The #Vikings win their preseason opener 13-10, as Carson Wentz kneels it out after Max Brosmer left at the end of the third quarter.

Good showing for the reconfigured run game and an ever-aggressive defense; Jamal Adams' health is the big question.

Up next: Ravens next…

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) August 15, 2026

That'll do it for preseason Week 1. Vikings 13, Giants 10.

🏈Kyler Murray/No. 1 offense nets FG in one series
🏈No. 1 defense forces punt in one series
🏈Brutal non-contact injury for Jamal Adams
🏈1-handed TD catch for Myles Price

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 15, 2026

#Vikings QB’s stats today:

Kyler Murray: 2/3 Passing, 10 Yards, 71.5 QBR

JJ McCarthy: 4/7 Passing, 34 Yards, 69.9 QBR

Carson Wentz: 9/14 Passing, 81 Yards, 1 TD, 103.6 QBR

Max Brosmer: 1/2 Passing, 6 Yards, 56.3 QBR pic.twitter.com/8VFG3SvZ2J

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 15, 2026

Game sealer for Dontae Fleming. pic.twitter.com/mkXVHUgDaU

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 15, 2026

A TE on Turner isn’t going to work.

Mike Olson wrote:

he is just too slow to recognize and make the play. processes too much and doesn’t read and react.

This. It continues to be a problem and I am starting to wonder if it's fixable. I think Wentz is going to be QB2.

Fries on the Mason run.

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/vikings-outlast-giants-5-things-mattered-preseason-week-1-win-01m03d55etke

5 Things That Mattered in the Preseason Week 1 Win

Here's what Vikings fans need to take away from Saturday's 13-10 victory.

There wasn't a lot of work for the first-team offense in this game, but there was enough from Kyler Murray and company to feel good about the team's ability to move the chains and help the defense make every game competitive.

With that said, here are the five takeaways that mattered the most from the Vikings' victory over the Giants.

5. The Vikings chose the right quarterback to be their starter

Kyler Murray only threw three passes in this game, but he completed two of them for 10 yards and looked comfortable under center.

On the other hand, J.J. McCarthy seemed uneasy when it was his turn to enter the game. Despite that, the young quarterback completed four of his seven throws for 34 yards but took a sack while in action. At the moment, Murray just looks more comfortable on the field, cementing the fact that he's the right choice for the Vikings' QB1 role.

4. The offensive line was tested heavily and one running back got a lot of attention

Head coach Kevin O'Connell made it a priority to test his offensive linemen in this game. The big men up front held up well, but the real winner was rookie running back Demond Claiborn. Minnesota's sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had more carries than every other running back combined and turned those 12 attempts into 34 yards.

Although Claiborne's yardage wasn't exceptional, this is proof that the Purple and Gold are intrigued with the young man and see big things for him in the future.

3. Brian Flores has this defense ready to go

It might be the preseason, but Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores saw his unit intercept two passes and force two fumbles, even though they were recovered by the Giants. That's the type of defensive playmaking Minnesota needs this season.

Dallas Turner registered one of the team's four sacks, but it was defensive back Jay Ward who had a great performance that included a hard-hitting sack of New York quarterback Jaxon Dart.

2. Injuries are the worst part of football

This season was supposed to be an opportunity for former All-Pro defender Jamal Adams to get his groove back. Instead, the new Vikings defender suffered what appeared to be a non-contact injury in the second quarter of the game before being carted off the field. Before the injury, the veteran was having a good game, breaking up a pass and making a nice tackle.

Jamal Adams, right through the gap.

Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3UsROvG1l4

— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026

Now, fans must wait to find out what the future holds for Adams.

1. Special teams are fun to watch

Vikings fans know how special a kicker Will Reichard can be. The All-Pro kicker was perfect on the day, making field goals from 35 and 54 yards out and connecting on his extra point try. Rookie punter Brett Thorson kept pace with veteran Johnny Hekker, making that competition closer than ever.

Speedy running back Demond Claiborne returned two kicks for 50 yards, increasing the rookie's odds of making the 53-man roster in some capacity heading into the cutdown deadline on Aug. 30.

https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-giants-preseason-game-observations-revamped

Vikings at Giants Game Observations: Revamped Run Game

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The revamped Vikings run game started fast, furious and with 44 yards on Minnesota's first possession of the 2026 preseason.

Aaron Jones, Sr., zoomed behind the left side of the offensive line featuring left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Donovan Jackson and picked up steam for a gain of 18 on Minnesota's first snap.

Jones toted the ball three times for 27 yards, averaging a whopping 9.0 per carry.

Jordan Mason also popped for an explosive in the run game, with a long of 15 and totaled 17 yards on three carries for an average of 5.7.

