https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-training-camp-observations-defense-padded-practice

Vikings Training Camp Observations: Defense Large & In Charge on 1st Day of Full Pads

EAGAN, Minn. — The competition increased to start the week.

That's what the addition of full pads did Monday at Vikings Training Camp; it elevated the intensity, raising the volume level among fans in the stands at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores worded it well: "The real football starts today."

"I think the first four days, as you guys know, we try to mimic football as much as we can, but there's nothing like putting pads on, really feeling the contact, the pressure points in the different positions, particularly in the offensive and defensive line, on the edge," Flores told media members before the session. "And so, it's a great opportunity for us to go out and practice those fundamentals, those techniques, and continue the competition that we have going, really throughout the defensive roster."

While quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy continued to take reps with starters, the primary separation was noticed between the offensive and defensive execution and favored the latter, which is typically how it goes early on (and that's not to downplay anything that Flores or his players are doing).

A couple youngsters were notably disruptive in the team's 9-on-7 run-focused period. Second-year DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins broke through for a tackle for loss on RB Jordan Mason. Also, rookie DL Caleb Banks used a speedy swim move to surge into the backfield and tap off for a TFL. Ingram-Dawkins also earned applause for a strong 1-on-1 pass rush rep, and Banks won a rush rep with a solid spin move.

Here are three other observations from Minnesota's fifth training camp practice:

1. Rodgers in neighborhood of football

Isaiah Rodgers, one of the OGs (older guys) in the Vikings cornerbacks room, who is 28 and making this writer feel old, made his presence known in a couple different competitive periods with contact and skill.

First, Rodgers went airborne to cut off a high, middle-of-the-field pass from Murray to Jordan Addison. Rodgers leapt into the frame and capitalized with a big breakup.

They met again in a 2-minute drill, and this time Rodgers tapped into his quicks to jump an immediate in-breaker by Addison and force an incompletion.

Addison, to his credit, recorded a couple catches at other moments, including one where he laid out and successfully dragged his toes along the left sideline. He also left Rodgers in the end zone for a touchdown from McCarthy in 7-on-7.

On a similar page, the sweetest grab belonged to Tai Felton, who used one hand and his tippy toes to make a play on a pass from Murray in the back left corner of the end zone during a 1-on-1 drill against CB Zemaiah Vaughn.

2. Turner sets the tone

The second offense couldn't stop third-year OLB Dallas Turner at the start of a team drill.

On a rush to the left side (right edge), Turner burst up the field with a powerful base to take on any daring blockers and smothered RB Zavier Scott as he tried to turn the corner. Turner received some instant help from LB Ivan Pace, Jr. — the play looked like it would have lost at least 3 yards.

That effectively set the tone for the practice as the first or second offense never really found a groove.

McCarthy and Murray each got a chance to operate a 2-minute attack to end the practice, and only one pass stayed off the ground – an interception of McCarthy by CB Byron Murphy, Jr., that probably would have been ruled a sack by OLB Andrew Van Ginkel as McCarthy targeted Addison super late in the third-and-15 down.

McCarthy also was denied by Rodgers on the aforementioned in-breaker and by LB Blake Cashman on a quick throw to Justin Jefferson in which Cash' kept his inside leverage and promptly pawed the ball away.

McCarthy's possession also featured a false start penalty on the offense.

Murray's sequence wasn't any prettier, with a throwaway on a scramble once the defense collapsed the pocket and an incompletion going for TE Josh Oliver that was broken up by Pace. Furthermore, there was some kind of confusion on Murray's final rep of the practice, as he passed to his left with no one nearby.

3. Budding tight ends

Second-year tight ends Gavin Bartholomew and Ben Yurosek have flashed during training camp.

The latter, a 2025 UDFA, played behind T.J. Hockenson and Oliver last year after the 2025 sixth-round pick Bartholomew sustained a back injury during the offseason program.

And on Monday they were in Murray's sightlines when he was running with the second offense.

On one occasion, the two-time Pro Bowl QB play-faked to his right, half-rolled to his left and locked his eyes on Yurosek. Murray got him the ball on time, but the best part was Yurosek stretching up to nab it.

Then, Murray went Bartholomew's way, passing with pace to the intermediate right side of the field. It was a standout play for the TE, who recently was described by Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips as a really good athlete who has twitch and explosiveness to him that is evident when he's catching passes.