There was a time when sports fans dreamed of the day they would be afforded the opportunity to watch their favorite teams in an a la carte format. That way they wouldn’t be stuck with hefty cable and satellite bills to pay for programming they didn’t want.

So why are so many sports enthusiasts upset that that day has arrived? Because it’s nothing like they imagined.

The original thought was that Regional Sports Networks (RSN) — such as Fox Sports North turned Bally Sports turned FanDuel Sports Network — would be made available in a package that only featured sports networks.

The problem is what no one saw coming was the implosion of the RSN model. That left teams and leagues without a vital revenue source and forced them to go it alone. Instead of being able to watch the Lynx, Timberwolves, Twins and Wild all on one channel, fans not only have to pay to watch each one, but they also must figure out where games are being shown.

This includes big national television contracts — the NBA is entering the second season of an 11-year, $76 billion broadcasting agreement — that makes multiple subscriptions necessary to watch your favorite teams on a nightly basis.

“Fans used to be able to get all of their favorite teams’ games in one spot,” said Mitch Helgerson, the Wild’s chief revenue officer and executive vice president. “That is no longer the case, and that’s the downside of this. If we all had the ideal scenario, we would still be able to do that. But the world has changed.”

WILD PARTNERS WITH PRIME VIDEO

The Wild revealed their plans to start their own network in July.

On Wednesday, the team announced it had entered into a multiyear local streaming agreement with Prime Video to show all of its non-nationally televised games and first-round playoff games. Fans can watch games on Prime by paying $19.99 a month or $99.99 for an annual subscription. The NHL also was involved in an agreement that placed five other teams — Anaheim, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas and St. Louis — under the Prime umbrella.

The subscription is available to all Amazon customers, meaning you don’t have to be a Prime member to stream games. However, Prime members will have to pay the subscription price to watch games on what will be branded as Wild+.

If you were used to watching the Wild on cable or satellite, there will be channels dedicated to carrying their games. (No word yet on if YouTube TV will be involved.) That’s the same setup Major League Baseball has used in helping several teams, including the Twins, air games in recent years. The Twins channel doesn’t carry programming until a brief pregame show comes on and is followed by the game.

To watch Twins.TV via streaming, it costs the same monthly and yearly prices that the Wild will charge. The Twins also have a package of 10 games that aired free this season on FOX9. The Wild are expected to have an over-the-air partner show a yet-to-be disclosed number of games. Last season, KSTC (Ch. 45) carried four Wild games and sister-station KSTP (Ch. 5) had one. It’s likely the Wild will return to one or both of those channels.

The Wild also will have 17 games aired exclusively on national television. That includes two on ABC, five on ESPN, three on ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu and seven on TNT.

THE WOLVES’ PLAN

The Timberwolves have yet to announce a price for what it will cost to watch their games via the DAZN streaming service. DAZN will broadcast 15 local games for free on its app without requiring a paid subscription, and there is expected to be a package of games shown on over-the-air television.

But, unlike with the Wild and Twins, there will be no cable and satellite arrangement, so you will have to subscribe to DAZN to watch the majority of Wolves games. The Wolves’ star appeal — with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball leading the way — means they won’t be lacking for national coverage either.

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One of these years Bill Guerin is going to be able to make the media rounds at the Minnesota State Fair without having to answer questions about ongoing contract negotiations with a star player.

But for a second consecutive year, the Wild general manager did not have that luxury. Last summer, the focus was on Kirill Kaprizov and whether the high-scoring winger would enter the final season of his contract without signing an extension. On Tuesday, it was defenseman Quinn Hughes’ status that was the topic du jour as Guerin visited with various podcast, radio and television outlets.

Hughes is entering the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million annual average value) that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021. The Wild inherited that contract, which expires on July 1, 2027, when Guerin made a blockbuster trade for the 2023–24 Norris Trophy winner in December.

You would think that Wild fans would be used to this by now. Kaprizov did not reach an agreement with the Wild until 10 days before the start of the regular season, when he signed an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $17 million.

The anxiousness surrounding the Hughes situation might already have surpassed the hyperventilation that accompanied the Kaprizov talks. That’s in part because Kaprizov didn’t have brothers playing in the NHL. New Jersey Devils fans have attempted to convince themselves — and anyone else who will listen — that Hughes is a year away from joining brothers Jack and Luke in Newark.

Guerin, who won a Stanley Cup playing for the Devils in 1995, isn’t buying it. “I’m confident” about Hughes staying, Guerin said. “That’s the luxury I have of being on the inside. There’s always the other side of it. I can be confident, you can be insecure, you just have to work through the process of the negotiations, figuring out what the player wants, what it will take to keep him, make him happy.”

Making the 26-year-old Hughes happy is of the utmost importance. Guerin traded what amounted to four first-round picks to get Hughes from the Canucks. Center Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium — the Wild’s first-round picks in 2020, 2022 and 2024, respectively — and a 2026 first-round selection went to Vancouver in the deal.

The Wild got exactly what they were hoping for as Hughes had 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 games. His point and assist total surpassed Ryan Suter’s single-season franchise marks for a defenseman. Hughes added 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 11 postseason games as the Wild beat Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to Colorado.

The Canucks only traded Hughes because he had told them he did not plan to re-sign with them after his contract expired. Vancouver, however, was on its way to finishing last in the NHL with 58 points. Hitting the reset button made sense.

The Wild have no such issues.

Their 104 points put them seventh in the NHL last season — Minnesota finished third in the Central Division — and Hughes joined a roster that included wingers Kaprizov (45 goals, 90 points) and Matt Boldy (42 goals, 85 points) and defenseman Brock Faber (15 goals, 51 points). Hughes and Faber became one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL and along with Boldy, the three played on the U.S. team that won gold last February at the Winter Olympics. Guerin was the general manager of that team.

There is every reason to believe the Wild will continue to be one of the NHL’s better teams this season — especially if they can acquire center Dylan Larkin from Detroit. Larkin, who has a no-trade clause, demanded out after last season, and Minnesota was one of three teams he listed as a place he would go.

The Wild’s talks with Hughes might have got a push in the right direction last week when Colorado defenseman Cale Makar because the highest-paid player in NHL history, signing an eight-year extension that will carry an AAV of $20.4 million when it kicks in next season.

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The Vikings trimmed their roster from 90 to 53 players by the 5 p.m. deadline on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean this is the version they will take into their Sept. 13 regular-season opener against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium.

