Carson Wentz - Minnesota Vikings
Carson Wentz - Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings walked away from their first preseason game of 2026 with a victory over the New York Giants. While it wasn’t the prettiest of exhibition victories… a win is a win, right?
Well, not in the preseason, but I digress. Still, we got to see Kyler Murray wear purple and gold for the first time and nothing is better than football on weekends, even if the results do not count.
Vikings vs Giants – What We Learned
And let’s be real, we have been judging these players all summer on football that most of Vikings nation can’t even watch, relying instead on QB snap counts being recorded by Vikings beat reporters.
Today, the football unfolded before all of our eyes and it was glorious. And now… we are one game closer to the start of the regular season.
Carson Wentz is better than JJ McCarthy
Kyler Murray played one drive in his first exhibition start as Minnesota Vikings quarterback, which stalled late and ended with one of two Will Reichard field goals on the day.
After that, JJ McCarthy took over. For the next 1.5 quarters, the Vikings offense struggled to find much of a rhythm. He wasn’t horrible and didn’t throw any interceptions, but his accuracy was sporatic and, yet again, the 23-year-old went through progression way to slowly.
Even McCarthy’s 4-of-7 for 34 yards Saturday feels like a more positive representation than what we all saw play out live. The 10-3 deficit Minnesota faced at halftime, however, drew a much more accurate picture of the football that was played while JJ was on the field.
Here's every J.J. McCarthy non-handoff from the Vikings' preseason opener against NYG (including two plays that didn't count because of penalties).
Stats: 4 for 7, 34 yards, 1 rushing yard, 1 sack
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/WaW5LsFGkM
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 15, 2026
In the second half, Carson Wentz entered the game, and immediately Minnesota’s offense looked like a well-oiled machine compared to what we saw while McCarthy was on the field.
Wentz was far from perfect, but he moved the offense up and down the field efficiently, finishing 9-of-14 on the day for 81 yards and the only Vikings touchdown of the day.
MYLES PRICE! pic.twitter.com/EsdneMohcw
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 15, 2026
It is indeed Carson Wentz in pic.twitter.com/lOb3sx2uMJ
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 15, 2026
There have been whispers throughout camp that the real quarterback competition at TCO Performance Center this summer isn’t between JJ McCarthy and Kyler Murray for QB1, but instead, between McCarthy and Carson Wentz for QB2.
After watching the MN Vikings’ first preseason game, I’d argue that doesn’t appear to be much of a competition either.
MN Vikings are so deep at wide receiver
Meanwhile, despite the inconsistent quarterback play, especially in the first half, the Minnesota Vikings proved Saturday just how deep their new wide receiver room is. Justin Jefferson was on the sideline in street clothes, as was the new guy, Jauan Jennings.
Jordan Addison was the wide receiver highest up the depth chart to get run against the Giants. He caught one pass from Kyler Murray for eight yards, before he was put on ice for the day. From there, it was the Myles Price show.
The 24-year-old wide receiver came into the day fighting for the MN Vikings’ No. 4 wide receiver spot with Tai Felton and Jeshaun Jones. On Saturday though, the second-year wideout — who goes by “Jug” — made himself the guy to beat for that spot.
They call Myles Price “Jug” because his head looks like a jug. pic.twitter.com/7Cow4VdO88
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) August 15, 2026
Price easily led the team in receiving, with 4 receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown, and a couple of his catches were downright insane… just ask his teammate, Justin Jefferson.
Price is built different physically than both Jones and Felton, but you have to think he is carving himself out some sort of role in Minnesota’s offense this summer. The kid is just too talented, too athletic and has way to good of hands to keep on the sideline.
If Harrison Smith is going to come back… now is the time
The biggest news of the day came early in the second quarter, when newly signed Minnesota Vikings LB/S Jamal Adams exited the game with a non-contact knee injury.
You can read more about his injury, how it happened and the early diagnosis here, but to summarize it in a couple words, head coach Kevin O’Connell said the imaging they got done in New Jersey was “not good”.
Non-contact injury for Jamal Adams (32) on NYG’s cement turf. Brutal. He was going to contribute heavily to this defense. pic.twitter.com/fE0fcxSJF1
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) August 15, 2026
Adams has struggled with injuries for much of his NFL career, and now he’s likely done for the season. Vikings players and coaches have raved about everything the 30-year-old former first round pick has brought to the locker room since joining the team in late-July.
But just as quickly as he rolled in, Jamal Adams is no longer avaiable to defensive coordinator Brian Flores. From a football standpoint, Adams’ injury leaves the Vikings in need of a veteran who can play a hybrid safety role where he spends as much time up in the box as he does back deep.
Not only that, but a veteran who Brian Flores can rely on to get guys in the right spot pre-snap, along with any adjustments that might need made off the original playcall. If only there was someone who could jump into that spot… and even play it better than Adams could have?
"Harrison Smith is one of the best players I've ever been around." – Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores pic.twitter.com/F3eCz9oGNZ
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 30, 2025