3 Biggest Takeaways from Viking’s Training Camp 8/12: Offense Taking Shape After QB Announcement

It’s only August, but the Vikings' offense is giving reason for optimism

Jordan Mason is starting to break loose at Vikings Camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

EAGAN, MN — The energy at Vikings practice has felt different the last two days. Gone is the hectic tracking of first-team rep splits and completions. Gone is the uncertainty amongst media and fans. Gone is the difficulty for wideouts trying to gain valuable experience with two different passers. Instead, we have what finally looks and feels like an NFL offense with purpose and direction. An offense that now knows who its quarterback will be and how to prepare for the Green Bay Packers on September 13. 

With only one open practice remaining before the Vikings head east to face the Giants this Saturday, the offensive starters had what will likely be the heaviest workload they’ll see this week. The good news is that they continued to make the most of it.

Here are my three biggest takeaways from a humid afternoon in pads.

Kyler continues to cook

The Vikings enter a season with a castoff quarterback and expectations of mediocrity, only to shock the world and make a deep playoff run. Sound familiar? Those of us who have followed this team for decades know this script all too well. Now, I’m certainly not promising a soul-crushing NFC Championship performance from the 2026 Vikings, but Kyler Murray’s performance since being named the team’s starter may be cause for a healthy level of optimism. 

Murray continues to operate the offense with impressive conviction, especially considering he was splitting first-team reps with J.J. McCarthy until Tuesday. He looks like a QB who’s been operating this offense for years, even though he’s brand new. 

He has found a rhythm with his weapons, leading to chunk plays downfield. He connected with Tai Felton for about 25 yards and tossed a quick slant to Jordan Addison, who sprinted upfield for a big gain. The implementation of that route alone should be a sign to Vikings fans that KOC is adding new tools to his play-design arsenal to help Murray succeed.

Most importantly, he continues to build rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson. The two connected on another big play on Wednesday as Murray hit Jefferson deep over the middle. After experiencing a career-low year for yards and touchdowns in 2025, Jefferson seems determined to get on the same page with Murray quickly. 

Kyler Murray finding Justin Jefferson deep at practice.

(Via Vikings IG) pic.twitter.com/9oj5qjecW3

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 12, 2026

Jordan Mason marches on

Quarterback conversation aside, Jordan Mason has been the star of the Vikings offense this week. While he carries the label of an up-the-middle power back, Mason is showing what he’s capable of when he’s able to turn loose on the outside. 

The 27-year-old back has had multiple breakaway runs in just the last two days, showcasing a level of speed we’ve rarely seen from his runs up the gut. It seems clear that Mason is a beneficiary of Frank Smith’s newly implemented outside zone scheme.

I can’t wait for the #Vikings run game in 2026.

(Via Vikings IG) https://t.co/tEj7fuX2sL pic.twitter.com/AbS22M5CJt

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 13, 2026

Mason is listed as a co-starter with Aaron Jones on the Vikings' unofficial depth chart released Wednesday, but if he runs like this in season, he’ll have a strong case to hold the RB1 title entirely to himself.

J.J. McCarthy’s future is in his hands

If you were wondering how J.J. McCarthy has performed in practice since officially being officially made QB2, the answer is largely the same as before. 

McCarthy still struggles to process the field at the speed needed from a dependable NFL starter, and, to be honest, sometimes struggles to match the processing speed of an NFL backup. McCarthy had multiple plays Wednesday where the result carried no weight, since he would have already been knocked to the turf in a real game. The question now is: where do McCarthy and the Vikings go from here? 

Would he even want to be the team’s backup, or would he try to find greener pastures elsewhere? 

From what McCarthy told reporters after practice, he wants to see things through in Minnesota. 

"This is the place I want to be."

J.J. McCarthy on his future with the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/fj4NLl7Tli

— Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) August 12, 2026

McCarthy’s preseason play will go a long way toward deciding the immediate future for the 23-year-old former national champ. A strong performance Saturday could provide renewed confidence in his potential long-term development in Minnesota. It could also open pathways to a QB-needy team if McCarthy or the Vikings decide it's best to part ways.

What’s clear, though, is a bad performance could spell continued trouble for McCarthy, who desperately needs to recapture the hope he gave Vikings fans in his 2024 preseason premiere against the Raiders. 

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