General manager Nolan Teasley — making his first significant moves since becoming the Vikings’ general manager on May 30 — and coach Kevin O’Connell retained all four quarterbacks, but it’s likely one of them will be jettisoned in the coming days.

The Vikings also are extremely thin at the edge-rusher position, especially with Tyler Batty lost for the season after tearing his ACL in the preseason finale on Friday in Denver.

The Vikings will have until noon Monday to put in waiver claims on players who interest them. They also can begin signing guys to their 16-member practice squad at 11 a.m. Monday. Teasley likely will try to keep several of the players the Vikings cut on Sunday, but they must first clear waivers.

Below is the Vikings’ 53-man roster and players they placed on waivers and released. The difference is that players with fewer than four accrued seasons go on waivers, and players with four or more accrued seasons are released. That makes them free agents and gives them the ability to sign a new contract with a team of their choosing.

The Vikings also waived six players with injury designations, meaning the team has to negotiate an injury settlement with them.

OFFENSE (26)

QUARTERBACKS (4)

Kyler Murray (pictured)

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Analysis: Once you get past Murray being the starter, there are plenty of questions. There was speculation the Vikings might trade McCarthy over the weekend, but that didn’t happen. The Vikings’ 53-man roster was posted on their website by position and had players listed in depth chart form. McCarthy remains QB2, despite the fact his preseason was shortened by an ankle injury and he was unable to start in the exhibition finale. If McCarthy remains on the roster, Brosmer likely will be run through waivers and added to the practice squad. I’d still expect Wentz to be QB2 for the Packers game.

RUNNING BACKS (3)

Aaron Jones, Sr.

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Placed on waivers

Jermar Jefferson (waived injured)

Zavier Scott

Analysis: Jones and Mason, who came into training camp in fantastic shape, will be counted on to carry the workload in the Vikings’ revamped running game. It wasn’t a surprise that Claiborne made the roster, but the speedy rookie still has plenty to learn and the Vikings could be in trouble if anything happens to Jones and/or Mason. Jones, 31, was limited to 12 games last year because of injury. Concerns about Claiborne’s game include ball security, receiving ability and pass protection. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Vikings signed Scott to their practice squad and made him one of their Week 1 elevations to the active roster. There is also a chance the Vikings could claim or sign a running back who was let go by another team.

FULLBACK (1)

Max Bredeson

Analysis: Bredeson, a fifth-round pick in April, is likely to see extensive playing time as the Vikings incorporate a rushing attack introduced by new assistant head coach Frank Smith. Smith’s scheme puts an emphasis on the use of a fullback. Bredeson, who played college football at Michigan, can catch the ball, but his primary responsibility will be to open running lanes for Jones and Mason.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Dillon Bell

Placed on waivers

Michael Briscoe

Terrill Davis

Dontae Fleming (waived injured)

Trayvon Rudolph

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Reserve/suspended list

Jeshaun Jones

Analysis: I thought the Vikings would keep only five players at the position, but they must have decided Bell would get claimed off waivers. The undrafted free agent from Georgia was especially impressive in offseason workouts. Jefferson, Addison and Jennings hold the top three spots on the depth chart, but Felton and Price both looked excellent in training camp. Felton struggled with drops at times, but he made several impressive catches. Price is expected to serve as the primary kickoff and punt returner, but his improvement in the receiving game was frequently on display.

TIGHT ENDS (4)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Ben Yurosek

Gavin Bartholomew

Placed on waivers

Marshall Lang

Matt Lauter

Bryson Nesbit (waived injured)

Analysis: Another spot where I guessed wrong on how many players the Vikings would keep. I thought it would be three: Hockenson, Oliver and Bartholomew, who missed his rookie season after being a sixth-round pick in 2025. Bartholomew caught just about everything thrown his way in camp. Yurosek, who is a skilled blocker, made the Vikings last season as an undrafted free agent. This is a position at which Teasley and O’Connell could play with the numbers, if they decide to add at another spot.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8)

LT Christian Darrisaw

LG Donovan Jackson

C Blake Brandel

RG Will Fries

RT Brian O’Neill

T Ryan Van Demark

T Caleb Tiernan

G Joe Huber

Placed on waivers

G Henry Byrd

C Gavin Gerhardt

G Joshua Gray

G Vershon Lee

OL Tristan Leigh

OL Delby Lemieux

OL Tomas Rimac

Placed on injured reserve/designation to return

C Michael Jurgens

Traded

OL Walter Rouse was sent to New England with a 2027 seventh-round selection in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Analysis: This is two fewer linemen than the Vikings kept in final cuts last year. Is that Teasley’s influence, or an indication that a player or two from the outside will be added? There are a few concerns with the current group. Tiernan, a third-round pick in April, hasn’t practiced since suffering an ankle injury in the preseason opener. He’s likely to be inactive in Week 1. Jurgens’ injury means he will miss at least four games and that Brandel’s backup at center will be Huber. Huber is also the backup at both guard positions. The Vikings could sign one of the guards they cut to the practice squad and promote him on game day. Increasing the depth at center might have to come via the waiver wire or a signing.

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The Vikings closed their preseason with a 34-6 loss at Denver on Friday night that sent a clear message: the Broncos’ junior varsity is superior to Minnesota’s. But many of the players who saw extensive action on both sides no longer will be on either roster once roster cuts from 90 to 53 are announced at 5 p.m. Sunday.

So, what did we learn on Friday? Here are four observations:

J.J. MCCARTHY’S FUTURE REMAINS MURKY

The quarterback didn’t play because of an ankle sprain suffered last Saturday against the Ravens. What was odd is both coach Kevin O’Connell and McCarthy downplayed the severity of the injury after the game, and McCarthy was able to take part in practices on Monday and Tuesday.

McCarthy then sat out a longer practice on Wednesday. O’Connell said before that session that he hoped McCarthy would be able to start on Friday in Denver and later said the goal was to have him play the entire first half.

But early in the day it was reported McCarthy didn’t feel comfortable playing in the game, but there were no long-term concerns from the team about the 23-year-old’s health.

A conspiracy theorist might suggest that report tells other teams that McCarthy and the Vikings aren’t taking any chances with his health, but he would be good to go for any team that wanted to acquire him.

The relationship between the Vikings and McCarthy has felt off for months. Kyler Murray and McCarthy opened training camp both getting first-team reps, but no one really thought McCarthy had a chance to win the job.

There has been speculation the Vikings could release McCarthy in final cuts, but it seems hard to believe they would do that. A trade, however, feels like a real possibility. The only question being what could the Vikings get for him?

