3 Observations: Night Practice Features Van Ginkel Pick, Clutch Passes & Kicks (2025)

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings returned to action Monday and did so under TCO Stadium's lights for the annual night practice.

The session occurred on a cloudless night one week after the tradition was postponed by storms.

Prior to the practice, which concluded the sessions open to the public, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy would not be participating because of knee soreness.

O'Connell said McCarthy could have kept playing in Saturday's preseason opener against the Raiders but had hit the approximate desired snap count (30) on his second touchdown of the game. O'Connell said the Vikings wanted to be smart while McCarthy undergoes further testing.

Sam Darnold quarterbacked the first team, Nick Mullens was with the 2s and Jaren Hall worked with the developmental squad.

Players had Sunday off and arrived a little later than they normally would have on Monday because of the night practice.

In addition to McCarthy, the following Vikings did not participate: Shaq Griffin, Dallas Turner, Jabril Cox, Gabriel Murphy, Dan Feeney, Robert Tonyan and Harrison Phillips.

Griffen, Murphy and Tonyan have been working through camp injuries. Turner, Feeney and Phillips played Saturday. Their status was not discussed. O'Connell mentioned Cox after the game and said the linebacker is dealing with a groin injury.

Dalton Risner participated in some positional drills, and Jerry Tillery was back to participating.

Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jonathan Greenard also participated after not practicing a couple of days last week.

View photos of the Vikings roster as of August 16, 2024.

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QB Matt Corral

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QB Matt Corral

Jacob Kupferman/AP

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Alli Rusco/Minnesota Vikings

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An image from May 23, 2024 of the third day of the 2024 OTAs, Organized Team Activity, at TCOPC in Eagan, MN.

Andy Kenutis/Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC

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CB Jacobi Francis

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CB Jacobi Francis

David J. Phillip/AP

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33 RB Aaron Jones

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LB Jordan Kunaszyk

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LB Jordan Kunaszyk

David Richard/AP

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DB Bobby McCain

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DB Bobby McCain

Tony Gutierrez/AP

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CB Fabian Moreau

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CB Fabian Moreau

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Minnesota Vikings

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DL Jalen Redmond

Darron Cummings/AP

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CB Duke Shelley

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Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago BearsJanuary 8, 2013Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Alli Rusco/Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC

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Minnesota Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings

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CB Nahshon Wright

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CB Nahshon Wright

Michael Ainsworth/AP

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The team is scheduled to travel to Cleveland Tuesday to have joint practices with the Browns on Wednesday and Thursday before the squads meet Saturday in their second preseason game of 2024.

Here are three observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings:

1. Van Ginkel

Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was one of the first players the Vikings signed when free agency opened. He's been working his way back from a foot injury suffered at the end of the 2023 season.

On Monday, he put one foot in front of the other after an interception.

Van Ginkel wasn't fooled on a fake handoff and dropped into coverage, stepping into the throwing lane through which Darnold was trying to connect with Justin Jefferson.

Van Ginkel showed nice hands in catching the pass and quickly transitioned for the return, his long, blond hair flowing in the wind.

The 2019 fifth-round pick was among the first players drafted by the Dolphins when Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores was Miami's head coach (2019-21) and showed what he can bring to a dynamic grouping.

The Van Ginkel pick led the highlights of strong plays by Minnesota's defense.

Camryn Bynum had a nice pass breakup while covering Jefferson during 1-on-1s, and cornerback Fabian Moreau also denied the All-Pro a receiver an opportunity in the red zone.

2. Darnold delivers on third-and-10

Darnold was effective in the red zone with a completion to C.J. Ham and touchdowns to Josh Oliver and Ty Chandler, who made a diving catch.

The pass to Oliver, the 6-foot-5 tight end, was perfectly located in the back corner of the end zone.

Perhaps the best ball of the night, however, was Darnold's pass to Brandon Powell for a gain of 30 on third-and-10 during a 2-minute drill.

The offense had started at its 35-yard line, trailing 21-20 with 1:05 remaining. After two incompletions, Darnold came through in the clutch with the beautiful throw that defeated coverage by Byron Murphy, Jr.

3. Dialing down the middle

Fresh off kicking the game-winning, 38-yard field goal in his first preseason game, Vikings rookie Will Reichard put all six of his kicks through the uprights.

Reichard aimed true on a kick from 40 yards to lift the offense in the first end-of-game situation, and he added a 51-yarder to end the second team's end-of-game situation.

The Vikings closed the session with Reichard aiming true from 33 and 41 yards with Ryan Wright holding and from 43 and 48 with Seth Vernon holding.