The Minnesota Vikings enter 2025 training camp with a 14-win foundation, a new starting quarterback and major questions in the secondary. J.J. McCarthy is set to take command after missing his rookie season, while Minnesota’s rebuilt interior offensive line and unsettled defensive backfield will be under close watch in Eagan.
SEO Title: Minnesota Vikings 2025 Training Camp Preview: J.J. McCarthy, CB Battle and Schedule
SEO Description: The Minnesota Vikings open 2025 camp with J.J. McCarthy taking over at quarterback, a competition at cornerback and a revamped offensive line.
Minnesota Vikings 2025 Training Camp Preview
Minnesota’s rookies are scheduled to report to the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, on July 20, with veterans due two days later on July 22.
- Rookie reporting date: July 20
- Veteran reporting date: July 22
- Camp location: TCO Performance Center, Eagan, Minnesota
The Vikings will also make NFL history during the regular season. They are set to become the first club to play games in two different international countries in one season, traveling to Ireland in Week 4 and England in Week 5.
McCarthy Takes Over a Loaded Offense
Everything in Minnesota begins with McCarthy. The second-year quarterback will make his long-awaited return after an injury kept him out for all of the 2024 campaign.
The Vikings opted not to add an established veteran quarterback after Daniel Jones chose Indianapolis in free agency. Sam Howell is in the room, but McCarthy faces no apparent threat to the starting job as camp opens.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has helped quarterbacks thrive in his system, including Sam Darnold during Minnesota’s 2024 season. McCarthy inherits an offense featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, along with an offensive line that received significant offseason attention.
McCarthy’s performance could shape not only Minnesota’s season but also the balance of the NFC North. The Vikings improved their roster on paper after winning 14 games, but their ceiling depends on whether their young quarterback can keep the offense productive.
Cornerback and Safety Questions Await Flores
The most important position battle in camp is expected to unfold opposite Byron Murphy at cornerback. Minnesota has not added a veteran cornerback clearly positioned to take that starting role, leaving several players with an opportunity to emerge.
- Mekhi Blackmon returns after missing the entire 2024 season with an ACL injury.
- Isaiah Rodgers is expected to compete for the No. 2 cornerback role.
- Jeff Okudah also enters camp as part of the battle.
The safety picture carries uncertainty as well. Camryn Bynum, Minnesota’s third safety last season, left for Indianapolis. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores frequently deployed three-safety packages in 2024, making the replacement decision important if he continues to use those personnel groupings.
Theo Jackson could receive an expanded opportunity, though Minnesota could still look to add a veteran closer to the start of the season.
Offensive Line Overhaul Faces an Early Test
Interior pressure repeatedly caused problems for Darnold last season, prompting general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to remake the middle of the offensive line.
- Center Ryan Kelly joined Minnesota after playing in Indianapolis.
- Guard Will Fries also arrived from the Colts.
- The Vikings selected guard Donovan Jackson in the first round of the draft.
The projected starting group looks stronger, but health will be a major storyline. Kelly and Fries are coming off injury-affected seasons, while left tackle Christian Darrisaw is returning from a knee injury that ended his 2024 season.
Minnesota’s starters have the talent to give McCarthy improved protection, but the depth chart behind them remains a concern if injuries again hit the offensive front.
Vikings Preseason Schedule
- Week 1: Houston Texans at Vikings, Saturday, Aug. 9, 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network
- Week 2: New England Patriots at Vikings, Saturday, Aug. 16, 1 p.m. ET
- Week 3: Vikings at Tennessee Titans, Friday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m. ET, CBS