Ideally, the Vikings would make McCarthy their No. 3 quarterback — he has at least one year left on his contract, two if the team exercises a fifth-year option — but that’s feeling less and less likely. McCarthy has insisted he wants to remain in Minnesota, but this seems like a situation where both the team and player could use a fresh start.

CARSON WENTZ LOOKS LIKE A LOCK FOR QB2

With McCarthy sitting out, Carson Wentz got the start and went 3-for-4 for 15 yards in two series before being replaced by Max Brosmer.

There were many who felt the Vikings’ decision to bring back Wentz on a one-year, $3 million contract in March meant that McCarthy would end up battling Wentz for the backup job. It looks like they were right.

McCarthy has gotten far more reps than Wentz in camp, but the decision to sit McCarthy on Wednesday gave Wentz all the second-team reps in what amounted to a situational scrimmage. The Vikings also have been confident from the outset that the 33-year-old Wentz could run the system without having a lot of reps.

O’Connell didn’t give a timetable on when he might declare his No. 2 quarterback for the Sept. 13 opener against the Packers — it won’t be an issue if McCarthy isn’t around after final cuts — but McCarthy being unable to play on Friday brought us closer to Wentz being behind Murray on the depth chart.

BAD TIMING

One of the best stories out of Vikings training camp was the performance of undrafted free agent safety Jacob Thomas. Thomas’ play was so impressive that coordinator Brian Flores was giving him regular first-team reps, and the 22-year-old appeared to be a lock to make the 53-man roster.

That’s still the case, but Thomas’ momentum was slowed on Friday as he suffered a Grade 1 ankle sprain in the first quarter, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. A Grade 1 sprain usually requires one to three weeks for recovery.

That would make Thomas unlikely to be available for the regular-season opener. Safety Theo Jackson also has been sidelined for more than a week after sustaining a leg injury in a joint practice with the Ravens. O’Connell is hoping Jackson can return in Week 1, but he’s nearly certain to open that week on the injury report.

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Whether the Twins succumbed to public pressure or common sense finally prevailed, general manager Jeremy Zoll finally made the right decision on Thursday by having top prospect Walker Jenkins make the 11-mile drive from CHS Field to Target Field.

The Twins’ failure to make the move a couple of weeks ago — Jenkins has been tearing up Triple-A this month — proved baffling. Not because Jenkins was going to be the final piece to a World Series puzzle, but because the decision signified a very odd line in the sand for a franchise that isn’t in a position to draw such lines.

Tom Pohlad, the latest member of his family to run the franchise, has spent the season apologizing for previous ownership mistakes, running numerous promotions to try to get fans back to Target Field and approving the addition of salary at the trade deadline for a team in the wild card race. That’s no small thing considering how much payroll the Twins had cut in recent years.

Yet as Jenkins got hotter and hotter at the plate — he was hitting .344 with nine home runs, 15 RBI and 27 runs over his past 31 games for the St. Paul Saints — the Twins continued to delay his major league arrival.

There were some who pointed to the fact that an expected MLB lockout next year could delay the season for an unknown amount of time. If Jenkins was called up and added to the 40-man roster he would be ineligible to play for the Saints.

But that made little sense, given that the Twins had called up shortstop Kaelen Culpepper from St. Paul on Aug. 7. Culpepper, whom the Twins drafted with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2024 draft, was the team’s second-ranked prospect at the time. Jenkins, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft, was No. 1. (The Tigers called up the No. 3 pick from the 2023 draft, outfielder Max Clark, on July 31. Both Clark and Jenkins are 21 years old.)

Culpepper, who at 23 is two years older than Jenkins, has done nothing to make the Twins regret their decision. Culpepper is hitting .333/.381/.526 with three home runs and six RBI in 16 games.

One can fret about the possibility that Culpepper might be locked out at this time next year but that’s the last thing on manager Derek Shelton and his players’ minds right now.

If the Twins were going to hold firm and not summon Jenkins from the Saints, that changed on Tuesday night in Sacramento when center fielder Byron Buxton pulled up while pursuing a ball hit by Henry Bolte. Buxton’s troublesome right hip — one that has impacted his play since he returned from the injured list in late July — had struck again.

Buxton was removed from the game, and it won’t be a surprise if he goes back on the IL. Ideally, the Twins would have had Jenkins available to take over in center field to end a disastrous (1-5) road trip, but, instead, Luke Keaschall was forced to start on Wednesday night in center and his struggles proved costly in a series-ending loss.

Before Buxton’s exit, there had been questions about where Jenkins would play, but I’m guessing his red-hot bat could have helped him find a regular spot in left or right field.

The Twins are now 6.5 games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and four games behind Cleveland for the third and final wild card spot. They open a crucial three-game series on Friday night against the White Sox and will then play host to Detroit for three. Their next 15 games are against Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit.

Putting Jenkins in this race — assuming it still can be called that — makes perfect sense. He won’t be counted on to save the season, but his production at Triple-A served notice that he deserved a look with the big-league club.

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The Vikings conducted what amounted to a controlled scrimmage on Wednesday to wrap up training camp practices, but backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy spent the 19-period session as a spectator. Still, coach Kevin O’Connell is hoping McCarthy can start the preseason finale on Friday night in Denver.

O’Connell gave McCarthy the practice off to rest the ankle sprain he suffered in playing the first quarter of the Vikings’ exhibition game last Saturday against Baltimore. McCarthy took part in lighter practice sessions on Monday and Tuesday, and O’Connell said that McCarthy and Carson Wentz split the second-team reps on Tuesday in order to decrease McCarthy’s workload.

“At this point, maybe not getting as many (reps) as we wanted to in the last preseason game, I think these reps are still so important,” O’Connell said when asked about McCarthy potentially starting Friday. “I know we look at all this as such a big picture thing all the time, but I still look at these reps for a young player as really important. He's had a really good offseason and a good training camp. I still think these reps are important for him to go out there and move the ball, move the team and put the ball in the end zone. That's the goal, but also if we can't get him there, we can't get him there.”

O’Connell said McCarthy is dealing with a deltoid ankle sprain. “He actually came in feeling pretty good after the game, and there's just some things he's had to work through this week,” O’Connell said.

O’Connell said the coaching staff continues to discuss which players will see action on Friday, but he expects Wentz to get some playing time. If McCarthy can’t go, Wentz could start the game and play a few series before Max Brosmer takes over.

Wentz got all of the second-team work on Wednesday, and there’s a chance he will be QB2 behind starter Kyler Murray for the Sept. 13 opener against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Asked about when he wants to have a decision on the backup quarterback made, O’Connell said: “To me it's making an assessment for what we think is best for the team. Like I said, I think these reps are important, the reps in the game are important.”

