Caleb Banks - Minnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks - Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings lost their second preseason game of 2026 yesterday. to the Baltimore Ravens in yet another brutal showing by an offense that has totalled 16 points through two-thirds of the exhibition season.
Meanwhile, there have been no such problems on defense, where Brian Flores’ group seems as ready for the season as it will ever be.
Not only were the first and second team defenses dominant at joint practices last week, against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ veteran offense, but the depth guys behind them have held both preseason opponents to 13 points or less, and 250 yards of total offense,
Still, there are areas that need worked on over the next couple of weeks, before the Minnesota Vikings open their regular season on September 13 against the Green Bay Packers.
Caleb Banks - Minnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks - Minnesota Vikings
One position group that is worth keeping an eye on early this season is interior defensive line, where Flores is relying on mostly young, unproven talent to remain disciplined while still being disruptive.
That brings us to rookie defensive lineman, Caleb Banks, who the Vikings selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the 6’6″, 325 pound monster isn’t expected to start, right out of the gate, he is expected to have a role on defense early.
Caleb Banks vows to get body into better shape before start of MN Vikings season
How much of a role? That will depend, not just on the oft-injured Florida Gator adjusting to the NFL game, but also his ability to get into better shape.
After Minnesota’s preseason loss to Baltimore on Saturday, Banks — who played 25 total snaps in each of the first two preseason games — he admitted to Andrew Krammer (Star Tribune) and other reporters that stamina is a big problem right now. Then, he vowed to fix it.
“He was really honest about what went well and what didn’t… he was also honest about his conditioning or lack thereof. I’d asked him just, ‘How are you feeling being a guy who played just three games at Florida last year? You were eased into training camp, not given the full complement of reps.’
And he said, ‘No, to be honest, I’m out of shape right now.’ He said, ‘I need to run more gassers after practice. You guys will see me doing that.'”
Andrew Krammer – (Access Vikings) Star Tribune
Related: Should We Be Worried About the Minnesota Vikings’ Offense?
It’s important to note that Caleb Banks missed all but three games last year, due to injury. Then, he hurt himself again at the NFL scouting combine, forcing him to get surgery on his fourth metatarsal in his left foot.
This isn’t about laziness… it’s about injury
In other words, he spent most of the weeks and months leading up to training camp, just trying to get his foot back to full-health, which he was mostly successful at doing. This isn’t about laziness or the big man coming into camp unprepared.
It just takes time to get that stamina back, when you’ve been out with injury for most of the past year. And you can’t help but love his dedication to getting it done.
Caleb Banks sheds the tight end and stops a run pic.twitter.com/2eaQ5M3C7a
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 22, 2026
Vega Ioane getting after it in the run game and putting Caleb Banks into the dirt#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/GXBT6RV2N8
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) August 23, 2026
Related: McCarthy Losing Grip on Vikings QB2 Job as Trade Rumors Swirl Again
Only time will tell what type of player Caleb Banks will be. His preseason, so far, has been very up and down (33.7 PFF grade). However, he has all the physicals tools necessary to be a dominant player, once he figures things out.
And the more we get to know him, he seems to have the right head on his shoulders too. Normally, that means (as long as he can stay healthy), the 23-year-old should have a long and lucrative career ahead of him.