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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Dave Kluge, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 1
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
While training camp is still in its early stages, Kyler Murray is taking more and more snaps as the first-team quarterback. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, "The Vikings have given roughly two-thirds of the snaps with the first-team offense." While this is a telling sign, J.J. McCarthy has spent "a significant portion of his summer working with the No. 2 offense but against the No. 1 defense." The team has also been running more shotgun and pistol handoffs than in the past, with the offense typically running those plays under center at a rate of 47 percent since HC Kevin O'Connell arrived in Minnesota. When asked about the competition, Justin Jefferson told Alec Lewis of The Athletic, "I feel like a competition brings out the true dog in you, the true player within you. It's all about who is coming every day with that fresh mentality." The bottom line is that this competition is still unsettled. Some have even claimed the best-looking quarterback in Minnesota camp has been Carson Wentz. Stay tuned.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Aaron Jones Sr. missed time with injury last season and spoke to the media this week about managing his availability. "Just kind of taking care of your body. Availability, which is I gotta get better on, I was banged up a little bit last year so I gotta get better on that." Jordan Mason, the team's presumed RB2, drew praise from OC Wes Phillips this week for losing weight in the offseason. Phillips said, "He put a lot of work [in] this offseason […] really impressed with his mindset coming into year two with us." The team is also practicing a renewed approach to the run game. O'Connell spoke at the combine, saying, "I want to be a vertical wide-zone team. The teams that do it right are still attacking. They're still crossing the line of scrimmage. They're still playing on the other side of the line."