**EAGAN, Minn. —** The curtain is officially drawn on Minnesota's mandatory minicamp.
The 2025 Vikings will be heading into a break from team activities after finishing their third minicamp practice Thursday. The team will regather – and up the ante – for training camp toward the end of July.
Repeatedly referenced by Head Coach Kevin O'Connell as a "passing camp" because of its slower-paced nature and emphasis on teaching and learning, Minnesota's minicamp offered a glimpse into the future.
On Thursday, J.J. McCarthy completed a collection of short and intermediate-level throws to tight ends, running backs and receivers. In one instance, rookie third-round draft pick Tai Felton coolly secured a sweet deep pass from Sam Howell that just snuck past the coverage.
At the end of the session, which included individual drills, two separate 7-on-7 periods and some 11-on-11 action, the offense navigated a "mayday" sequence where McCarthy checked the ball down and the field goal unit hurried into position, enabling Will Reichard to send one through the uprights.
Overall, O'Connell was incredibly pleased with the team's attendance and attentiveness to improving above the heads. Players built an inventory of skills that will inevitably show up in games down the line.
"I just told those guys, I don't know what in this day and age the offseason program means around the league, you know, what it means to 31 other teams, but I know we got better," O'Connell emphasized. "The participation of our team and guys showing up and being here totally present, getting something done, I thought was a really big deal for our team and has set us up to have a really good training camp."
Here are three observations presented by [Minnesota Eye Consultants](https://www.mneye.com/), the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:
**1\. Pass catchers and deniers**
In addition to Felton's big catch, there were several splash plays made Thursday by both sides of the ball.
Defensively, linebacker Eric Wilson nabbed himself an interception. Wilson, who began his career in a Vikings uniform in 2017 and left after 2020, returned this spring after starting 12 games last year for Green Bay. He displayed veteran instincts and fresh legs on the play, expertly reading Brett Rypien's eyes to ultimately leap in front of a pass over the middle, tuck it away and caravan to the opposite end zone.
Cornerback Reddy Stewart closed aggressively on an out-breaking route by Thayer Thomas, causing a pass to fall incomplete. Blake Cashman strongly contested a pass, too, running in stride with Aaron Jones, Sr., up the sideline before jutting his hand into Jones' catch window and knocking the ball away.
On offense, Felton's reception generated the loudest reaction. Lucky Jackson also made a tough grab.