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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Training Camp Stock Prices Skyrocketing for Select MN Vikings
For Minnesota Vikings fans, week one of the NFL preseason was probably the most important, given most of the offensive starters actually played at least one drive. More than likely, we will not see JJ McCarthy, Jordan Addison or much of the starting o-line for the final two exhibition games. But for those inside of TCO Performance Center, this week is much more important. Not only do they have another preseason game on Saturday against the New England Patriots, once dominant AFC contender is coming to town a few days early for a couple midweek joint practice sessions too. It's at this week's joint practices where many MN Vikings starters, on both sides of the football, will get most of their training camp and preseason work in. These joint practices are competitive and, by design, incredibly intense. Related Headlines MN Vikings Make Shocking Early Cut at LB; Confirm Rondale Moore Injury MN Twins Commit to New Catcher in Latest Roster Move MN Vikings QB Battle Heating Up – Max Brosmer Uncuttable, Sam Howell in Trouble…? Minnesota Vikings player stocks on the rise entering week 2 of preseason Without a doubt, this week's visit from the Pats will help Minnesota's coaching staff decipher who on the Vikings' 90-man roster is a contender for final spots on the regular season 53-man roster, compared to who is a pretender. These sessions will also go a long way toward deciding position battles that are being had throughout the depth chart. So, with one 20-10 exhibition victory now in their back pocket and a big week up ahead, let's take a look at which Vikings players have bumped their training camp stock, thus far. MN Vikings Stock 📈: QBs Max Brosmer, Sam Howell This is the only spot where I have two players listed next to each other. That's because it felt wrong to leave either Max Brosmer or Sam Howell off this list, but I also didn't want to use up two spaces on depth quarterbacks. I wrote more on the current standing of the Minnesota Vikings' QB room, after all three of them played in the first preseason game of the summer on Saturday. But combined, Howell and Brosmer completed 16-of-21 passes for 152 yards and 1 touchdown, immediately answering the 53-man roster questions surrounding both quarterbacks. For the first week or two of training camp, Sam Howell struggled badly enough to where multiple local beat writers and plugged-in media members were wondering if it was time for the Vikings to start exploring outside backup quarterback options. If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in that same headspace, and actively making calls last week on QB options not currently in purple, I'd imagine he hung up the phone by halftime of Minnesota's preseason win over Houston. Related: Howell may not be the best executor of Kevin O'Connell's offense during the week, especially right now, coming in new. But the one-time UNC standout proved over the weekend that, if needed in a pinch, the soon to be 25-year-old QB with 18 games of starting NFL experience would be a perfectly viable option. Meanwhile, Max Brosmer has impressed coaches, teammates and media members throughout the early-part of 2025 training camp. Still, most believed the former Gopher was destined for the Vikings' 2025 practice squad. Following his performance in week one of the preseason, however, that is no longer a guarantee. With two games remaining, both of which Brosmer is expected to get A LOT of playing time, the 24-year-old has an opportunity to make himself uncuttable by the time Minnesota's exhibition schedule is completed. Stock 📈: EDGE Gabe Murphy Gabe Murphy isn't new to any list that includes Minnesota Vikings training camp standouts. In 2024, after signing as an undrafted free agent, Murphy was one of the earliest rookies to stand out last summer. