Day 1 Practice ~ July 29 ~ Players/Media

StickierBuns wrote:

Yep. Its just narratives and headlines. The X fanboys don't want to read the stuff about his natural leadership....they want to post the Nine meme. Wait until Kyler gets the Nine meme, lol.....we'll have come full circle as Viking's fans. 😜

Problem is, I don't want Kyler to fail. I want to have a fun season. Hope Kyler can provide that. Show me how things will be different. I can't stand that body language shit. That presser that its not his fault shit. Take accountability.

Canthony wrote:

Problem is, I don't want Kyler to fail. I want to have a fun season. Hope Kyler can provide that. Show me how things will be different. I can't stand that body language shit. That presser that its not his fault shit. Take accountability.

We all want the wins. Let the X fanboys do what they will. Skol!

With extension done, Brian O'Neill is thinking Super Bowl

Right tackle Brian O'Neill approached the podium a day after signing a four-year, $96 million contract extension to remain with the Vikings, saying, "Hello. I'm not really used to the podium up here, but just want to start by saying how excited I am to stay in Minnesota."

O'Neill, the five-year team captain, didn't really leave Minnesota during his six weeks between organized team activities and training camp. He was among a group of veterans and rookies who voluntarily reported to the team's Eagan headquarters to work out and train together. The group also included center Blake Brandel and a few rookies: linebacker Jake Golday, defensive tackle Domonique Orange and offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan.

As the longest-tenured Vikings player currently on the roster, O'Neill (entering Year 9) said his family has grown attached to the state, too.

"It's huge for me, but it's huge for all the people in my corner: my parents, my siblings, my wife Bryn, in-laws," O'Neill said. "They love it here. We love it here. One of the things my dad has always said is the journey they've been able to go on because of [O'Neill's Vikings career] has been really fun and gratifying for them. Those were some pretty fun phone calls to make."

Now O'Neill can practice, unlike this spring when he sat out most OTAs to avoid injury risk amid negotiations.

"I hated the whole spring situation," O'Neill said. "I like being out there no matter what it is: walkthroughs, practices. But thankfully" he didn't have to think about sitting out training camp.

Contract talks picked up "a few weeks leading up to training camp, that's really when it was, 'Let's see what this is going to look like and see if we can get it done.'"

The veteran blocker added that he's sensed heightened standards in offseason meetings, citing offensive line coach Keith Carter telling players on Tuesday that "standards don't really care about feelings."

O'Neill's standard remains the Super Bowl: "We've won one playoff game in eight years. It's been fun, but we haven't really done it. We did it a little bit, but that's not that fun, you know? That's not why you do it, right? I want to be most proud of, when I'm done here, that we went on a couple runs and gave us a chance at the big one."

Strib

J.J. McCarthy "100%" confident QB competition will be fair

Returning QB J.J. McCarthy is sticking with the mantra of controlling what he can control as his competition with Kyler Murray continues in training camp after starting this spring during organized team activities.

McCarthy said his recent conversations with coach Kevin O'Connell have been "great" and centered around doing his job to the best of his ability: "making completions, taking what the defense is giving me, making smart decisions."

He said he does feel "100%" confident that this is a fair competition and each QB has a chance to win the Week 1 starting job.

J.J. McCarthy feels he can play more instinctually this year

Last year, J.J. McCarthy admitted he’s had a tendency to be an overthinker. It was interesting today, then, when he talked about getting to a point where playing quarterback for the Vikings didn’t lead him to “paralysis by analysis.”

I followed up by asking him how he can tell if he’s reached the point where he can play instinctually; he said, “I feel at that point right now, honestly. Just being able to have every play call click in my head and just seeing it like, full, clear picture, and knowing my job each and every down, knowing the intent of each and every play call. It makes it a lot easier to have those instinctive moments when you know things break down because that is football: just go out there and be an athlete.”

