Kevin O’Connell’s refusal to name a starting quarterback until at least training camp left fans feeling restless and wanting. Minnesota Vikings fans will endure another six weeks of rampant speculation, awkward interviews, and futile attempts at evaluating training camp completion percentages. Still, it makes for an interesting summer, and no one feels more left out than the executives at HBO’s Hard Knocks.
Despite being eligible and one of only a handful of teams who have never appeared on the program, HBO passed over the Vikings in favor of the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Instead, Minnesota will get to carry out the rest of their offseason in the relative quiet of TCO Stadium without all of the Hard Knocks hoopla.
So what could HBO be missing out on while they cover the humdrum Seahawks? Well…
Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy are neck and neck in this QB battle, so it seems, and the competition has extended well beyond the field. McCarthy has established that the two don’t have much of a relationship, calling Murray “a guy on the other side of the classroom.” Meanwhile, Murray has already publicly complained about having to split reps with McCarthy. Built into all this as well is Carson Wentz‘s fate, who has gained momentum as QB2 and, ridiculously enough, even QB1 at times.
Of course, there was always a chance that Murray picked up the offense faster than a new Call of Duty map. Or that McCarthy returned as the next Patrick Mahomes after a winter of learning how to throw a changeup, making this summer’s festivities slightly less entertaining. If the Vikings had already decided on their starting quarterback, training camp might not have quite the same must-see-TV quality it does now. Still, there are plenty of other battles, stories, and oddities that HBO might lament passing over.
The Vikings have repeatedly assured us that first-round pick Caleb Banks will be healthy and ready to roll for training camp. If that’s the case, fans will get a look at a player who probably would’ve been a top-10 pick had he been healthy. If Banks isn’t ready to go, though, let the meltdowns begin. Vikings fans are all too familiar with little tweaks and setbacks, and anything that delays Banks’ return to the field is sure to set off alarm bells.
Harrison Smith was never a man of many words, but one he hasn’t said quite just yet is “retired.” The Vikings are still waiting on a final decision from the future Hall of Fame safety, and there’s a possibility it comes ahead of training camp. If Smith decides to come back one more time with feeling, there will be a tangible buzz around the Minnesota secondary. If not, and 2025 was really it, the Vikings will have a tricky puzzle to solve with Theo Jackson, Jay Ward and rookie Jakobe Thomas.
One of the most intriguing position battles outside of quarterback could be at running back, where the Vikings could have a three-headed monster — or a lack of any identity whatsoever. Aaron Jones, who returned after a brief vacation from the roster, is 31 and coming off arguably his worst season as a pro. Jordan Mason packs a punch but lacks explosiveness. Meanwhile, rookie Demond Claiborne‘s teammates have compared him to Jahmyr Gibbs, but he has a lot to prove coming in as a sixth-round pick.
It’s easy to assume Jones will handle the starting duties with a sprinkling in of Mason and Claiborne. Still, really anything is on the table with this room.
So when Hard Knocks producers sit listening to Seahawks players repeat “Last year is done, it’s time to get back to work,” 700 times, their minds may drift off, imagining that shot where O’Connell calls the starting quarterback to break the news. Or they may picture the 6’6”, 320 lb. Banks, wreaking havoc up front. Or even daydream about a slow-mo shot of Harrison Smith stepping out of his car to sign a one-year deal.
Surely watching the Seahawks players run drills or discuss their feeble attempts to care for a sourdough starter over the break will provide some entertainment. Still, it’s easy to see now that Minnesota was the clear choice. The NFL and the team would have limited what was shown behind the scenes, but the Vikings have too many juicy storylines to keep behind closed doors.
Still, maybe it’s for the best, and this will allow the Vikings to keep the distractions at bay. But to be a fly on the wall of that quarterback room…
