What is the identity of the 2025 Vikings? That will be revealed soon enough

There was an almost childlike excitement from general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O Connell on Tuesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center as they set the stage for the Vikings to start training camp The humbling loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs is in the rearview mirror as are the feelings of failure attached to it Instead the Vikings get to operate with overwhelming optimism at least for the time being after spending more than million in free agency to address all of the weaknesses the Rams helped reveal We ve spent this offseason focusing on building the idea of the Vikings Adofo-Mensah announced This is the time to really build the reality of what this club is going to be What exactly does Adofo-Mensah want that to look like He described it by saying he wants the Vikings to be able to show up to a fight not necessarily knowing what the fight is going to be like and leave as the last man standing When it s single elimination in the playoffs we might have to play a certain type of challenge Adofo-Mensah explained We yearned to build the type of association that s versatile and can win in different tactics and we think we ve done that There s a big difference between thinking and knowing however and whether the Vikings have accomplished that goal won t be known until they either make or miss the playoffs at the end of the regular season In the meantime O Connell is trying to get this particular group to focus on the journey rather than the destination believing that if they lean into the work every then everything else will take care of itself How do we do that O Connell announced We have a good training camp Though there are storylines aplenty for the Vikings as they prepare to return to the field the maturation of young quarterback J J McCarthy will be chief among them as he actions into the spotlight as the new face of the franchise Not that O Connell seems to worried about how McCarthy will handle the pressure We feel like we ve built a group with leadership on both sides of the ball and with experience on both sides of the ball all designed to help him be confident in his role O Connell noted You feel the power and the enthusiasm that J J has brought to the group and that they re reciprocating right back to him That should serve as a good starting point for the Vikings as they set their sights on that elusive Lombardi Trophy Never mind that neither Adofo-Mensah nor O Connell directly referenced the Super Bowl ahead of training camp It s pretty clear that everybody associated with the Vikings is moving forward with that at the forefront of their mind It s time for us to acknowledge what we re indeed trying build here O Connell disclosed We ve got to put in a lot of work to feel totally worthy in those moments to get to where we want to get to Briefly The only players starting training camp on the physically unable to perform PUP list are tight end Gavin Bartholomew and edge rusher Chaz Chambliss The fact that left tackle Christian Darrisaw was not placed on the PUP list speaks to his progress as he continues to work his way back from torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee Related Articles NFL training camp primer Five storylines to follow as Vikings open training camp Vikings Jordan Addison pleads no contest awaits punishment from NFL Rosemount ready to rep Minnesota at NFL Flag Football Championships Vikings Dallas Turner scammed for K in alleged bank fraud scheme under police review