If McCarthy can’t go on Friday that seemingly would put Wentz in position to grab the backup job.

Here are other notes and quotes from Wednesday:

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The Vikings had a second consecutive light practice on Tuesday at TCO Performance Center ahead of their preseason finale on Friday night in Denver. Here are a few items of interest:

• Maximum pressure: Max Brosmer was at quarterback for an eight-snap, late-game drive in which the offense trailed by four points with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining. He completed five of eight passes to get the offense into scoring position with 13 seconds left. Brosmer’s pass for wide receiver Michael Briscoe was broken up in the end zone by cornerback Jarod Washington to end the period.

• What’s the plan at QB? Kevin O’Connell’s plan for which quarterback will start Friday’s game isn’t known, but the Vikings coach will address the media on Wednesday. Last season, Brosmer and Brett Rypien played against Tennessee in the final exhibition game.

• Splitting reps: J.J. McCarthy, who came out of Saturday’s preseason game against Baltimore after taking a low hit, took 13 snaps (seven in 11-on-11 and six in 7-on-7) over the past two practices. Wentz was in for 14 snaps (eight in team and six in 7-on-7). McCarthy completed both of his throws from deep in the red zone for touchdowns to end Tuesday’s practice. Kyler Murray took 26 snaps on Monday, including 18 in team drills, but was in for only seven snaps on Tuesday. That included three in 11-on-11 red-zone work.

• A new position? In the Vikings’ joint practices against the Ravens last week, outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss took a snap at fullback. This week he has switched from No. 57 to No. 40. Chambliss, who is 6-1, 244 pounds, continues to work with the defense, but the number change raises questions about where the Vikings might be planning to use him. This should have no impact on rookie fullback Max Bredeson, who has impressed throughout training camp.

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The Vikings held a light practice in shorts and shells on a humid Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. That leaves only two sessions remaining this week before the team travels to Denver for its final preseason game on Friday. The roster cutdown from 90 to 53 players must be complete by 5 p.m. Sunday. Here’s a look at what happened Monday.

• McCarthy participates: J.J. McCarthy exited Saturday’s preseason loss to Baltimore one series earlier than expected after he slowly left the field following a low hit late in the first quarter. Coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy was “a little hobbled there,” but McCarthy said he would be fine. McCarthy took two snaps in 7-on-7 and three in team drills.

• Will McCarthy play against the Broncos? O’Connell’s next media availability will be on Wednesday so that’s the earliest we will find out his plan for the preseason finale. I’m guessing McCarthy won’t play against the Broncos, and that Carson Wentz (four snaps in team and two in 7-on-7 on Monday) might get a few series before Max Brosmer plays the majority of the game. Kyler Murray’s one series against the Giants in the exhibition opener will be his last game action until the Vikings begin the regular season on Sept. 13 against the Green Bay Packers.

• Murray stays busy: The veteran quarterback completed all eight of the passes he attempted in 7-on-7 and took 18 snaps in 11-on-11 team work. Murray hit on seven of 10 passes in the latter sessions, and two of his incompletions were to Jordan Addison. On the second, Murray attempted to hit Addison over the deep middle, but the pass was short, and Byron Murphy Jr. went up to make the interception as Isaiah Rodgers assisted in coverage.

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The training camp atmosphere will disappear from TCO Performance Center this week as the Vikings resume practice on Monday with fans no longer in attendance and only three practices remaining that will be open to the media.

The Vikings will close their exhibition schedule on Friday night in Denver, and the roster must be cut from 90 players to the regular-season limit of 53 players by 5 p.m. next Sunday.

General manager Nolan Teasley and coach Kevin O’Connell will spend this week getting a final look at some guys on the bubble and crafting a plan for the roster. Here are a few things that will be top of mind:

THE PLAN FOR MCCARTHY

This one will be interesting to watch unfold after O’Connell said the quarterback came out of Saturday’s preseason start against Baltimore because he had gotten “banged up.” O’Connell acknowledged he would have played a fifth series if that hadn’t happened.

McCarthy, who took three hits and was sacked once in 18 snaps, hobbled off the field after being hit in the pocket late in the first quarter. Injuries are nothing new for McCarthy, who missed time last season because of a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a fracture in his throwing hand. That came after he sat out his rookie year because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.

After Saturday’s game, McCarthy said he didn’t expect to miss any practice time this week, but that will be a decision made by the Vikings’ athletic training staff. O’Connell said last week that McCarthy is the No. 2 quarterback behind Kyler Murray, but his shaky performance Saturday could change that.

If McCarthy doesn’t practice to begin this week, that would put Carson Wentz in position to take the second-team reps. Wentz replaced McCarthy on Saturday — he went 9-for-11 for 92 yards and led the Vikings on a field-goal drive to end the first half — and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him second on the depth chart in Week 1.

IN THE RUNNING FOR ROSTER SPOTS

Here are six position battles to keep an eye on this week:

• Claiborne vs. Scott: Given how many second-team reps sixth-round rookie running back Demond Claiborne (pictured above) has received in camp, it’s hard to believe he won’t make the final roster. Claiborne’s speed (4.37 in the 40) is difficult to dismiss, but he has had issues with fumbling and catching the ball. He also needs to be more patient in waiting for his blocks to develop. Given Claiborne is only 22 years old, those are things that will take time for him to learn. This is where keeping Zavier Scott has to be a consideration. Scott, 27, isn’t flashy but you know what you’re going to get. He had 114 yards on 32 carries last season in 16 games and also played 36 percent of the snaps on special teams. Last year, the Vikings kept four running backs in the final cutdown, but that was because fullback C.J. Ham began the season on injured reserve. Rookie fullback Max Bredeson is a lock for the 53-man roster this year. It would not be a surprise if Scott is cut on Sunday and quickly signed to the practice squad.

• Byrd vs. Rouse: If the Vikings keep 10 offensive linemen, which is what they did last year, the battle likely will be between Henry Byrd and Walter Rouse. Byrd is listed as a guard, but started at left tackle on Saturday with the second team. Rouse, a sixth-round pick in 2024, is listed as a tackle but has been playing guard in camp. Versatility is the key here, and the Vikings are going to have to make a decision on which player they think offers more upside. Ryan Van Demark will be the top backup at both tackle positions, and Joe Huber is expected to hold the same role at the guard spots.

