There was a little bit of down time in the middle of practice earlier this week, so head coach Kevin O’Connell decided to keep his arm loose by tossing the ball around with star receiver Justin Jefferson.
Though he hasn’t participated in practice at TCO Performance Center since suffering a mild hamstring strain, Jefferson has still made it a point to be around his teammates.
All part of being a leader.
“That was my challenge to him,” O’Connell said. “There are a lot of ways that we can maximize this time.”
When he hasn’t been dancing around and serving as the ultimate hype man, Jefferson has been a sounding board for some of his teammates. Whether it’s veteran receiver Lucky Jackson or rookie receiver Tai Felton, they have been able to lean on Jefferson as they step into his role.
“He’ll be there every step of the way to help those guys,” O’Connell said. “There’s a reason why he is so beloved in this building. He’s the best in the world at what he does. He’s also a phenomenal teammate.”
It sounds like the Vikings are hoping to have Jefferson back in action sooner rather than later.
Maybe even at some point in training camp.
“The rehab is going really well,” O’Connell said. “He’s already progressing.”
Asked for more details on Jefferson’s recovery process, O’Connell downplayed the situation at hand, reiterating that he has no concerns about him being ready to suit up for the Vikings in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
“There’s a lot of time between now and then,” O’Connell said. “What does that look like? We’re going to be smart.”
Here are more takeaways from Day 6 of training camp:
How does McCarthy look?
There were some growing pains from McCarthy, especially in the red zone, as a number of his throws seemed to sail on him. As impressive as he has been when letting it rip downfield, McCarthy’s touch still needs some work in close quarters.
On the flip side, McCarthy had some very good stretches during 11-on-11 drills, including a perfectly place ball to receiver Jordan Addison over the middle. They have done a good job building chemistry in training camp, and it appears to be growing with each practice.
It was a lighter practice without pads, so there’s no need to overreact to anything that was put on film.
Who else stood out?
A lofted pass from backup quarterback Sam Howell was intercepted by cornerback Dwight McGlothern. It marked that second straight practice during which McGlothern has recorded an interception. After biding his time as a rookie, McGlothern is ready to take the next step in his career.
You ready for a deep cut? A sleeper worth keeping an eye on is rookie tight end Ben Yurosek. He had a contested catch in the end zone for a touchdown that stood as arguably the best play of practice. He has slowly but surely made a name for himself since signing as an undrafted free agent.
Quote of the day
“I always give I.P. a hard time, because I.P. is at his best when he can be a Tasmanian devil and go tackle everybody on the field. We don’t let him do that out here for the safety of not only our players, the safety of me, as well.”
— Head coach Kevin O’Connell, on linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.
Injury report
There were a good number of players that did not participate, including safety Harrison Smith, safety Josh Metellus, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and center Ryan Kelly.
None of those players were seen working with a trainer, so the assumption is the Vikings were trying to get them some rest.
As for cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, he’s working through some minor soreness and isn’t expected to miss an extended period of time.
What’s next?
There will be a more intense practice with pads Wednesday before the players get some rest Thursday.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) walks off the field from the first session during the team’s NFL football training camp Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
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