Zulgad's musings: Examining the Vikings' QB situation two days in and other training camp observations

Kevin O'Connell wants to get Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy plenty of work this summer, so how's he going about it? Here's an early look.

Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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Kevin O’Connell’s first two years as the Minnesota Vikings’ coach weren’t overly complicated when it came to the quarterback position. At least during training camp. Kirk Cousins was atop the depth chart and got the majority of the work and the backups were treated like, well, backups.

That’s what makes this training camp so interesting for O’Connell.

Sam Darnold is expected to be the opening day starter, but J.J. McCarthy was the 10th pick in the draft and is considered the Vikings’ future. O’Connell spent the offseason making it clear he had a plan for Darnold and McCarthy, but the Vikings had to get on the field for that plan to begin to crystalize.

After two practices, here’s what I can tell you about O’Connell’s plan to develop a disappointing first-round pick into a starter, while giving reps to another first-rounder for which expectations are rather large.

Darnold has gotten the work with the first-teamers, while McCarthy takes snaps with the second team and veteran Nick Mullens mixes in at times. Jaren Hall, the 2023 fifth-round pick who saw action last season after Cousins was injured, is getting almost no work.

The notable thing is how many snaps Darnold and McCarthy are each getting. This is the interesting part. I charted the snaps on Thursday — this is very unofficial — and had Darnold getting 14 in two sessions of 11-on-11 and eight in 7-on-7. McCarthy got 15 snaps in 11-on-11 and four in 7-on-7. Mullens had 10 snaps in 11-on-11 and Hall had two. It’s worth noting that Mullens got five of his snaps right before practice came to an end.

O’Connell knows he has to get Darnold work with the first team, but he also wants to get McCarthy into a rhythm. It’s expected McCarthy also will get some first-team reps.

This isn’t an easy situation.

O’Connell is trying to thread a needle by making sure Darnold is prepared for the season, but also allowing McCarthy to grow and show what he can do.

Darnold, the third-overall pick in the 2018 draft, has had an interesting first two days. He has thrown a few gorgeous deep passes, including a 50-plus yard touchdown to Justin Jefferson on Wednesday in 11-on-11. Jefferson beat cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., badly but Darnold gets credit for making a perfect throw.

On Thursday, Darnold completed a similar deep ball to Jordan Addison in 7-on-7. Darnold led his receivers with great touch and a perfect amount of air under the ball.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that Darnold doesn’t look nearly as polished in the short to intermediate passing game and the latter is where Jefferson often is at his best. Darnold is learning the Vikings’ scheme and it’s only two days of training camp, so take the praise and criticism with a grain of salt.

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McCarthy, meanwhile, is going to be a work in progress. The positive is that no one questions McCarthy’s work ethic or desire to be successful at this level, but patience will be the most important thing.

The 21-year-old has made some nice throws, but there are times you can see him trying to process what’s happening in front of him. This is why O’Connell has devised a plan to get McCarthy substantial work, but also have Darnold on track to start the Sept. 8 opener against the Giants.

How will it work? Stay tuned.

CHECK DOWNS

• A day after losing cornerback Mehki Blackmon to a season-ending torn ACL, Shaq Griffin left the field during practice after picking off a Darnold pass over the middle. Griffin appeared to injure his leg and was examined on the sideline by the medical team. He was able to walk off the field following practice, but it appeared he was then going for testing. The Vikings are so shorthanded at corner that Andrew Booth Jr., and Duke Shelley, who just returned to the team this week, got work with the first team.

• There are a few veteran cornerbacks still available on the free agent market and it would be surprising if the Vikings haven’t contacted at least one of them. The list includes Stephone Gilmore, who will be 34 in September; Adoree Jackson, who will turn 28 in September; and J.C. Jackson, who will be 28 in November. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores worked with Gilmore and J.C. Jackson in New England.

• Question O’Conell isn’t likely to answer. At least not yet: Will Darnold and some of the first team get any snaps in the preseason. There’s no chance that Jefferson plays, but will O’Connell decide that Darnold needs game work before the opener?

• Question O’Connell isn’t likely to answer II: Will McCarthy see substantial time in the three preseason games? If I had to guess right now, I’d say Darnold doesn’t play in the preseason and that McCarthy starts one or two of the games. Mullens and Hall also figure to get plenty of work.

• There were many viewers surprised when they saw the modest size of Justin Jefferson’s home in Minnesota in the “Receiver” documentary on Netflix. Some thought that since Jefferson signed a huge contract this offseason, he probably had bought a new place. Not true. “I'm one person, I ain't got no big family,” he said. “I don't need to be in no 10 million dollar mansion. That's not something I came from. I grew up with parents that were grateful for what they have, and I was grateful for what I grew up with. I never grew up having no big old house. Maybe I'll move onto that, maybe not. I guess we'll find out sooner or later.”

• Veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who is an NFLPA rep, is one of many Vikings wearing a Guardian Cap on his helmet to try to reduce the risk of concussion during training camp practices. The NFL will allow players to wear the cap in games for the first time this season. Will Phillips do it? “I don’t think I would, personally,” he said. “I haven’t had a documented concussion in the NFL. I found ways to mold my game to keep it as safe as I can. You can see with the way I play, I’d say one of the best attributes I have is the way that I use my hands and create separation. If I was on concussion two or three of my career, I think that it would be a hard conversation with your wife and your family to figure out what would be best for you.”

• While the Guardian Caps resemble mushroom-like contraptions, teams will have their logos and colors on them for games.

• It appears 2022 first-round safety Lewis Cine is at the bottom of the depth chart at that position. It’s difficult to believe Cine is going to make the 53-man roster. Maybe the Vikings can get a draft pick for him later in camp.