Vikings-Cardinals Joint Practice Recap, Day 1: Jordan Addison Shines in Return
Another week, another team in town for joint practices. Following two productive sessions with the Tennessee Titans last week, the Vikings welcomed the Arizona Cardinals to TCO Performance Center on Wednesday for the first of two days of work leading into Saturday's preseason finale.
The Cardinals probably felt right at home in these conditions. The Vikings moved the start of Wednesday's practice up a couple hours due to extreme heat, but it was still in the mid-90s, with humidity and minimal wind making it feel even hotter. Both teams made sure to stay hydrated as they got in a high volume of valuable reps.
Rookie Jordan Addison returned to action for the Vikings and had a great day. Brian O'Neill, as planned, got some work in team periods after not doing so last week. Players not practicing included Lewis Cine, Kene Nwangwu, N'Keal Harry, and NaJee Thompson. T.J. Hockenson, Jalen Nailor, Mekhi Blackmon, and Brian Asamoah did some individual work but worked off to the side during team.
Overall, it wasn't a particularly sharp day for either offense, though the Vikings had more success in that phase than the Cardinals did. This is an Arizona teams whose top two quarterbacks are Colt McCoy and rookie Clayton Tune until Kyler Murray gets healthy. Their Vegas win total of 4.5 is the lowest in the NFL by two whole wins. There wasn't quite the same feel of intensity that there was last week, at least on Day 1. I didn't see so much as a single push or contentious moment.
Let's get to some observations.
Addison picks up right where he left off
Addison has lived up to the first-round billing and then some during his first training camp. He was one of the Vikings' biggest standouts of the first couple weeks, then carried it over to game action with an impressive toe-tapping sideline catch that should've counted in the preseason opener.
Unfortunately, Addison got dinged up and spent last week in the concussion protocol, so he missed the two joint practices with the Titans and Saturday's preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium. But the Vikings were confident it wasn't something that would keep him out for long.
Addison was medically cleared on Wednesday and didn't miss a beat during his first NFL joint practice. He got open with ease against the Cardinals' secondary, making three catches during 7-on-7 action and a couple more during 11s. Addison was living in the intermediate area over the middle of the field. It's clear that Kirk Cousins trusts the rookie's ability to get open and come down with the ball if it's in his vicinity.
As important as K.J. Osborn is to this Vikings offense, it continues to look like things are heading towards Addison being the No. 2 receiver for Kevin O'Connell this year.
Murphy faces former team
The biggest storyline with the Cardinals coming to town is Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. practicing against his old team. Murphy was drafted by Arizona in the second round in 2019 and spent the last four years as one of their top cornerbacks, especially when Patrick Peterson left to sign with Minnesota in 2021.
Murphy missed some time with an injury last year and the Cardinals let him walk in free agency. He signed with the Vikings as their marquee free agent acquisition and has replaced Peterson as the team's No. 1 cornerback. Still just 25 years old as he enters his fifth season, Murphy is the unquestioned leader of the Vikings' CB room.
He wouldn't admit it after practice, but this week had to mean a little more to Murphy, who undoubtedly wants to prove to the Cardinals that they made a mistake in letting him leave. Consider that point proven effectively on Wednesday. Right away in 1-on-1 drills, Murphy wowed with a flawless rep against top Cardinals receiver Marquise Brown, sticking to his hip and coming away with the football.
Towards the end of practice, Murphy nearly came down with another interception in a team period, settling for a pass breakup. It was a strong day for the Vikings' top corner.
Other notes
- Akayleb Evans, who had a little injury scare last week, had a strong day for the Vikings. He showed off his wheels with a great 1-on-1 coverage rep on a d eep ball, then had a near-INT pass breakup during a team period.
- With Blackmon not participating in team, Joejuan Williams ran with the 1s. He, too, had a pass breakup that probably should've been an interception (the Vikings' cornerback room collectively dropped three or four possible picks).
- You don't need me to say this, but Justin Jefferson showed up with a couple highlight catches, one of which came against double coverage.
- Ivan Pace Jr. continued to work with the first-team defense with Asamoah sidelined. Pace came down with an interception off a deflection during team.
- The Brandon Powell-Jalen Reagor competition is a fun one. Both guys made some plays in 1-on-1s, then matched each other with deep balls in the final team period. Cousins hit Powell for a touchdown on a go ball and did the same to Reagor (just shy of a TD) a couple minutes later.
- The Vikings' offense struggled in a red zone period against the Cardinals' defense. Josh Oliver dropped a potential TD and then Cousins had a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage, which caused him to blurt out an expletive in frustration.
The Vikings and Cardinals will be back at it on Thursday.
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