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There are plenty of reasons to assume J.J. McCarthy will enter the regular season as the Vikings’ No. 2 quarterback. He opened training camp in what coach Kevin O’Connell said was a competition with Kyler Murray for the starting job — Murray was named the starter on Aug. 11 — and then took every rep with the second team in this week’s joint practices with Baltimore.

With Murray and the majority of the Vikings’ starters not playing in Saturday’s 13-3 preseason loss to the visiting Ravens, McCarthy got the start and played four series before being replaced by veteran Carson Wentz.

But after McCarthy’s performance — five of 10 for 81 yards and two first downs — it’s fair to have a revised opinion of his status. One that would make him QB3 and Wentz the backup for the Vikings’ regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

There has been speculation about this since the Vikings signed Murray in March and brought back Wentz. McCarthy spent the offseason honing his craft after an injury-filled and inconsistent first season as a starter in 2025. He has had some solid practices and shaky moments in training camp.

But O’Connell’s decision on his backup isn’t likely to be determined by what might be the floor or ceiling of McCarthy’s play. Rather, it will be based on this: If Murray goes down, who is more trustworthy to run the offense in an efficient manner on short notice?

Murray’s injury history is well documented — he has played a full season only once in the past five years — and assuming he will start 17 games this season would be foolhardy.

McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft by the Vikings, is only 23 years old and writing him off as a bust might be tempting but would be premature.

McCarthy’s second series Saturday might have served as the best example of why the Vikings see potential in him but would be hesitant to give him the keys to the offense. On second-and-7 from his own 40-yard line, McCarthy stepped up in the pocket and let loose with a pass deep down the right side for Tai Felton. The wide receiver, who has had an impressive camp, came down with the ball after skying over Ravens safety Silas Walters for a 50-yard gain to the Ravens 10.

McCarthy then connected with running back Demond Claiborne for a 7-yard gain before having incompletions to Felton and Myles Price sandwiched in between a Claiborne 2-yard run that put the ball at the Ravens 1-yard line.

The pass for Felton was a McCarthy fastball that sailed out of the end zone. The fourth-down throw to Price was worse because the wide receiver was wide open in the end zone, and McCarthy missed him with another fastball that sailed over his head.

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The Vikings have completed 16 of their 19 training camp practices, including two joint sessions with the Baltimore Ravens, and are only nine days from having to cut their roster from 90 to 53 players.

General manager Nolan Teasley and coach Kevin O’Connell will have a few tough decisions when it comes to the bottom of the roster, and coordinator Brian Flores will have plenty of say on defense.

There are two preseason games remaining — Saturday against the Ravens and next Friday against the Broncos — so the Vikings’ brass will get a long look at many of the players on the bubble in game-like conditions.

Here is a projection of what the roster might look like after cuts are made by 5 p.m. Aug. 30.

OFFENSE (25)

QUARTERBACKS (3)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Cut

Max Brosmer

The synopsis: This one is pretty straightforward. Unless the Vikings decide to trade McCarthy — and there are no indications they will — Murray, McCarthy and Wentz are locks and Brosmer is likely headed to the practice squad. Now that Murray has been named the starter, the biggest decision that needs to be made is whether McCarthy or Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

RUNNING BACKS (3)

Aaron Jones Sr.

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Cut

Jermar Jefferson

Zavier Scott

The synopsis: Jones and Mason are atop the depth chart, and Claiborne’s speed (4.37 in the 40) is probably too enticing to risk losing him on waivers. But Claiborne’s fumbling issues remain a concern; he lost a ball in the first practice with the Ravens but followed with a solid day of work. Can the Vikings trust Claiborne, a sixth-round pick in April, if Jones or Mason is injured? Zavier Scott, who had 32 carries for 114 yards in 16 games last season, has a chance to make the roster but that would mean cutting from another position group.

FULLBACK (1)

Max Bredeson

The synopsis: Bredeson, who was a fifth-round pick in April, has been impressive in camp and is a lock to make the roster as C.J. Ham’s replacement. The Vikings hired Frank Smith as their assistant head coach this offseason in part to improve the run game. Smith, who had been the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, employed a fullback on nearly 25 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Bredeson is an intriguing prospect because he also spent time as a tight end and H-back at Michigan. The latter position combines the skills of a fullback and tight end and is a spot in which the Vikings used Jim Kleinsasser during his career.

RECEIVERS (5)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Cut

Dillon Bell

Michael Briscoe

Terrill Davis

Dontae Fleming

Jeshaun Jones

Trayvon Rudolph

Marcus Sanders Jr.

The synopsis: Felton and Price both have been impressive in camp and will find themselves at Nos. 4-5 on the depth chart behind Jefferson, Addison and Jennings. Felton, a third-round pick in 2025, played only 5 percent of the offensive snaps as a rookie and had three receptions for 25 yards. He looked much improved in the offseason workouts and that continued once camp opened. The one strike against him has been an issue with drops. Price, who is 5-9, 183 pounds, made the roster last season as a return man and was on the field for only 2 percent of the offensive snaps. He wasn’t targeted on a single pass. But Price has looked like a different player this summer, catching nearly everything thrown his way. He made an outstanding one-handed catch on a 1-yard pass from Wentz for a touchdown in the preseason opener against the Giants. Price’s play has been so impressive it won’t be surprising if O’Connell finds a way to work him into the offense. Fleming and Jones, who spent last season on the Vikings’ practice squad, have made plays in camp but appear to be long shots to make the 53.

TIGHT ENDS (3)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Cut

Marshall Lang

Bryson Nesbit

Ben Yurosek

The synopsis: Hockenson, who took a pay cut after a season in which he had 438 receiving yards — his lowest total since joining the Vikings at the 2022 trade deadline — should benefit from the fact Murray likes to throw to his tight ends. Oliver is an excellent in-line tight end and should be an important part of the run game. It’s the third tight end that could be a difficult decision. Yurosek, who is a good blocker and played in 12 games last season, was my initial pick to make the 53. But Bartholomew, a sixth-round pick in 2025 who missed the season because of a back injury, has caught just about everything thrown his way. I’m giving him the nod over Yurosek. Lang, who played college football at Northwestern, had two stints with the Seahawks and Patriots organizations last season. Teasley was the assistant general manager with Seattle when Lang joined the Seahawks.

