The Minnesota Vikings are wrapping up their training camp with joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens at TCO Performance Center. The matchup provides a rare opportunity to see Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson on the same field for two days, where both quarterbacks can attack vertically and use their legs to create an extra element for defenses to conquer.

Within the context of these joint practices, there will be plenty to parse out over the course of two days. Here are five things to watch for the Vikings.

Blake Brandel’s snapping needs to improve

When the Vikings decided to keep Blake Brandel going into the season, it was a questionable decision. I was very much in support of it, thinking that an entire offseason focusing on snapping and playing the center position would fix the issue and help Minnesota figure out its biggest problem. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have been fixed completely because snapping has still been a concern throughout training camp.

Brandel needs to put together a couple of strong days snapping the ball well to Murray; otherwise, the Vikings could be reaching a crisis point at the position. Normally, centers don’t draw attention because the snap itself is relatively routine. When it is routine, you don’t think about it. The second it isn’t, it becomes borderline catastrophic.

With the Vikings running such a timing-based offense, a bad snap throws everything off. That was an issue Minnesota had last year. It’s similar to throwing a ball with poor placement to a wide receiver. They can still catch it, but it can hinder yards after the catch. Here, it could hinder a completion entirely down the field.

Kyler Murray working with the 1st team

It has been just over a week since Minnesota named Murray its starting quarterback, and he has rewarded the organization with some good practices. In his first drive against the New York Giants, he led the offense down the field on a 10-play, 54-yard drive that culminated in a Will Reichard field goal. The operation was clean and solid, but there was still room for growth.

These practices will show an element of that growth because they’re going to be competitive, and both teams will be working through a multitude of issues. Murray will develop more chemistry with guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson throughout these joint practices. They’ll also be going against a defense that isn’t Brian Flores’, which should make for potentially easier competition.

Seeing Murray thrive across these two days will go a long way in building confidence in the Vikings offense heading into the 2026 season.

Jordan Addison compared to Zay Flowers

Over the course of the offseason, we have talked multiple times about a potential extension for Addison. The fourth-year wide receiver had a great first two years, averaging 900 yards and 9.5 touchdowns each season. Last year was a downturn, though. He did serve the three-game suspension for the DWI arrest that occurred in the summer of 2024, and he only had just over 600 yards and three touchdowns. Those aren’t great numbers for a guy who looked to be the next big thing at wide receiver for the Vikings.

If Addison wants to earn a contract extension, a strong 2026 season could help seal the deal. It just so happens his rookie classmate, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was picked two spots ahead of him, will be on the other side of the field. If Addison can prove he is better than Flowers over the course of these two days, it could go a long way in him securing his future, both financially and with Minnesota. It won’t mean everything, but doing so could help him take a huge step forward.

Caleb Banks and his pad level

Caleb Banks didn’t have the greatest debut, but the issues he had were ones we already knew about going into the NFL Draft and training camp. Banks is a very unique player at 6-foot-6 5/8 and 327 pounds. He’s huge for an interior lineman, and that is going to cause issues. Pad level will always be at a premium with Banks, and it is something he struggles with.

The Vikings will help Banks work on it. However, it’s going to take time. It won’t be fixed overnight (potentially not at all), and these joint practices will likely be a major point of focus for Banks in order to improve that element of his game. If he can do that, the sky is the limit for what he can be. It will also give more confidence to both the fan base and the coaching staff that Banks is going to be ready to contribute right away in 2026.

This is the danger with Caleb Banks' pad level being poor. Offensive linemen can drive him off the spot and dictate where he goes pic.twitter.com/GMkgm0j0Fh

— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) August 18, 2026

How real is Charles Demmings?

Charles Demmings has been the talk of camp. He’s been an absolute star over the first three weeks of training camp, showing out against the likes of Jefferson, Addison, and Jawan Jennings. Can he do it against other competition? He only allowed one catch against the Giants, and that came on a throw underneath him when he was playing over-the-top coverage.

Even so, Demings being able to prove it against the likes of Rashad Bateman, Flowers, and tight end Mark Andrews will go a long way toward helping him secure the cornerback 3 spot. Radio announcer Paul Allen alluded to that possibility during the preseason game on Saturday. If Demings can prove he is the guy at cornerback, that could be huge for the Vikings long-term on a fifth-round pick contract. We know Flores will play rookie cornerbacks if they’re ready, as he did with Mekhi Blackmon in 2023.