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury at the end of camp that landed him on injured reserve for a large chunk of the regular season. But exactly one year later, Murphy has picked up right where he left off prior to his injury this time last preseason. Even prior to Saturday's exhibition contest, Murphy was a player being regularly mentioned as an undrafted free agent making an impact at Minnesota Vikings practices. Against the Texans, he doubled down on that optimism with 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 5 QB hits, disrupting Houston's plans all afternoon in both their run and pass game. Murphy finished Saturday's preseason game with a 80.2 PFF grade on defense, a number that was buoyed by his 85.3 pass rush grade. Neither he nor Bo Richter will wow viewers in pass coverage — Murphy scored a 61.4 coverage grade vs Texans — but Gabe excelled everywhere else (69.6 Run DEF, 72.0 tackle). There isn't a lot of room on the Vikings' 53-man roster at outside linebacker, behind Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner, but Gabe Murphy has to be the current leader for the remaining 1-3 spots that are available. MN Vikings Stock 📈: K Will Reichard On Saturday, Will Reichard kicked four total field goals (2 XP, 2 FG) and hit all four in convincing fashion, including a 48-yarder that capped off a 13-play drive from the Minnesota Vikings starters early in the first quarter. This time last year, that would not have surprised anyone. Reichard came in as a 6th round pick out of Alabama and Vikings coaches were so impressed by his summer workouts that they cut his veteran competition, John Parker Romo, prior to their first preseason game. Will Reichard went on to hit 14 of his first 14 regular season NFL field goal attempts, to start out his MN Vikings career (along with a perfect XP mark – 23/23). Unfortunately, the rookie kicking phenom suffered an injury in week 9, which resulted in the first two misses of his career. Related: Reichard was placed on the injured list from week 10 to week 13, and when he returned, he was no longer Mr. Automatic, converting on just 4-of-6 field goal attempts. Both misses came from 40-49 yards, where Will had been automatic since becoming the starter in Alabama. After getting healthy over the offseason, most fans and media pundits expected the 24-year-old kicker to regain last year's camp form early this summer. Reality didn't play out that way, however. Instead, Reichard struggled with accuracy during the first few weeks of training camp. Thankfully, over the past week or two, it sounds like Will has turned things around. He was perfect during the Vikings' night practice last weekend, and hit on all four of his attempts against the Texans. Let's hope whatever had been going on since last season's injury is now behind the Minnesota Vikings' present and future at kicker. Stock 📈: RB Zavier Scott Lastly, we cannot make a 2025 Minnesota Vikings camp stock risers list without including rookie undrafted free agent running back, Zavier Scott, who has been one of the top standouts early on in training camp. Well, on Saturday against the Texans, he did absolutely nothing to slow down his preseason hype train. After his top competition for RB3, Ty Chandler, took 5 handoffs for a total of just 5 yards (1 YPC) — plus 3 receptions for 20 yards — Scott was given his first NFL preseason opportunity. And he was not going to let it go to waste, rushing 7 times for 40 yards (5.7 YPC), including a 12-yard toss play in the third quarter that showed off his speed and tackle-breaking abilities. Scott, a former wide receiver, also caught one screen pass for 11 yards and a first down. Related: I don't know if the Minnesota Vikings are ready to hand Xavier Scott the RB3 position just yet. But at this point, there is nothing that Ty Chandler does better than Scott out of the backfield (other than being one of the fastest players on the team). The converted Maine/UConn receiver can run the ball inside and outside, can obviously catch passes at a high level, and unlike Chandler, he can block a little bit too. Related Headlines MN Vikings Make Shocking Early Cut at LB; Confirm Rondale Moore Injury MN Twins Commit to New Catcher in Latest Roster Move MN Vikings QB Battle Heating Up – Max Brosmer Uncuttable, Sam Howell in Trouble…?
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Why is Rashee Rice's case being delayed?