This is McCarthy’s third training camp in the Vikings’ offense; Nick Mullens is the only other QB to spend that much time in Kevin O’Connell’s offense in Minnesota. We’ve heard veteran QBs like Kirk Cousins talk about how much experience helps quarterbacks play with more speed and detail in the Vikings’ offense, and last year, when Andrew Krammer and I talked to Vikings QB coach Josh McCown about McCarthy’s development before the season, he compared it to a toddler learning to walk, saying the Vikings would need to have patience with development that could be uneven at times.

We'll see what training camp and the preseason reveal about McCarthy’s growth, but on Wednesday, he sounded confident he’s taken a step forward in his command of the offense.

“[I have] clarity of mind on the field each and every snap,” he said. “There's not too many things where it's, ‘Is this split right here? Is this formation right here?' [Formation into the boundary], all this stuff. It's either right or wrong, and you know it like that. And just everything seems to be slowing down on the defensive side: being familiar with defensive structures and philosophies.”

Kyler Murray hopes to lead by example

Quarterback Kyler Murray takes the podium and is asked about his leadership style: "I've always been a guy that has led by example. I think for me as I get to prove myself by the plays that I make, being around the guys, it's easier for me to open up and be more vocal, and I think that all naturally comes. Especially when we get out here to play games, practice and just be around the guys more -- that organically happens."

Murray said his six weeks away from the team involved "a lot of workouts, a lot of throwing," including with new teammate Justin Jefferson.

"A lot of family time," Murray added. "Just really getting mentally prepared for what's about to happen."

"Any chance I could get to go over scripts, go over the playbook, every day for the last six weeks," he said. "Getting more familiar with the verbiage and footwork and all that stuff. ... I feel great. It really helped me going through OTAs having done it once now. Obviously, it's about to be real. I truly believe going through OTAs has prepared me for what's to come."

Asked about the toughest part of learning the Vikings offense, Murray again pointed to practice time: "I think it's a reps thing. Continue to do it over and over again, say it over and over again. The more you do it and say it, the more it comes natural and easier. That's really the process for me. Once all that settles down, for me it's just playing football."

Murray and quarterback J.J. McCarthy will split time with the first-team offense during camp, coach Kevin O'Connell said on Tuesday, until a starter is named.

#Vikings QB Kyler Murray started the day with the first team, and hit Jordan Addison for a 30 yard gain, per @JoriEpstein. Their connection is LETHAL.

— VikingzFanPage @vikingzfanpage Jul 29, 2026

𝕏 X / Twitter — VikingzFanPage @vikingzfanpage

#Vikings QB Kyler Murray started the day with the first team, and hit Jordan Addison for a 30 yard gain, per @JoriEpstein. Their connection is LETHAL.

View on X

It’s. Over.

JustInTime wrote:

https://twitter.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2082566112110170460It’s. Over.

Or the D is shit.

😂

Can we have nice things?

JustInTime wrote:

https://twitter.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2082566112110170460It’s. Over.

Lol, no it's not! 😅

edit: If JA has a great year, I can definitely see the Vikings prioritizing an extension with the guy. He's ALMOST there, gotta keep healthy and his nose clean.

purplefaithful wrote:

J.J. McCarthy "100%" confident QB competition will be fair
Returning QB J.J. McCarthy is sticking with the mantra of controlling what he can control as his competition with Kyler Murray continues in training camp after starting this spring during organized team activities.
McCarthy said his recent conversations with coach Kevin O'Connell have been "great" and centered around doing his job to the best of his ability: "making completions, taking what the defense is giving me, making smart decisions."
He said he does feel "100%" confident that this is a fair competition and each QB has a chance to win the Week 1 starting job.
J.J. McCarthy feels he can play more instinctually this year
Last year, J.J. McCarthy admitted he’s had a tendency to be an overthinker. It was interesting today, then, when he talked about getting to a point where playing quarterback for the Vikings didn’t lead him to “paralysis by analysis.”

Which is why I always said that he looks like he doesn't trust his instincts. Which is why when the game was on the line in the end, he looked great. Couldn't miss. Why? because he didn't think, he just did.

Canthony wrote:

Which is why I always said that he looks like he doesn't trust his instincts. Which is why when the game was on the line in the end, he looked great. Couldn't miss. Why? because he didn't think, he just did.

I gotta see his footwork this pre-season...