The Minnesota Vikings open their preseason schedule on Saturday when they travel to face the New York Giants. The Vikings will look much different than they did one year ago, with some new faces both on the field and on the sidelines, but a lot of the big reveal won’t happen until the regular season opener against the Green Bay Packers on September 13.
With Kyler Murray unlikely to play more than one series and several key names, including Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, not expected to play, there may not be a lot of secrets that are spilled on Saturday.
But there are some storylines that could drop a hint on what this year’s team could be and give fans something more than a long-awaited dose of football.
Biggest changes the Minnesota Vikings will reveal in Week 1 of the preseason against the New York Giants
1. The revamped running game
The Vikings have enforced their no filming policy with an iron fist during training camp. But while many assumed it was to keep J.J. McCarthy or Murray from going viral during their quarterback competition, it may have also been to hide some of the changes they’ve made to their rushing attack.
Minnesota’s backfield looks the same as it did one year ago with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones in the first two spots on the depth chart. But the Vikings also made changes by having Keith Carter replace Chris Kuper as offensive line coach and hiring Frank Smith as assistant head coach.
Carter has already drawn positive reviews during camp for a more aggressive and physical approach in the trenches.
Will Fries mentioned the approach is likened to “body blows” that “matter in a game,” and Brian O’Neill also commended the sense of urgency that Carter has brought to the unit as it prepares for this season.
“There’s a little kick in the butt to raise the standard and be better as a group and better as an offense. It’s definitely there, and we definitely feel the urgency.”
In addition to Carter, the Vikings brought Smith over after a successful stint as Mike McDaniel’s offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.
Smith’s offense ranked as high as sixth in rushing during his time in Miami, and he most recently helped De’Von Achane lead the NFL with 5.7 yards per carry last season. Smith’s impact could also come down to scheme as an innovator in the running game, and it could bring a variety of shotgun and pistol formations to O’Connell’s offense.
While some of those cards could be held during the preseason, there is still intrigue thanks to sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne, whose explosiveness has already stood out during camp.
Zavier Scott will also get some run on Saturday and will bring the first look at what could be a more successful ground game this season.
2. The Vikings new look defensive front
The Vikings had some new players to break in one year ago, but the experiment did not work. With Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave released, Minnesota went with a youth movement this year, selecting Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange during April’s draft.
Banks will not play in the preseason opener as the Vikings are managing a left foot that ended his 2024 season early, wiped out much of his 2025 campaign, and was injured again during his workout at the combine last February. But Orange should see some snaps on Saturday, pairing with Jalen Redmond in the trenches.
“I’m a patient guy with rookies,” Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores said this week via SI and Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller.
“I think we’ve got to give them time to really get their feet in the ground… literally on the field and figuratively just as far as understanding the pro game, the routines, the habits that they’ve got to build to really reach their optimum potential. So I think [Banks and Orange] are doing a really good job, but there’s a lot of meat left on the bone.”
While the trenches will be interesting to watch, so will linebacker Jake Golday. Many believe that Golday could be the eventual replacement for Andrew Van Ginkel, who is entering the final year of his contract. But his versatility has already been on display, and it could help him get on the field in a variety of ways during his rookie season.
With Dallas Turner also taking over for Jonathan Greenard, the Vikings' front seven could be another main event for the matchup with the Giants and show something for fans to look forward to when the season begins.
3. J.J. McCarthy’s growth in Year 3
McCarthy may be an afterthought after losing the quarterback competition during training camp. But his play on Saturday could be a big factor in what happens next.
Nothing has been smooth sailing for McCarthy since he entered the league as the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
While some of it has been his undoing off the field, he hasn’t done much to silence it with his play, often throwing off target and becoming a game of Russian Roulette every time he drops back to throw.
Those inconsistencies have continued throughout training camp, and it’s interesting that O’Connell cited going with Murray was a case of what he could become compared to McCarthy, who was once viewed as a franchise quarterback.
There’s enough here to suggest that McCarthy is auditioning for a trade, but the Vikings won’t get much for him if he doesn’t show improvement. The final selling point (or maybe an audition to stay in Minnesota) begins on Saturday, and it could be a massive data point in determining where his future could be.
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