Day 2 Practice ~ July 30 ~ Whatever ya got!

#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy lining up with the starters 👀

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/ycFMrucHLw

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2082923359776412012?s=20

Is it my JJM bias or does it look like Kyler is kinda going 3/4 speed and not locked in, but JJ looks on point with his footwork, throwing mechanics, and even a little eye fake before he lets it rip?

#Vikings QB Kyler Murray fumbles the snap under center.

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/RNCAZHLFvA

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2082927215981834725?s=20

Probably cuz he is so short and Brandel is so tall.

#Vikings QB Kyler Murray with a deep ball to Dontae Fleming.

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/jDObIgpysU

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Nice placement here by JJ McCarthy to Bryson Nesbit.

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/U7hz7B9uds

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

C.J. Ham praises rookie Max Bredeson

Beyond special teams, fullback C.J. Ham's presence is still being felt with the Vikings. I spoke with Ham this morning, when he praised rookie fullback Max Bredeson and said the two spoke shortly after the Vikings drafted Bredeson in the fifth round. Ham said he took pride in the fact that he helped evolve a fullback's role into coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, since O'Connell came from Sean McVay's L.A. Rams where three-receiver formations reigned supreme.

“To say what we’ve built over the last four years and be a part of showing our organization, those coaches that there’s value in this position,” Ham said, “for them to go in and spend a draft pick [at fullback], I’m super grateful I was able to be a part of that.”

Ham, who retired this offseason after a 10-year Vikings career, said he intends to drop by training camp sometime, but that he's enjoying having a summer "for the first time in 15 years."

Strib

purplefaithful wrote:

C.J. Ham praises rookie Max Bredeson
Beyond special teams, fullback C.J. Ham's presence is still being felt with the Vikings. I spoke with Ham this morning, when he praised rookie fullback Max Bredeson and said the two spoke shortly after the Vikings drafted Bredeson in the fifth round. Ham said he took pride in the fact that he helped evolve a fullback's role into coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, since O'Connell came from Sean McVay's L.A. Rams where three-receiver formations reigned supreme.
“To say what we’ve built over the last four years and be a part of showing our organization, those coaches that there’s value in this position,” Ham said, “for them to go in and spend a draft pick [at fullback], I’m super grateful I was able to be a part of that.”
Ham, who retired this offseason after a 10-year Vikings career, said he intends to drop by training camp sometime, but that he's enjoying having a summer "for the first time in 15 years."

I'm buying a Bredeson jersey already. I think he just has that DAWG mentality and is going to be CJ Ham but better for us. We need more players with high IQ and an attitude when they play.

Another fumble from Kyler Murray, this time in the shotgun:

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/XO6dgDLmGF

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Jamal Adams playing with the 1’s on defense 👀 https://t.co/6tNU72nTZ6

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Kyler Murray to Justin Jefferson, again.

(Via @Dust_Vikings) pic.twitter.com/CqJzffhWEX

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 30, 2026

Rough day for Murray so far. 2 fumbles and a dropped INT.

Lots of fluff. I always liked Tony Kornheiser for one main reason, he never interviewed coaches or players because they were never going to tell it how it is. Just one time I wanna hear "You know what, that dude is dumber than a bag of hammers. That fact that he made it to the facility is a miracle!"

greediron wrote:

Rough day for Murray so far. 2 fumbles and a dropped INT.

So I'm going to say this because this is what I believe.....JJ has looked better the first two days of camp. Not unexpected. He knows the system and Kyler is learning and things are new to him. But I don't think there's any way that Murray isn't QB1, KOC and staff have to see what he looks like with this team and this offense. Have to. If K1 ends up NOT playing well the first few games, they'll put JJ in. I think it may end up JJ 'outplays' Kyler in camp but like I said, this setup isn't completely fair to either guy and most probably a little more unfair to Murray honestly. Its going to be very interesting, and its very early here, that if JJM outplays Murray yet doesn't get to be QB1....how is that received?

I just don't like this 'competition'. I don't. 🤔

StickierBuns wrote:

So I'm going to say this because this is what I believe.....JJ has looked better the first two days of camp. Not unexpected. He knows the system and Kyler is learning and things are new to him. But I don't think there's any way that Murray isn't QB1, KOC and staff have to see what he looks like with this team and this offense. Have to. If K1 ends up NOT playing well the first few games, they'll put JJ in. I think it may end up JJ 'outplays' Kyler in camp but like I said, this setup isn't completely fair to either guy and most probably a little more unfair to Murray honestly. Its going to be very interesting, and its very early here, that if JJM outplays Murray yet doesn't get to be QB1....how is that received?
I just don't like this 'competition'. I don't. 🤔

I feel similar. I think they have to go with Murray. At least start out that way, then if he struggles or gets hurt, you move to JJ. Just makes sense to move in that direction.

But yeah, how do you do that and not risk losing the team if JJ is clearly the better thru camp? I don't like it either, IMO he should have just declared Murray as his QB1 and say JJ still has a future here, but we are running with Murray.

