Vikings Preseason Week 1: The Good & The Bad
The first Vikings preseason contest is in the books. Kevin O’Connell’s unit survived due to a last-minute field goal, winning 24-23 versus the Las Vegas Raiders. It was the first of three scheduled exhibitions, and the next will be held on Saturday.
It was just one game, but we’ve learned a lot about this year’s group.
The Good
J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner
The future of the Minnesota Vikings was on display this past Saturday, as 2024 first-round draft picks J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner took the field wearing a Vikings uniform for the first time in their careers. And neither disappointed against the Raiders.
McCarthy stumbled out of the gates with a tough interception. He rebounded nicely, though, completing 11 passes on 17 attempts while hooking up with Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield Sr. for a pair of long touchdowns. McCarthy looked like a future starting quarterback, though there is still work to be done before he gets there.
Turner also flashed his starting potential, notching his first sack ever in a purple jersey. The rookie edge rusher seems poised to make an impact early in his career as a part of Brian Flores’ pass rush.
The Linebackers
Boy, does this linebacker room have some athletes in it? Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman both look ready to have great seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, combining for seven total tackles and looking sharp in their limited reps. Turner contributed with a sack, as we previously mentioned, but he wasn’t the only linebacker wreaking havoc on Las Vegas quarterbacks.
Bo Richter also had a sack and looked like a stud during his limited reps, while Brian Asamoah shared a sack with lineman James Lynch. Owen Porter was credited with a quarterback hit while also notching an impressive tackle for a loss in the game.
Dallas Gant is another linebacker whose name was called on tackles several times. This group looks much younger, more athletic, and deeper than in years past.
Offensive Playmakers
Trishton Jackson had a day against the Raiders, notching 100 yards on four catches. His touchdown was arguably the highlight of the game, as he reeled in a deep ball from McCarthy for a 45-yard score. His huge showing is a statement in his case to make the roster.
Jalen Nailor also looked solid during his time on the field. His excellent training camp and first preseason showing are promising signs he can contribute this season. Kene Nwangu showed Las Vegas why giving him space when the ball is in his hands is not a good idea. He ripped off a long 48-yard touchdown run, showing off the speed that made the Vikings covet him as a draft prospect.
Though he will primarily contribute on kickoffs, adding that burst to the running game would be a big benefit, along with the elusive Aaron Jones and shifty Ty Chandler.
The Bad
The Secondary
The biggest weakness of the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 looks to be secondary depth, especially at the cornerback position. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell looked efficient against this unit, completing 61.9% of their passes on the day for a combined 193 passing yards.
This was apparent early in the game, as Minshew and the Raiders’ offense pulled ahead of the Vikings 20-7 before halftime. Outside of Theo Jackson and recently signed Bobby McCain, no one in the secondary flashed, which is concerning considering the lack of depth behind the starting unit.
This explains why the Vikings have recently sought help in the defensive backfield, trading Andrew Booth Jr. to Dallas in a cornerback-swapping move for Nashon Wright. This likely will continue to be a need they look to address further before the regular season. Otherwise, we may see some long Sundays ahead defensively.
Rookie Mistake
Though his overall day may have been the brightest spot of the Vikings preseason opener, McCarthy’s third pass of the game reminded us why there is normally an adjustment period for rookie quarterbacks.
In the second quarter, McCarthy and the Vikings faced a 3rd-and-9 situation. The pocket collapsed as McCarthy dropped back to pass, forcing him to roll out towards the boundary. With defenders on his heels, he pushed a pass out to Trishton Jackson, which Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones stepped in front of for an interception.
The agile McCarthy had some field in front of him to work with and likely could have gotten close to ‒ if not past ‒ the first down marker if he tucked the ball and ran. He rebounded nicely after this play and had an excellent finish to the day, which is promising to see in the psyche of a young quarterback. Still, this rep should serve as a reminder to all Vikings fans to temper the expectations for McCarthy as he develops behind Sam Darnold and the tutelage of O’Connell.
The Kicking Unit
Will Reichard won the game with his leg and likely would have had another field goal made in the game had it not been for Las Vegas blocking an attempt in the second quarter. At that time, the Vikings were down 17-7 to the Raiders and had just given up a touchdown in the previous drive.
With roughly three minutes to go in the half, the Vikings allowed Raiders defenders to penetrate the line and get a hand on Reichard’s kick. The rookie finished nicely on the day, booting a field goal that ultimately won the game for the Vikings. However, seeing the one poor play from the kicking unit is a concern that must be addressed before the season begins.
General Thoughts
Darnold looked efficient in his limited time on the field, which is all you can expect from a veteran quarterback during the first preseason game. He didn’t steal the show as McCarthy did, but he was effective with his arm and looked poised in his first showing as the Vikings quarterback. Barring some major changes, he seems set to be the starter in Minnesota for the foreseeable future.
Levi Drake Rodriguez looks to be a find for the Vikings. He was a lightning bug on the defensive line, notching a sack and even batting down a pass in the game. The 2024 seventh-round pick had a great initial showing as he looks to make the roster.
The Vikings’ offensive line played well throughout the game, keeping their quarterbacks upright and helping their running backs total 142 yards. Though most of the starting offensive line played sparingly in the game, seeing the depth behind them hold up is promising.
Theo Jackson led the game in tackles for the Vikings, and his solid performance confirmed the hype that the coaches and the media have been building during training camp. The rangy, sure tackling safety seems poised to have a bigger role this season.
I touched on the linebackers earlier, but pass rushers Porter and Richter are both making cases to be on the 2024 Minnesota Vikings roster. The UDFAs each made an impact on the defense in this game and have also had similar flashes during the training camp practices. They join Gabe Murphy (who was sidelined in this game with an undisclosed injury) and Dwight McGlothern as undrafted finds with a chance to make the roster this season.
Editor’s Note: Information from ESPN helped with this article.
The Vikings Rookie Is Asked to Provide Stability