OFFENSIVE LINE (10)

Christian Darrisaw (T)

Donovan Jackson (G)

Blake Brandel (C)

Will Fries (G)

Brian O’Neill (T)

Ryan Van Denmark (T)

Michael Jurgens (C/G)

Joe Huber (G)

Caleb Tiernan (T)

Henry Byrd (G/T)

Cut

Gavin Gerhardt

Joshua Gray

Vershon Lee

Tristan Leigh

Delby Lemieux

Tomas Rimac

Walter Rouse

The synopsis: Nine of the 10 linemen projected to make the team are probably locks. This includes Van Demark, who was signed as a restricted free agent from Buffalo, and will be the primary backup at both tackle spots. Jurgens will be the backup center to Brandel, who has had issues with shotgun and pistol snaps as he makes the move to center, and Tiernan will stick because he was a third-round pick in April and is probably the long-term replacement for O’Neill. Huber, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and made the initial 53-man roster, appears to be the top backup at both guard spots. That leaves one spot open for debate, assuming the Vikings again keep 10 at this position group: I have Byrd grabbing it. Byrd is listed as a guard but with Tiernan sidelined by an ankle injury this week, it was Byrd who played left tackle with the second team. Guard Walter Rouse, a 2024 sixth-round pick, also could be a candidate to get the final spot. Gerhardt, a seventh-round pick in April, would be the only one of the Vikings’ nine draft picks this year not to make the 53-man roster. The center likely will be headed for the practice squad.

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The Vikings wrapped up their second day of joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday at TCO Performance Center. Here’s a look at some highlights and lowlights:

• Defense dominates: Coordinator Brian Flores’ defense looked in mid-season form over the past two days against the Ravens, flying around and creating havoc. There were several impressive plays on Thursday. Edge rusher Dallas Turner continued to spend time in the Ravens’ backfield and is playing at a speed we haven’t previously seen. Linebacker Blake Cashman and cornerback James Pierre both had interceptions, although Cashman’s came off a pass that was tipped by Baltimore running back Justice Hill. Flores sent regular blitzes at Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Co., leading to linebacker Eric Wilson coming free for what would have been a sack or two. Rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks, the Vikings’ first-round pick, saw regular work with the first-team defense and had a tackle for a loss.

• 2-minute drill 1.0: Quarterback Kyler Murray led the Vikings to a field goal in a period that began with 1 minute, 15 seconds left in the game and the offense down by two. The ball appeared to be at the offense’s 25-yard line. After back-to-back incompletions to open, Murray connected on passes to tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones. Those completions came after the Ravens took a 15-yard penalty that gave the Vikings a first down at their own 40. Murray hit Jauan Jennings with a nice strike down the right sideline. After an offside penalty on the Ravens, Murray found Justin Jefferson on a short pass with 23 seconds remaining and the ball at the Baltimore 29-yard line. The Vikings let the clock run down to four seconds before Will Reichard drilled a 46-yard field goal for the win.

• 2-minute drill 2.0: McCarthy led the Vikings’ second-team offense against the Ravens’ second-team defense, completing his first three passes under the same circumstances that Murray had faced. Following a timeout with 31 seconds left, McCarthy’s incompletion for Jeshaun Jones was wiped out by a pass interference penalty on the Ravens. McCarthy completed a fourth consecutive pass — this one also to Jones — before rookie running back Demond Claiborne took a handoff and burst past the Ravens defenders for a touchdown. Claiborne, whose fumble on Wednesday continued to raise questions about his reliability, looked fantastic on Thursday.

• Sound familiar? Murray and McCarthy led touchdown drives in the 2-minute drill on Wednesday. Murray capped his drive with a deep throw to Jefferson after he got behind two defenders, and McCarthy hit Myles Price with a strike over the middle.

• No thrill for Will: Kicker Will Reichard, aka Big Leg Bill, ended practice by attempting five field goals. Rookie punter Brett Thorson held for the first three and veteran punter Johnny Hekker held for the last two. Reichard made kicks from 32 and 37 yards before missing from 43 with Thorson holding. Reichard then made a 47-yarder with Hekker holding but missed from 52 yards.

• Jefferson’s targets: Murray, who completed two of seven passes he threw to Jefferson on Wednesday in team drills, connected with the Pro Bowl wide receiver on five of eight passes Thursday. The chemistry between the two remains a work in progress and getting live reps against another defense should help.

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The Vikings conducted the first of two joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens on a beautiful afternoon Wednesday at TCO Performance Center. Here’s a look at some of the highlights and lowlights from the session:

• Rough day I: The Vikings’ first-team offense got extensive work against Baltimore’s defense, and for the majority of the practice the Ravens came out on top. There were seven 11-on-11 series led by Vikings starting quarterback Kyler Murray. In the first six, Murray was 6-for-15 and I counted one pass that should have been intercepted. This was after Murray was picked off by Ravens cornerback Bilhal Kone on an underthrown pass for Dontae Fleming in 1-on-1s. Murray’s chemistry with Justin Jefferson wasn’t good for much of the practice as the Pro Bowl wide receiver caught one of the first six passes thrown to him in team drills. (Jefferson did catch two of the three passes Murray targeted him on in 7-on-7.) But Murray and Jefferson did end on a positive.

• Grand finale I: The last period of the day was a 2-minute drill in which the ball was spotted around the defense’s 45-yard line with a minute to go and the offense trailing by five. Working from shotgun, Murray completed passes to Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings before lofting a 30-yard pass toward Jefferson as the pocket broke down. The Ravens had cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Malaki Starks in coverage, but Jefferson was able to outrace them and make the catch in the end zone.

• Rough day II: The Ravens’ second-team defense also won the the majority of the practice against J.J. McCarthy and the second-team offense. McCarthy was 4-for-10 in his first four series in 11-on-11. He had a pass for Jeshaun Jones nearly picked off by cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr., underthrew a ball to Tai Felton and fumbled on his fourth series. But McCarthy also finished strong.

• Grand finale II: McCarthy was asked to direct a 2-minute drill under the same circumstances as Murray had been given. McCarthy’s first pass was dropped by Felton but only took a few seconds off the clock. Felton then made a nice adjustment to catch a ball that was behind him. That set up McCarthy’s deep pass down the middle for Myles Price that he caught for a touchdown. Price, like Jefferson, had a cornerback and safety right there but beat them. Right now, Price should be the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart.

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After a day off following their preseason victory over the New York Giants on Saturday, the Vikings held their 14th practice of training camp Monday at TCO Performance Center. Here’s a recap of a practice held in shorts and shells:

• Defense wins the day: Quarterback Kyler Murray took the majority of his reps (29 total) against the first-team defense and completed five of nine passes in 11-on-11. Murray’s first pass of the day was a well-timed 25-yard connection with Justin Jefferson, but coordinator Brian Flores’ defense looked sharp after that. Murray’s second pass for Jefferson off play action was intercepted by safety Theo Jackson. After Murray went 6-for-8 with five touchdowns in 7-on-7 in the deep red zone, he finished 3-for-6 in 11-on-11 and was picked off again when 6-foot-5 defensive lineman/edge rusher Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins tipped Murray’s pass at the line of scrimmage and edge rusher Dallas Turner made a leaping grab. That series ended with rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks appearing to hit Murray’s arm and knock the ball from his grasp as he attempted a pass.