StickierBuns wrote:

So I'm going to say this because this is what I believe.....JJ has looked better the first two days of camp. Not unexpected. He knows the system and Kyler is learning and things are new to him. But I don't think there's any way that Murray isn't QB1, KOC and staff have to see what he looks like with this team and this offense. Have to. If K1 ends up NOT playing well the first few games, they'll put JJ in. I think it may end up JJ 'outplays' Kyler in camp but like I said, this setup isn't completely fair to either guy and most probably a little more unfair to Murray honestly. Its going to be very interesting, and its very early here, that if JJM outplays Murray yet doesn't get to be QB1....how is that received?
I just don't like this 'competition'. I don't. 🤔

I think if the Vikings lose to the Bears and the Packers and start 0-2, the chants from the cheap seats will be deafening to put McCarthy in and see what we have. It might not even matter much how well Murray plays.

We’ve wrapped Day 2 of practice, and it was a hit-and-miss one for the offense. Here’s what we saw:

• J.J. McCarthy began with the first-team offense in an early 11-on-11 period and closed with them in a late 11-on-11 period. But most of the first-team snaps in between those reps went to Kyler Murray. Some of those were 1s-vs.-1s, others were 1s-vs.-2s. Carson Wentz got to run with the third-team offense a few times, which we didn’t see yesterday.

• As for how the QBs did, it was again a mix, though it felt like we saw a few more mistakes than on Day 1. Murray had back-to-back near interceptions in a full-field 11-on-11 period near the end of practice, one targeting Justin Jefferson and the other targeting Tai Felton. There were again drops by receivers, and Blake Cashman batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage. But there were also a few flashier plays than Day 1, too, like a deep pass from Murray to Dontae Fleming.

• Both quarterbacks completed passes to Jefferson, an improvement from Day 1. 

• Both centers — Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens — had at least one botched snap. Definitely still a work in progress there.

• First 11 we saw out on defense were as follows: DL Jalen Redmond, DL Levi Drake-Rodriguez, DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, OLB Dallas Turner, LB Eric Wilson, LB Blake Cashman, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, CB Byron Murphy II, CB James Pierre, S Josh Metellus and S Theo Jackson. LB Jamal Adams, S Jay Ward, DL Caleb Banks and CB Zemaiah Vaughn also mixed in early in this period.  Rookie linebacker Jake Golday ended up with the 1s for a few reps in a later team period.

• Speaking post-practice, Christian Darrisaw said he feels the "best he's felt in two years." It's been a long road back for the left tackle, who suffered multiple ligament tears in his knee in Oct. 2024. He said the rest over the past six weeks really helped him turn the final corner back to feeling himself.

• It wasn’t a super vocal group of spectators here for an early preview. Some brief applause here and there. But we did spot the first Murray Vikings jersey of training camp. 

Strib

greediron wrote:

I feel similar. I think they have to go with Murray. At least start out that way, then if he struggles or gets hurt, you move to JJ. Just makes sense to move in that direction.
But yeah, how do you do that and not risk losing the team if JJ is clearly the better thru camp? I don't like it either, IMO he should have just declared Murray as his QB1 and say JJ still has a future here, but we are running with Murray.

I agree that K1 to JJ isn’t as fraught with peril as JJ to K1. 

People are going to wonder why you’re starting a kid who’s yet to prove he can be a starting QB over a 7-year veteran who HAS proven that. And then what if JJ’s bad again? People are going to question your judgement, one of whom may be Kyler Murray. I’d be surprised if he demanded a trade in that scenario, but it could happen, and then you’re really screwed. That isn’t as likely in the other direction. 

I mentioned this on the board a few weeks ago: Don’t be too surprised if JJ objectively outplays Murray this summer (this is his 3rd season in the offense), but the coach goes with Kyler anyway due to his experience and upside...if not just plain curiosity to see what a weapon like that might look like in your offense. 

Larry Fitzgerald stops by Vikings camp

Before Larry Fitzgerald enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame next weekend, the Minneapolis native is making a stop at Vikings training camp today.

The Cardinals receiver, who played the final two years of his career with Kyler Murray, will get a chance to see his former QB in Minnesota today.

MaroonBells wrote:

I agree that K1 to JJ isn’t as fraught with peril as JJ to K1. 
People are going to wonder why you’re starting a kid who’s yet to prove he can be a starting QB over a 7-year veteran who HAS proven that. And then what if JJ’s bad again? People are going to question your judgement, one of whom may be Kyler Murray. I’d be surprised if he demanded a trade in that scenario, but it could happen, and then you’re really screwed. That isn’t as likely in the other direction. 
I mentioned this on the board a few weeks ago: Don’t be too surprised if JJ objectively outplays Murray this summer (this is his 3rd season in the offense), but the coach goes with Kyler anyway due to his experience and upside...if not just plain curiosity to see what a weapon like that might look like in your offense.

I think it will take K1 time to hit his stride in the regular season...Probably JJ too, but more so for Murray.

It's that reality that has me a little nervous for that opener. Love has been playing in that system for how many years now? The same would hold true vs Goff as well...

Let's lace em up and go soon!