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Minnesota Vikings training camp notebook, day 6: Defense has a strong showing

The Minnesota Vikings were in pads for the first time on Monday. That means we’re one step closer to football, with players in the trenches able to get physical and give us a better glimpse of what they’re capable of moving forward.

One promising young player had a great practice in pads. A free agent addition made his first appearance in team drills. And we saw another highlight touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy. Let’s go over some of the highlights of Day 6 of Vikings practice.

But overall, the Vikings’ defense bounced back after the offense had the upper hand on Saturday. That is bound to happen in the third year under Brian Flores with an even more formidable defensive front than last year.

J.J. McCarthy continues to impress

McCarthy had another highlight touchdown pass on Monday. After feeling some pressure in the pocket, McCarthy fired down the left sideline towards wide receiver Lucky Jackson. It appeared that safety Theo Jackson could intercept the pass, but the ball arrived a split second before he could get a hand on it. The pass once again displayed McCarthy’s arm strength and willingness to be aggressive. A worse pass (or faster safety) could have led to an interception.

Will Fries makes his debut in team drills

One of the Vikings’ biggest free agent additions of the offseason made his first appearance in team drills. Right guard Will Fries, who suffered a broken tibia in 2024, was cleared to practice when camp began last Thursday, but he was limited to individual work. On Monday, he was inserted into the starting lineup in 11-on-11 drills.

Dallas Turner makes an impact

Dallas Turner was limited to 310 defensive snaps in 2024. But he showed why the Vikings traded up to select him in the NFL draft. Several Vikings media members talked about Turner’s impact on Monday, with one highlight making the rounds on X/Twitter when he got to backup quarterback Sam Howell before he could complete a pass downfield. Turner continues to draw praise as he looks to impact the defense more consistently in 2025.

Metellus returns, Jefferson out

Josh Metellus returned to practice after missing Friday and Saturday practices with an ankle injury. It was the safety’s first practice back since signing his three-year, $36 million deal on Saturday. Justin Jefferson, who suffered a mild hamstring strain last week, was still out.

Overall, it seemed as though the defense got the better end of the deal on Monday. The Vikings’ social media team even singled out a pass breakup by cornerback Dwight McGlothern that was intercepted by safety Jay Ward.

We’ll see if the Vikings’ offense can bounce back on Tuesday, but they will likely have many more tough practices if the defense is as strong as the coaching staff and front office envision it to be.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings training camp notebook, day 6: Defense has a strong showing

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