Saturday’s Minnesota Vikingspreseason opener against the New York Giants is approaching quickly. Fans shouldn’t expect to see head coach Kevin O’Connell or defensive coordinator Brian Flores break out any wacky schemes or play designs. The veteran coaches will save those surprises for the Vikings’ regular season opponents.
What fans will see is the Vikings play live football for the first time since the end of the 2025 NFL season. That in and of itself is exciting. While Kyler Murray likely won’t play in the first exhibition game, chances are, fans will get a chance to see the “growth” from J.J. McCarthy that coach O’Connell spoke of.
With a total of 91 players on the Vikings’ roster, there’s a lot to look forward to this preseason. For now, it’s time to make five bold predictions for the Vikings vs Giants preseason opener.
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Max Brosmer Plays 2+ Quarters, Has 2 Passing TDs
Signed last season as an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Minnesota, Max Brosmer was never supposed to see the field in his first season (seven appearances), let alone start two games. Even the Vikings have privately admitted that they’d wished Brosmer never had to be thrown to the dogs as a rookie. Yet, they’re “optimistic” in his future, which suggests they’d like to keep him on the roster or practice squad in 2026.
Odds are Murray won’t play a lick in the first preseason game; if he does, it would only be a series at best. McCarthy could see a few series, if not a quarter. The 33-year-old Carson Wentz may not play much, if at all, either.
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That means the second-year Brosmer will have a long leash to experiment against other NFL hopefuls. Brosmer may end up playing a half, if not more. If so, don’t be surprised if he passes for two touchdowns while testing the Vikings’ receiver depth that includes Tai Felton, Myles Price, Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, and Dillon Bell.
If the 25-year-old rips it up in the preseason, sneaking him back onto the practice squad may become a pipe dream, and it’s possible he’d welcome an opportunity to land higher than fourth on a depth chart elsewhere. For now, he’ll focus on putting some strong performances on tape.
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Demond Claiborne Rips Off 60-Yard TD
Vikings fans may want to keep a close eye on Demond Claiborne, No. 21 in the team’s offensive backfield. Aaron Jones recently called the sixth-round rookie a “special back in this league.” He brings a unique element to the RB room, boasting a demonic 4.37-second 40 time, something that neither Jones nor Jordan Mason offers.
As the Vikings lean into more of a Miami Dolphins-like wide-zone rushing approach after hiring Frank Smith to help boost the running game, they may view Claiborne as a De’Von Achane-lite. If he breaks loose, chances are, no one will catch him. Making a splash with a huge chunk gain of over 50 yards would go a long way toward helping Claiborne snatch a roster spot after being the 198th overall pick, rather than it going to Zavier Scott again like last season.
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Gavin Bartholomew Goes Off for 50 Yards + TD
Vikings coaches and reporters have been raving about 2025 sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew, whose entire rookie season was wiped out due to a back injury. Now that Bartholomew is healthy, he might present some upside as a future TE2, if not more. Of course, blocking stud Josh Oliver is entrenched in that role, but with T.J. Hockenson only signed through the rest of the season, there’s room for Bartholomew to climb the depth chart in the near future.
Bartholomew still needs to improve as a blocker, but he’s itching to show what he can do right now as a pass-catcher. Already developing some chemistry with the backups, Bartholomew may emerge as a consistently reliable target on Saturday, where he could break out for over 50 yards and a touchdown in his unofficial NFL debut.
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Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins Shows Off Refined Form With 1 Sack
Asked to train more as an edge defender rather than an interior defensive lineman, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is excited to show off what he can do. After the Vikings spent two of their first three picks on interior defenders and the other on an edge/linebacker in Jake Golday, it’s probably good that TID offers versatility, giving the 2025 fifth-round pick a better chance to stick around.
Coaches and teammates have been impressed with the 23-year-old’s refined form, and there’s a real opportunity available behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Recording a sack and making a living in the backfield would go a long way toward making sure the front office doesn’t get the urge to go sign a veteran edge rusher to muddy the waters.
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Charles Demmings Intercepts A Pass
While No. 21 on offense could be fun to watch, Vikings fans will also want to monitor No. 20 in the defensive backfield closely. The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis called cornerback Charles Demmings the “early star” of training camp. Usually, fifth-round rookies fight just to earn some snaps, but Demmings is already working his way into the first-team defense in training camp.
The 6-foot-1 corner has a feisty, competitive spirit and does not lack confidence. Now he’ll get a chance to bring all that energy to the field. If Demmings’ big personality at camp translates to on-field production, Demmings just might win a few 1-on-1 battles and come down with an interception. Doing so would certainly earn him more opportunities, and the chance at a bigger role on defense when the games start to count.
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