Minnesota considers Jones and Mason as starter-worthy, and the duo combined for 44 of Minnesota's 54 yards to set up a 35-yard field goal for an early lead of an eventual 13-10 victory.

The combo of Darrisaw and Jackson, a pair of first-round talents, and what it could mean for the run game should have plenty of people excited because of the reverberating effect that could have on how teams will need to make decisions on defense.

Kyler Murray went 2-for-3 in his Vikings debut, completing a 2-yard pass to rookie fullback Max Bredeson and connecting with Jordan Addison for 8 to convert a third-and-7.

Justin Jefferson was the only starter on offense who did not play.

J.J. McCarthy and the second-team offense finished the first half but struggled to build momentum. A busted run play on McCarthy's first snap put the offense behind the chains early. McCarthy finished 4-for-7 with 34 yards, highlighted by a long of 17 to Myles Price that crossed midfield, but that possession went backward with penalties.

Here are four more observations:

1. Myles Price carries strong camp to game setting

Myles Price secured his roster spot as a rookie in 2025 with what he did in the return game.

This time around, he's been more involved in the offense with several strong performances at training camp.

All that stacking showed up Saturday with four catches for 51 yards and a remarkable one-handed snag of a 1-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz.

The catch occurred while Jefferson was mic'd up with the broadcast team during the third quarter and sent the Pro Bowl receiver into shouting, "Yeah, Jug!" on repeat, invoking teammates' nickname for Price.

Price also won on another contested catch when Wentz had given him on opportunity with the QB's first pass attempt of the day. He fought through a challenge by a Giants defender and added some yards after the catch for a long of 28.

2. Interceptions by rookies named Jacob

Have a day, rookies named Jacob.

Undrafted rookie linebacker Jacob Roberts snagged the first interception of the Vikings preseason when he secured a pass over the middle of the field by Brandon Allen.

Roberts returned the ball 6 yards to the New York 27 to set up the touchdown drive.

Fellow undrafted rookie safety Jacob Thomas recorded the second along the Minnesota sideline.

3. Four sacks for the defense

Dallas Turner recorded Minnesota's first sack of the preseason, taking down Jaxson Dart to finish off a play in which the Giants QB was sent scrambling.

Jay Ward then delivered a crushing but completely clean hit on Dart, who briefly came out of the game but later returned to throw a touchdown. Ward, a versatile defensive back, sprinted on a blitz untouched.

New Jersey native and defensive lineman Elijah Williams, and outside linebacker Bo Richter finished out the four pack of sacks.

Minnesota assistants Mike Siravo (first half) and Ryan Nielsen (second half) were handed play-calling duties by Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.

4. Heartbreaking return for Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams, who began his NFL career as a first-round pick of the New York Jets suffered a heartbreaking return to MetLife Stadium.

Adams, who signed as Minnesota headed into training camp after playing linebacker for Las Vegas last year and reestablishing himself after a rough injury, spent extended time in the injury tent behind Minnesota's bench before leaving the area on a cart.

Jefferson, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and multiple others tried to console Adams.

"You feel his passion every single day," O'Connell told Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett in a halftime interview. "Certainly felt it spending a few moments with him before they took him in. You're just crushed for him. The role that he was kind of paving for himself, and then him just having the personality, experience, toughness that he brought in such a short amount of time — we're gonna miss him, and we're gonna need to see some guys here step up. But what I told Jamal is, our organization, we've got our arms wrapped around him — and he's a part of this thing, but you absolutely hate to see that."

KO's initial thoughts following the preseason win against the Giants pic.twitter.com/g1CjogdO6d

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

Kevin O'Connell shares Jamal Adams' early impact on the team pic.twitter.com/pP4dk4YNnj

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

Kevin O'Connell on Kyler Murray's first snaps as a Viking pic.twitter.com/Orpex8Fcy3

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has said that Jamal Adams suffered a right knee injury in today's game and that initial examinations don't look good.

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell says Jakobe Thomas has been dealing with back stiffness and the team is being smart with how they're bringing him back.

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O’Connell following preseason game against the New York Giantshttps://t.co/LRNg03uzo5

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 15, 2026

Main takeaways:

-first team offense looked really good in very limited action.

- McCarthy needs to settle in to be QB2. Wentz simply looked more calm and prepared.

- Run game could be a blast but I never want to see Demond Claiborne run up the middle.

- Will Reichard is…

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) August 15, 2026

Kevin O’Connell is now 5-8 in the preseason. pic.twitter.com/W1rMBhjKnD

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) August 15, 2026

So what makes the field at Met Life so terrible? I know there are different brands of turf but aren't they all put down on the same surface?

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) August 15, 2026

Non-contact injury for Jamal Adams (32) on NYG’s cement turf. Brutal. He was going to contribute heavily to this defense. pic.twitter.com/fE0fcxSJF1

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) August 15, 2026