VikingsTerritory Breakdown - A Minnesota Vikings Radio Show

Rodgers, actually, nearly took care of the Bengals on his own, forcing two fumbles and scoring two defensive scores in a game (the first player to do so in league history)—accomplishing it in the first half to bury them. Still, we at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast (Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com), will certainly offer our opinion on that question and all things from Sunday’s game. Tune in and check out our discussion of the 2-1 Vikings, who are in a tie for first place in the NFC North. Skol! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Sunday night, Vikings fans were still warming themselves from the embers of last Monday night’s memories of the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game (in which their quarterback of the future, J.J. McCarthy, put on a display for the ages with three scores in fifteen minutes to secure the win in his NFL debut) when they were doused with the cold, wet reality of a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. McCarthy played like he had for the first three quarters against the Bears, and suddenly joy over the NFC Player of the Week turned to fear and loathing of a season quickly on the brink. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To everybody watching, the Vikings looked dead in the water after the third quarter, but then momentum changed—and the Bears could not stem the tide. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

McCarthy will be surrounded on offense by a new offensive line, is joined in the backfield by Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, and a healthy T.J. Hockenson fortifies the pass-catching crew of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (in game four) to give the second-year Viking signal caller plenty of assistance in the first season as a starting NFL quarterback. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Vikings first traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets for some draft capital, then traded QB Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles for more picks, signed Carson Wentz to take Howell’s spot in the quarterback room and then shipped CB Mekhi Blackmon off to Indianapolis to play for the Colts for yet another draft pick next offseason. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The spotlight remains on the QB position and in particular the Vikings second-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy (who didn’t play in the preseason game), and he did not disappoint this week in practice. The first joint practice for JJ was up and down but the second one featured a period during which he completed 13 consecutive passes and threw four TD passes—plenty to get Purple Nation excited for the coming NFL regular season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brosmer completed five of eight passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, compiling a rating of 118.2 against many of the Houston Texans’ reserves Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The preseason got serious this week, as the Minnesota Vikings held their annual night practice (which used to be a scrimmage) on Monday to prepare for their first exhibition against the Houston Texans on Saturday, August 9. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was announced as the starter in the Texans game, was featured in the night practice, where are all the anxious eyes of Purple Nation were focused Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The injury has been called a mild strain, and the Vikings are taking no chances. But that means it opens up opportunities for a young and eager wide receiver group to take advantage of the additional reps in practice. And when you consider that wideout Jordan Addison will be watching from the sidelines as the season begins (due to an off-field incident that will likely result in a suspension by the league), players such as Jalen Nailor and rookie Tai Felton have a chance to shine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Vikings returned to TCO Performance Center for the 2025 Training Camp this week, and, thus far, it is mostly good news coming out of Eagan, Minn. Where many feared the Vikings’ offensive line would be missing two players fans are counting on this season, both veteran left tackle Christan Darrisaw and recent free agent addition right Matt Fries will not start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Fries will be ready to go at camp, while the team will bring back Darrisaw slowly from his major knee injury—but he is expected to be ready to go for week one. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There is a little news trickling out of TCO Performance Center, such as the fact that Swiss Army knife-like defender Josh Metellus is still not signed and wide receiver Jordan Addison had a court date this week. Hopefully there will be resolution on both accounts, and everyone will report to Eagan on time for camp. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Training camp is coming—and it could be one of most consequential in Minnesota Vikings history. The powers that be (general manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell) have spent the offseason upgrading the roster to put the best team possible around second year pro (and first year starter) quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s July in Minnesota, where it has been alternately rainy and blistering hot—which always make for some sweltering Vikings football practices. But the Vikings aren’t in camp—in fact they aren’t even in that summer furnace of Mankato (as in days gone by), either. There are a couple more weeks before camp begins in Eagan, and the roster change speculation persists amidst Viking Nation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And so we shall, first with a recap of what we learned at minicamp. Who shined, who rusted and, most importantly, how did starting quarterback JJ McCarthy do? Once again, there are some undrafted rookies to talk about (particularly this year, as the Vikings only had five draft picks), so those names are worth a look as the camp nears and ultimately, the roster begins to be trimmed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It all begins in earnest. The Vikings mandatory minicamp commenced at TCO Performance Center this week, and the news is already spilling out regarding who is there and who is there but not practicing. Thus far, the Vikings have good numbers in attendance, including left tackle Christian Darrisaw (who injured his knee last season) taking part in individual drills. Certainly, TE Josh Oliver is there, as he inked a contract extension and becomes an important cog in the development of the Purple’s young quarterback. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NFL organized team activities (yes, that’s what OTA stands for—not offseason training actions—which they are—or over-technical assessments—which may happen--or overtly tubular algorithms—which won’t, since we don’t think they are a thing) began this week. The Vikings players assembled at TCO Performance to reacquaint with each other and get to know the new faces while trying to orient to the Purple way of life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Minnesota was the epicenter of the NFL this week! Why? Did the Vikings win the Super Bowl or secure the first overall pick of the next NFL Draft? No, neither of those things happened. Rather, Minneapolis hosted the NFL Meetings this week in which the owners voted on a few issues. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The state of Minnesota experienced temperatures north of 90 degrees this past week, so that must mean it is the dead days of August and training camp begins, right? Well, not exactly. It is May and has been unseasonably warm and the Vikings have assembled—but it’s just the rookies and their minicamp at TCO Performance Center. Still, the new football year has begun. We haven’t had too many headlines yet as the Rookie Minicamp is just a way for the newbies to come to town, meet their prospective teammates and Vikings staff and get oriented to the way Minnesota does things. There are a few tidbits that have surfaced—such as undrafted rookie CB Zemaiah Vaughn picking off undrafted QB Max Brosmer along the sidelines and rookie linebacker Kobe King making another pick. But we aren’t yet hanging any banners nor making any proclamations about who will be Mr. Eagan (nee Mankato). Still, we will talk about it. The fellas at Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—are here to report from minicamp with stories of who stepped up, who stood out or who said something interesting (or, perhaps, out of the ordinary). Plus, we’ll cover all the latest news of the Purple. Tune into the podcast and catch it all. Skol! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NFL sent an email explaining that the schedule release is “almost here!” Not that it was released, but that it is almost released. (It’s almost like the email saying the Draft was almost here.) You can register and “be the first to know when the 2025-26 schedule drops.” Well, this NFL observer is all atwitter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With an eye toward protecting their sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings put a major emphasis on the offensive line during free agency (Matt Fries and Ryab Kelly) and continued that with the Jackson pick. There will likely be a competition at left guard, but the versatile and intelligent Jackson could step in and start and solidify a formerly middling line. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.