On July 17, Vikings receiver Jordan Addison resolved a DUI citation by pleading guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge, with no jail time. He'll miss the first three games of the regular season. On July 17, Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies arising from a street racing crash that was caught on video, and that caused multiple injuries. He'll serve 30 days and spend five years on probation. And he'll be on the field for at least the first four games of the season, because his disciplinary hearing won't happen until September 30. It makes no sense. And it's making some wonder whether someone wants Rice to be available for a quartet of high-profile Kansas City games to start the season. From Week 1 against the Chargers in Brazil on YouTube to Week 2 against the Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox to Week 3 against the Giants on NBC's Sunday Night Football to Week 4 against the Ravens at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, Rice is now good to go. Given that his hearing will happen on Tuesday, September 30, he'll most likely be available for Week 5, a Monday night visit to Jacksonville on ESPN and ABC. As one league source observed, it usually doesn't work this way. With the player pleading guilty in the offseason, there's usually an urgency to finalize his discipline and have it begin before Week 1. 'Maybe I'm a conspiracy theorist,' the source said, 'but this is odd.' Added the source, 'You hardly ever see players get suspended in season unless they did something in season like a drug test or something.' Here, there's no dispute. Rice pleaded guilty. The question is only the extent of the punishment. Why didn't the league expedite the case? If all else fails, put him on paid leave until the case is resolved, and give him credit for the games he misses after the final punishment is issued. At a time when many think the league favors the Chiefs, situations like this will not become evidence to the contrary. If anything, it looks like the dominos have fallen in a way to ensure that Rice will be available for four, and likely five, high-profile games to be played on YouTube, CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN/ABC.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stafford expected to be eased back in with Rams
The Fantasy Football Happy Hour crew run through the Rotoworld Player News, including Matthew Stafford expected to be eased back into action, Jordan Addison's suspension and Keenan Allen returning to the Chargers.
CBS News
10-08-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
McCarthy makes brief return to help lead Vikings to 20-10 preseason win over Texans
J.J. McCarthy was solid in his brief return for the Vikings, going 4 of 7 for 30 yards while leading a scoring drive in his only series and Minnesota topped the Houston Texans 20-10 on Saturday in the teams' preseason opener. McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in last year's first preseason game, took the field to a rousing ovation from the home crowd. The first-round pick in last year's NFL draft out of Michigan completed his first four passes, three to Jordan Addison, who made a sliding grab for an 18-yard gain on the third. McCarthy also ran 8 yards for a first down on fourth-and-4 at the Texans 43 to keep alive a 58-yard scoring drive capped by Will Reichard's 48-yard field goal that put the Vikings up 3-0. "It was great to get things done from an operational standpoint," McCarthy said. "There's a lot we can build on off that — a lot more areas we can grow, me specifically, for sure. But I was really happy to string together (a drive) and get some points on the board." Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell also felt good about what he saw from his starting quarterback. "We don't do a lot of game-planning for these games," O'Connell said. "But we also want to give our guys a chance to go out there and have success. So there are going to be some plays where guys have to rise up and make some plays above the scheme, and he did that a couple of times with his legs. "It didn't really feel like he put the ball at harm's risk very much in that sequence of plays." The Texans responded on their own opening possession. Davis Mills, who got the start at quarterback after head coach DeMeco Ryans elected to sit starter C.J. Stroud, marched his team 74 yards in 10 plays to score on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Berrios that put his team in front 7-3. "I was really pleased with our first offensive group," Ryans said. "The way they stepped out very efficiently. I liked everybody just being very calm and composed. Davis did an excellent job of driving the ball down the field, commanding the huddle, putting the ball in really good placement." McCarthy, meanwhile, was replaced by backup Sam Howell before the Vikings' second possession. Howell played the rest of the first half, finishing 11 of 13 for 105 yards. He led Minnesota to a pair of scores: a 38-yard field goal by Reichard and his own 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Vikings a 13-7 halftime lead. Not all went the Vikings way, however. Wide receiver Rondale Moore, signed this offseason, was carted from the field after suffering what O'Connell said appears to be a serious left knee injury on a punt return early in the second quarter. He'll have an MRI on Sunday. Moore, who missed the entire 2024 season while with Atlanta after injuring a knee in the preseason, was expected to add receiving depth for Minnesota. The Vikings will be without Addison for the first three games of the regular season after he was suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. "It's heartbreaking," O'Connell said of Moore's injury. "I think anybody in the ballpark (today) could feel the emotion. It's one of the most painful things for me as a head coach. I make a life out of trying to leave others better than I found them, and in that particular situation, there's really nothing you can do." Houston's final two drives ended in interceptions of rookie Max Brosmer by Kahlef Hailassie, sealing a win for the Vikings in McCarthy's first game in almost exactly a year. "It felt amazing being back out there," said McCarthy, whose team has a pair of joint practices with the New England Patriots scheduled for this coming week. "Just really playing football again and being out there with the guys. There's nothing like it. I loved the way we played as a group collectively." Among the several Vikings veterans who didn't play were wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who's still recovering from a mild left hamstring strain he suffered late last month, and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, who continues to work his way back from a season-ending knee injury a year ago. Houston running back Nick Chubb, who signed with the team in the offseason, didn't play. He missed practice time during the week after taking a shot to the head. O'Connell said the Vikings also lost rookie center Zeke Correll to what X-rays showed was a right ankle fracture in the second half. Texans: Host the Carolina Panthers next Saturday. Vikings: Host the Patriots next Saturday. NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Aug. 1, 2025.
