The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up two competitive and physical joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens, giving Kevin O’Connell and his staff an important measuring stick before Saturday’s preseason matchup.
Minnesota’s defense frequently controlled the action, while the offense mixed impressive late-practice finishes with stretches of inconsistency.
Several players strengthened their standing, including Dallas Turner and Myles Price, but others raised new concerns with key roster decisions still looming.
Minnesota Vikings Winners and Losers from Joint Practices with Baltimore Ravens
Winner: Dallas Turner - OLB
Turner was Minnesota’s clearest winner. The third-year edge rusher repeatedly beat two-time Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley, recording multiple would-be sacks on each day while remaining stout against the run.
His speed even forced Lamar Jackson into other defenders when the quarterback tried escaping the pocket. Turner looks ready to reward the Vikings for expanding his role after trading Jonathan Greenard.
Winner: Myles Price - WR
Price continued to transform himself from a return specialist into a legitimate offensive weapon. The emerging receiver delivered one of Wednesday’s biggest plays, hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy during the two-minute drill. Price also made an impressive catch against tight coverage from Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin.
He found the end zone again during Thursday’s red-zone work, although safety K’Von Wallace later jumped another McCarthy pass intended for Price and returned it for a pick-six. Overall, Price’s ability to create separation and consistently finish plays has put him firmly in the WR4 conversation.
Winner: Eric Wilson - ILB
Eric Wilson was everywhere Thursday. The veteran linebacker repeatedly pressured Lamar Jackson as a blitzer and contributed to a defense that handled Derrick Henry and Baltimore’s rushing attack.
Minnesota’s decision to extend Wilson looks increasingly smart, and its linebacker room may be one of the deepest position groups on the roster.
Loser: Kyler Murray - QB
It's never a good sign when QB1 and QB2 are among the losers of an important joint practice, yet here we are. Kyler Murray delivered when the Vikings ran their late-game situations, leading successful drives on both days.
The rest of his work was considerably less convincing. He was intercepted during Wednesday’s one-on-ones, and six consecutive passes fell incomplete during Thursday’s 7-on-7 period.
Communication problems also surfaced with multiple targets while Baltimore’s pass rush repeatedly disrupted him. While the finishes were encouraging, Minnesota needs its QB1 to play more consistently throughout a game and not just in the final two minutes.
Loser: J.J. McCarthy - QB
McCarthy produced several excellent throws, particularly to Price, but the mistakes remained too prominent. Wednesday included an unforced pocket fumble, missed opportunities and multiple passes that could have been intercepted.
The following day was the interception for six. McCarthy keeps trying, but these practices have done little to erase the inconsistency that pushed him behind Murray.
Loser: Charles Demmings - CB
Charles Demmings entered the week as one of Minnesota’s biggest training-camp stories, but Baltimore exposed areas that still require work. Ravens rookie Ja’Kobi Lane beat him deep Wednesday, and Demmings dropped what should have been an interception Thursday.
More concerning was his continued tendency to become overly physical in coverage, resulting in multiple flags. His talent remains obvious, but NFL receivers and officials will punish those lapses in judgment.
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