Vikings safety Theo Jackson has seized a rare opportunity during the ongoing training camp to demonstrate his growing impact on the Minnesota defense. Acquired from the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad during his rookie year in 2022 after Lewis Cine’s injury, Jackson has steadily impressed in the background for three seasons. Despite limited playing time, restricted by veteran safeties Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus, Jackson’s talent has become increasingly apparent.
Across only 222 defensive snaps, Jackson has contributed a handful of interceptions—one in each of the last two seasons—primarily making his mark on special teams. Recognizing his potential, the Vikings rewarded him with a two-year contract extension prior to Bynum’s departure in free agency, signaling their confidence in Jackson’s ability to grow into a more prominent defensive role. This resembles the approach taken with Josh Metellus two years ago, where was locked in as a promising contributor.
Jackson’s Standout Performances at Camp
The offseason and camp practices have proven Jackson’s value to the Vikings. Regularly making impactful plays, he has earned praise for his improved presence on the field. At Wednesday’s practice, Jackson intercepted a pass from Sam Howell, sealing the session with a decisive play.
I always called Jonathan Greenard ‘The Closer,’ but when (Jackson) made that play to end practice the other day, people were coming up to me saying that Theo actually already had that nickname,
said Kevin O’Connell.
Jackson further impressed Friday by intercepting two passes: a challenging catch on a deflected throw from J.J. McCarthy and another well-timed interception on Howell’s route. His ability to anticipate and react in coverage has generated optimism amongst coaches.
When you’re doing things the right way, the ball finds you,
Jackson commented following his performances.
Really since we acquired him, he’s always kind of been an ascending player,
O’Connell remarked.
But at times, with how deep that safety room was and has been, just without opportunity. But when coaches have identified having Theo in the game in some of those three or four-safety grouping defenses over the past couple years, we’ve had some real positive things happen. Any time he’s around the football, in the deep part of the field or getting a vision or a key to break on something underneath, he’s gonna make the play.
Looking ahead, Jackson is poised to take on an expanded role with the Vikings’ defense in 2025. He is expected to join Smith and Metellus on the field in various three-safety alignments under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Although this might not equate to every snap, these packages should become a staple, sustaining the defense’s competitive edge even after Bynum’s exit. The Vikings reportedly trust Jackson’s combination of tackling and ball skills to fill the void seamlessly.
Progress and Challenges in J.J. McCarthy’s Camp Journey
J.J. McCarthy’s time at Vikings camp has followed a pattern of fluctuating results marked by moments of excellence alongside less consistent performances. The early portion of camp displayed encouraging signs, while recent practices, particularly Tuesday’s, revealed challenges. Nonetheless, McCarthy bounced back with what many viewed as his strongest outing Friday, demonstrating flashes of his potential as the team’s leading quarterback.
The session began positively for McCarthy as he delivered an accurate throw to tight end T.J. Hockenson, which unfortunately was not completed. He then launched a precise deep throw to receiver Thayer Thomas and fired a quick, well-placed ball connecting again with Hockenson. However, during 11-on-11 drills, McCarthy’s performance was uneven; he misthrew a pass behind Jalen Nailor and threw an interception to Theo Jackson, partly due to a deflection off Jordan Addison.
Despite these errors, McCarthy recovered to complete passes to Hockenson and Addison, producing significant yardage against the Vikings’ dominant first-team defense. McCarthy’s ability to rebound after mistakes was evident as he missed some throws but quickly regained rhythm by hitting Addison on another sizeable gain. In red zone drills, he executed an impressive on-the-move throw to Lucky Jackson in the back corner of the end zone.
To conclude practice, the offense participated in a situational drill simulating a late-game scenario, trailing 27-21 with 1:15 remaining and one timeout. Here, McCarthy scrambled on the opening play and methodically completed shorter passes downfield, tactfully managing the clock. He nearly wrapped up the drill with a near-perfect touchdown pass to Nailor, who was unable to secure the catch despite defensive penalties. The sequence wrapped with a sack and a catch inbounds that let time expire, with some blame on the receiver for not stepping out of bounds. Overall, Friday’s workout was a promising step forward for McCarthy to build upon.
Scrutiny Surrounding Vikings’ Backup Quarterback Contenders
The competition behind McCarthy at quarterback remains closely watched. Sam Howell, who has been primarily handling second-team reps, has delivered a disappointing camp, throwing interceptions in the last four consecutive practices and five total passes over camp. Following a turnover against Jackson on Friday, Howell briefly lost playing time to Brett Rypien, who has received increasing opportunities with the second-team offense—more than ever before in camp. Howell returned for the final situational drills but struggled to engineer a scoring drive. This uncertainty has led to speculation about whether Rypien or rookie Max Brosmer might climb the depth chart or if the Vikings’ real season backup is yet to be determined or acquired.
Additional Training Camp Observations
One of the day’s more notable moments involved a short pass from McCarthy to Jordan Mason in the red zone. Although the completion appeared routine, Dallas Turner disrupted the catch by dislodging the ball, continuing his steady display of strong defensive play. Mason’s effort also drew attention.
Rookie third-round pick Tai Felton has struggled to find his footing during camp. On Friday alone, Felton slipped on an end-around, failed to secure a red zone pass from Howell, and showed erratic ball tracking on a desperate deep throw late in practice. Despite these setbacks, there remains ample time for Felton to adjust and improve.
What These Developments Mean for the Vikings’ Season
The evolving performances of players like Theo Jackson and J.J. McCarthy reveal a team balancing promising talent with ongoing challenges. Jackson’s emergence as a reliable safety spotlights the Vikings’ depth and foresight in contract decisions, bolstering their defensive flexibility. McCarthy’s ups and downs, meanwhile, reflect a quarterback still refining his game but capable of flashes that excite the coaching staff.
Backup quarterback concerns pose questions about the team’s depth at a crucial position, emphasizing potential roster decisions as the regular season approaches. Meanwhile, the steady progress of younger players alongside veterans signals ongoing competition for roles across the roster.
As camp continues, keeping an eye on Jackson’s rise and McCarthy’s consistency will be key to understanding how the Vikings can shape their offensive and defensive strategies in 2024 and beyond.