amid LSU cease-and-desist drama