New York Times
10-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
J.J. McCarthy's preseason performance and other Vikings risers and fallers from win
MINNEAPOLIS — This is what the Vikings do. Right here. It was the first drive in the first quarter of a preseason game, but that doesn't mean it wasn't time for a play-action pass. Here was second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Faking the handoff. Planting his feet. Firing an out route, angled toward the left sideline. Advertisement The throw wasn't perfect, but it did not need to be. Why? Jordan Addison was the receiver diving and securing the catch. If you're looking for the sequence best representing what this will look like when the real games start, here you go. The offense will contain more running and a more diverse screen game, but creating explosive plays off of play-action will still sit at the core. 'Being able to trust that timing in real time, being able to trust the protection — it was a huge growing rep,' McCarthy said. That was head coach Kevin O'Connell's hope for Saturday. Winning 20-10 builds confidence, and there were many notable performances we'll soon get to, but the most important takeaway was always going to center around McCarthy. Could he communicate the plays effectively to the huddle? Could he holler out the correct cadences? Could he walk up to the line and assess the defensive picture with time to spare on the play clock? Narrator: He could. O'Connell sounded not content but satisfied. There were no pre-snap penalties, and McCarthy was making checks at the line of scrimmage. 'There was a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show that was exactly what I was looking for,' O'Connell said. 'Now, we go back to work.' A checkpoint. That's all O'Connell and McCarthy wanted this to be. McCarthy viewed it that way, but for a different hint of emotion. A year ago, on this same stage, he stepped wrongly and tore his meniscus. All of the hype that had built, all of the conversation centered around his potential ascent, vanished. The road back was tedious. It required a fixation on each individual day, as opposed to the bigger picture. He's kept his mind in that space for months, so Friday night, even he was surprised by the emotion. He was hit by it again during Saturday's national anthem. Advertisement 'Had a little tear drop, not going to lie,' McCarthy said. 'This game is the best game in the world. To be out there with this kind of group, and this coaching staff, was absolutely terrific.' McCarthy booted on one snap and found Addison near the sideline. He sailed a third-down pass over the middle intended for receiver Lucky Jackson. He scrambled and secured a fourth-down conversion. He escaped on another third down and nearly completed a throw-back attempt to running back Jordan Mason. The 4-for-7, 30-yard final stat line sums up the overall performance: some good, some that could be better. McCarthy mentioned accuracy as an area to improve. He also noted that there was an adjustment period against a vanilla Texans defense, compared to what he's been facing with Brian Flores's squad in training camp. 'Didn't really feel like he put the ball at harm's risk very much in that sequence of plays,' O'Connell said. And that, really, seems like O'Connell's benchmark. Knowing the defense's potential and believing in an improved special teams unit, what can this talented Vikings roster accomplish if McCarthy refrains from the disastrous negatives? It's a good question. It might be the question. After Saturday, we're that much closer to the answer. Taking it himself!@jjmccarthy09 📺: @FOX9 | @NFLNetwork — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 9, 2025 The buzz began early in training camp. The Vikings were having a hard time hiding the fact that they saw something in Scott, a 26-year-old who went undrafted in 2023. You could see why Saturday. Scott became the featured player of the team's third drive. He hammered his way into holes. He caught a screen and knifed his way up the field for an 11-yard gain. He showed some intriguing vision. The final numbers won't blow anyone away: He finished with 40 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. It was the trust head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings' offensive