• It’s not a snap: Murray and Blake Brandel continue to have chemistry issues on shotgun snaps and it’s incumbent upon the center to get that fixed. There have been several shaky shotgun or pistol snaps throughout training camp, and in a team session on Monday there was a low snap that Murray couldn’t handle.

• Wentz also picked off twice: Carson Wentz, who played well against the Giants and could push J.J. McCarthy for the backup job, took 10 snaps and completed four of eight passes. Wentz’s first attempt in 7-on-7 was intended for rookie wide receiver Dillon Bell but picked off by cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn. After Wentz connected with wide receiver Terrill Davis for a touchdown from the defense’s 6-yard line, Vaughn broke up Wentz’s pass for wide receiver Dontae Fleming. Wentz was intercepted by cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on a throw intended for tight end Gavin Bartholomew on the penultimate play of practice in a team drill. Wentz’s final five snaps came against the first-team defense.

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Derek Shelton couldn’t be blamed for the surly demeanor he displayed during his one-minute, 15-second postgame press conference that followed the Twins’ 7-5 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon at Target Field.

Brooks Lee’s grand slam in the top of the first inning and a Kody Clemens homer in the third had given the Twins a 5-0 lead. That provided hope that Shelton’s club would salvage one of three games against a superior opponent. But Dean Kremer’s solid start was ruined by a four-run sixth inning — this included a three-run homer by Alec Bohm off Kremer — and Andrew Morris gave up three in the eighth as the Phillies took the lead.

It was the Twins sixth loss in nine games, dropping their August record to 4-10.

So how important will it be for the club to bounce back, Shelty? “Extremely.” And with that the manager’s office emptied of reporters who realized quizzing Shelton about his team’s ills were going to get them nowhere.

As agitated as Shelton might have been by Sunday’s meltdown, all is not lost. Not even close. That’s because Shelton and his team have been given the gift of playing in the American League.

Yes, the Twins’ poor play since adding at the trade deadline has put them five games under .500 and six games back of the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox. But they are only 1.5 games behind in a wild card race filled with teams that might be buried in the standings if the AL was good.

The Texas Rangers (61-63) are the third wild card team in the AL. They are followed by Baltimore (61-63), Toronto (61-65), Cleveland (60-64) and Detroit (60-64). Those teams are only a half-game ahead of the Twins.

The Twins problem isn’t that they have hit a rough patch, as much as it is they have actually had to face too many National League teams. In other words, quality opponents. The Brewers took two of three from the visiting Twins this month, walking off Minnesota in the series finale. The Phillies’ sweep makes the Twins 1-5 against the NL in August and 13-26 on the season against the Senior Circuit.

The Twins have company in this area of ineptitude. Entering Sunday, 11 of the 15 teams in the AL had losing records against the NL.

The bad news for Shelton’s team is that Minnesota will play host to a three-game series against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (74-50) beginning on Monday before playing three at San Diego (66-58) next weekend. The Padres entered Sunday holding the third spot in the NL wild card race, but the three teams in pursuit of them are all over .500.

If the Twins can get a couple of wins in those six games, they will return to facing AL opponents with a chance to regain their identity as a resilient bunch that can throw punches with fellow lightweights.

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The Vikings will return to practice on Monday, beginning their most important week of training camp. After a day off on Tuesday, the Vikings will have joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday against Baltimore at TCO Performance Center before facing the Ravens in a preseason game on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The practices should help shape some of the key decisions that will be made by general manager Nolan Teasley and coach Kevin O’Connell. The joint sessions offer a more controlled environment than an exhibition game, but are competitive enough that coaches like to get veterans valuable reps to prepare for the regular season.

Here are some of the key things that Vikings’ brass will be monitoring this week:

• With Kyler Murray being named the Vikings’ starting quarterback last week, he and Justin Jefferson can focus on developing their chemistry. The rapport between Murray and Jefferson looked good last week, but the two won’t play together in a game until the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Jefferson has never played in a preseason game in his career, and coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t about to change that now. The joint practices are as close as Murray and Jefferson will get to game-like conditions before next month.

• The potentially season-ending knee injury veteran Jamal Adams suffered on Saturday raises a few questions about what the Vikings will do on defense. Adams was signed as a linebacker in late July, but the former Pro Bowl safety was quickly switched to a number (32) that allowed him to play both positions. The 30-year-old appeared to be competing for a starting spot, and his ability to blitz from multiple spots made him a great fit for coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme. Adams also possessed the type of football smarts that Flores values. Adams’ injury might help preserve linebacker Ivan Pace’s spot on the roster — at least in the short term.

• It’s clear the door remains open for Harrison Smith to return, if he chooses to play a 15th season. The signing of Adams had me wondering if Smith had told the Vikings he wouldn’t be back, but you can bet the full-court press will be on. No one thinks the 37-year-old Smith is still the Pro Bowl player he was in his prime, but his understanding of the Flores’ defense and ability to make pre-snap calls is what makes him so valuable. Adams was capable of making a similar impact.

• Starting edge rushers Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel both played Saturday, and Turner finished with a sack. Bo Richter, Chazz Chambliss, Cam’Ron Stewart and Arden Walker also got a chance to make an impression. Richter had one of the Vikings’ four sacks. The assumption has been the Vikings will make a veteran addition on the edge, but that depends on how the always-creative Flores plans to get pressure. There also is a chance one or two of the four backups also have impressed. This week will offer a great opportunity for Richter, Chambliss, Stewart or Walker to emerge.

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The Vikings opened their preseason with a 13-10 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Here are five takeaways:

A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT

Kyler Murray and the first-team offense played only one series (nine plays), but the Vikings’ new quarterback looked comfortable running the show.

Murray completed two of three passes for 10 yards in leading the Vikings on a drive that ended with a 35-yard field goal from Will Reichard. Murray, who spent much of his first seven seasons working out of the shotgun and pistol formations with the Arizona Cardinals, ran six plays from under center (five runs) and three plays from shotgun (one run).

