By Graham Fritz 

Writer/Reporter 

Training camp is officially underway for the Minnesota Vikings, and the 2026 regular season draws closer.  

The new front office has begun to roll up their sleeves, and in the coming weeks they will need to address a few key areas: Final roster construction, last minute player additions and cuts, and of course who gets named the starters across the board. Let’s explore the burning questions fans have going into training camp: 

Who is the week 1 starter at QB? 

The glaring question that every Vikings fan wants to know: Who will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings week 1?  

The media would lead you to believe it’s Kyler Murray’s job to lose over JJ McCarthy, which makes logical sense given the fact that McCarthy struggled heavily in 2025. However, based on recent reports throughout OTAs and now into training camp, the practice reps at QB1 have been split between the two quarterbacks.  

It’s fair to wonder what Kevin O’Connell is doing by not naming a starter. Objectively, splitting QB1 reps takes away from the growth the eventual starter could otherwise use in their development and comfort in the offense. KOC isn’t interested in playing the short game; he wants to ensure that whoever gets under center week 1 is prepared to go out there and win games and not make this into another year of a QB carousel.  

As it stands, we don’t have an answer, but in the coming weeks we will have a clearer view.  

If I had to bet on who starts the year, I would say Kyler Murray. His experience and physical ability are both leg ups over McCarthy who only started a total of 10 games since he was drafted in 2024 and hasn’t been consistent or healthy. A huge decision rests on the shoulders of this coaching staff, as they hope to not have another year like last year. Because if they do, there will be consequences. 

What move, if any, do the Vikings make before the start of the regular season? 

Many fans are feeling a bit uneasy regarding some of the roster holes we still have. The most glaring hole is on defense, the lack of edge rusher depth on the roster.  

As it stands, the starting edge rushers/outside linebackers are Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Van Ginkel has become a fan favorite since his addition to the Vikings defense in 2024, who has created havoc and been a total nightmare for opposing QBs, however we must acknowledge he’s aging (31 years of age) and has an injury history.  

On the other side, you got an athletic specimen in Dallas Turner who is poised to have a breakout year, or so it would seem based on how the Vikings moved on from Jonathan Greenard during the 2026 draft.  

Turner is unproven and has only been seen in a limited role. From a bird’s eye view it would make sense for the Vikings to pursue a veteran edge rusher either in free agency or via trade. In the coming weeks we will see if they stand ten toes down on the current edge rusher room they have, but the question of depth is a real concern. 

It’s an exciting time to be an NFL fan as every team is tied at 0-0. Here’s to another fun – or not fun – ride of being an NFL fan. What questions do you have about the 2026 Minnesota Vikings? Let us know in the comments!