staff had, returning to him on five straight snaps, that says everything. Advertisement Last week, an AFC evaluator said of Howell: 'He's more of a gamer.' Howell had struggled early in training camp, albeit often against a first-team Brian Flores defense that uses random training camp afternoons as opportunities to rip the offense's heart out. He wasn't throwing in rhythm. There was more pre-snap congestion than the coaches would have liked. Howell did fumble a snap Saturday. Had he not recovered it, he may have lost the opportunity to display an impressive array of throws. There were arced passes and bullets. His receivers helped him, specifically Lucky Jackson on one over-the-top catch in the intermediate area, but he was an efficient 11-of-13 for 105 yards. Antennas rise when O'Connell speaks glowingly about a player, especially a quarterback. He praised Brosmer this summer. Brosmer's smarts, specifically. The Vikings targeted the Minnesota Golden Gophers product as an undrafted signing. O'Connell had watched Brosmer locally a couple of years ago in the pro day, and the continuity between the Gophers' offense and the Vikings' made it a fit. Brosmer hasn't been perfect in camp. But he has held his own alongside McCarthy, Howell and Brett Rypien. Saturday wasn't flawless, either. Brosmer was antsy at the beginning of his snaps as the fourth quarterback, and his offense lost a fumbled snap late. He progressed nicely on a third-down conversion and again in the red zone. His final line? 3-of-6 passing for 26 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota drafted Reichard with the idea that he'd be the team's long-term kicker. The evaluation seemed precise with the way he started his rookie season. He didn't miss any of his first 14 attempts. A quad injury slowed his roll in Week 8, forcing him to miss about a month. Even when he came back in Week 14, he couldn't find his early form. He made 11-of-15 tries, including in the wild-card round against the Los Angeles Rams, and the uneven end created some angst ahead of camp. Reichard didn't help his cause with a handful of misses in the first couple of weeks. However, he drilled six field goals Monday night. Saturday was a continuation of the arrow pointed up. Entering Saturday's game, this was a concern. It's not that the Vikings are afraid superstar receiver Justin Jefferson won't be ready for Week 1. To the contrary. Minnesota's staff also expected Jordan Addison's three-game suspension, so that news didn't change things. It's mostly that the options behind Jefferson, Addison and Jalen Nailor are mostly unproven. The one experienced candidate was Rondale Moore, who brutally injured his left leg on a punt return during Saturday's second quarter. Tim Jones, a fourth-year pro, was flagged twice on special teams. Rookie Tai Felton could play a role as a gunner, and Lucky Jackson snatched a couple of notable passes. Undrafted rookie Silas Bolden is easily the most dynamic returner on the roster, but how much faith will Minnesota's staff have knowing that the player will be trotting out in primetime under the lights in Chicago? This isn't about Blackmon's play on Saturday. He led the Vikings' defense with a combined five tackles. This is more about his current role. Blackmon, a third-round pick in 2023, who tore his ACL last year, took a ton of snaps Saturday with the second team. No. 1 cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. didn't play as part of a grouping of veteran starters who sat. Cornerbacks Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah were the featured corners, and it feels like it'd take a drastic change (from health or performance) to alter that standing. When you have Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, edge rusher isn't a position that causes worry. Backups, though, are always worth eyeing. And with the way Murphy and Richter sprang off the line of scrimmage Saturday afternoon, there isn't much of a question remaining. Murphy was credited with 1 1/2 sacks, and Richter had the other 1/2. Murphy also tallied four quarterback pressures. Neither of the two is massive in stature, but they possess a twitch and explosiveness that keeps them interesting. (Top photo of J.J. McCarthy: Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