Coach Kevin O’Connell has favored having his quarterback under center during his four seasons with the Vikings, but there is expected to be a compromise between what O’Connell wants and what Murray wants this season.

The Vikings’ revamped run game also looked good behind all of the regular starters on the offensive line. Aaron Jones’ first carry went for 18 yards, and he rushed for 27 yards on three carries. Jordan Mason added 17 yards on three carries, including a long of 15.

The Vikings are incorporating more outside zone runs, and O’Connell has said he is committed to making sure the run game works. Saturday was a positive step.

UNEVEN DAY FOR J.J.

O’Connell announced Tuesday that Murray would be the Vikings’ starter and J.J. McCarthy would be his backup. But that doesn’t mean things couldn’t change before the Vikings’ opener on Sept. 13 against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium.

McCarthy replaced Murray on Saturday and led three drives that ended in punts. He completed four of seven passes for 34 yards, but the operation didn’t run as smoothly as it did with Murray or Wentz in the game.

McCarthy’s first pass sailed over Jeshaun Jones’ head. McCarthy also didn’t get help from some of his teammates. Rookie right tackle Caleb Tiernan was called for a hold and false start on back-to-back plays on McCarthy’s second series with the ball in Giants territory. McCarthy was sacked on his third series after protection broke down.

He did complete a 17-yard pass to wide receiver Myles Price, despite the throw coming from his back foot. McCarthy made a nice back-shoulder throw to Tai Felton on second-and-20, but the wide receiver was unable to hang onto the ball.

A CHALLENGE FROM WENTZ?

Wentz, who signed with the Vikings last summer after training camp ended, looked very comfortable in O’Connell’s system. He went 9-for-14 for 81 yards with a touchdown, playing more than expected because fourth-string quarterback Max Brosmer appeared to injure his hand after replacing Wentz in the third quarter.

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This space was used as a place to track the performance of the Vikings’ quarterbacks for the first 12 days of training camp, but a large portion of Thursday’s walk-through/practice was used to get ready for Saturday’s first exhibition game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

The actual practice portion, which was scheduled for 1 hour, 20 minutes, did feature a period in which Kyler Murray completed a deep pass over the middle to Jordan Addison and then found T.J. Hockenson. Since being named the Vikings’ starting quarterback on Tuesday, Murray has spent time honing his chemistry with Justin Jefferson, Addison and other skill position players on the top unit.

Although we don’t know how playing time will be distributed in Saturday’s game, I’d guess that Murray will get at least a series with most of the starters and be followed by J.J. McCarthy. It wouldn’t be surprising if McCarthy plays the remainder of the first half and Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer close out the game in the second half.

Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw didn’t participate in Thursday’s practice, and it wouldn’t be surprising if neither plays on Saturday. There’s no reason to take any risks with Jefferson, and keeping Darrisaw healthy is a priority after he struggled to return from a knee injury last season.

Right guard Will Fries returned after sitting out a couple days of practice.

What’s next for J.J. McCarthy?

That was the primary question Tuesday when Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced Kyler Murray had beaten out J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback job.

Murray had been the heavy favorite to win the competition after signing a one-year contract as a free agent in March, but he and McCarthy spent the first two weeks of training camp splitting reps.

On Wednesday, McCarthy said he wants to remain with the Vikings and expressed confidence in himself. But there are still plenty of questions as McCarthy enters his third season.

Let’s examine some of them:

IS MCCARTHY DONE IN MINNESOTA?

There were reports that if McCarthy lost out to Murray it might be his call whether he stuck around, but that’s hard to believe. McCarthy, the 10th-overall selection in the 2024 draft, is entering the third season of his rookie contract and the Vikings hold all of the power.

McCarthy could demand a trade but that doesn’t mean the Vikings would acquiesce. McCarthy missed his rookie season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee and then made 10 starts last season as he battled injuries and inconsistency.

That caused the Vikings to sign Murray to a one-year, $1.3 million contract in March after he was released by Arizona. (The Cardinals jettisoned Murray despite having to pay him $35.5 million this year.)

The Vikings could decide that it would be best for McCarthy to get a fresh start — especially if Minnesota can get a decent draft pick in return — but giving up on a 23-year-old with so few starts might not be the wise decision.

The Vikings also used three quarterbacks last season — McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer — so the lesson might be that you can never have enough available arms.

The Vikings could park McCarthy on the sideline and hope any improvement he made physically and mentally this offseason will continue with another year of growth in O’Connell’s system.

Unless the Vikings think McCarthy would be a distraction or is a bigger bust than Christian Ponder (36 starts in four seasons), why not let this thing play out?

WHAT ABOUT MCCARTHY’S CONTRACT?

The Vikings drafted McCarthy because they wanted a quarterback on a rookie contract. That can be an NFL cheat code: Get a cost-controlled player at the most important position in football and use the money that most teams spend on the quarterback position to improve elsewhere.

But McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury during an exhibition game in his rookie year, eliminating him from competing with veteran Sam Darnold during training camp in 2024. The Vikings allowed Darnold to walk after that season — he, of course, won a Super Bowl in Seattle — but the hope was McCarthy would be able to take over as the long-term starter beginning in 2025.

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Kyler Murray started strong on Wednesday afternoon during Vikings training camp at TCO Performance Center and put together a second consecutive solid day as he settled into his role as the team’s starting quarterback. J.J. McCarthy worked with the second team and then talked to the media afterward. Here’s a look at how things went for them.

• Murray’s snap count: 26 (20 in 11-on-11, six in 7-on-7). Murray has taken 273 snaps in camp.

• McCarthy’s snap count: 19 (13 in 11-on-11, six in 7-on-7). McCarthy has taken 256 snaps in camp.

• Murray’s unofficial passing stats: 14-for-17, including 9-for-11 in 11-on-11 and 5-for-6 in 7-on-7. For the camp, Murray is 117-for-171, including 82-for-112 in 11-on-11 and 35-for-59 in 7-on-7.

• McCarthy’s unofficial passing stats: 9-for-13, including 5-for-7 in 11-on-11 and 4-for-6 in 7-on-7. For the camp, McCarthy is 110-for-165, including 70-for-107 in team and 40-for-58 in 7-on-7.

• The workload: Murray’s 26 reps all came with the first team. McCarthy’s 19 reps were all with the second team.

• Murray’s day: Murray’s first pass in 11-on-11 work was a dart over the middle for Justin Jefferson that resulted in a 30-plus yard completion. Murray completed four of five passes to Jefferson as the two continue to work on their chemistry. Murray also connected on all four of his passes to Tai Felton, who continues to impress in camp.

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