Vikings offense shows inconsistency but ends practice with a long touchdown pass
During a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray struggled early, but finished with a 40-yard touchdown to Justin Jefferson, while the run game drew criticism from teammates.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings faced the Baltimore Ravens in a joint practice on Wednesday, and quarterback Kyler Murray experienced a mixed performance. Early in the session, Ravens defenders disrupted several of Murray's throws, including a near-interception by cornerback Marlon Humphrey and a deflection by Nate Wiggins on a pass intended for Jordan Addison.
The practice concluded on a positive note when Murray rolled left and delivered a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The play drew a strong reaction from teammates at the TCO Performance Center.
"Baller," center Blake Brandel said after the touchdown.
Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill noted that the team benefited from seeing a different defensive style, adding that the Ravens’ varied blocking schemes provided useful practice against a new look.
"It’s good to see different looks," O’Neill said.
The Vikings’ defensive unit, which typically relies on pressure from the line of scrimmage, faced several blitzes, including a safety blitz by Kyle Hamilton that forced Murray to scramble and lose the ball early in the session.
Offensive line leaders also expressed concerns about the run game. O’Neill said the ground attack appeared “a little slow” and that the unit was trying to be perfect rather than aggressive.
"I think there was a lot to be desired in the run game today," O’Neill said.
"I think we wanted to be better in the run game today," Brandel added.
The Vikings are implementing a revamped running scheme that emphasizes quicker, more decisive line movement. O’Neill acknowledged that the new system requires coordination among the offensive line, handoffs, and running backs, and expects improvement with repetition.
Other participants in the practice included backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who threw a deep 40-yard pass to Myles Price, and running backs Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones and rookie Demond Claiborne, who displayed bursts of speed but also faced issues such as a fumble by Claiborne.
The team will have an opportunity to adjust its approach in Thursday’s session after evaluating the Ravens’ defensive tactics.