The Minnesota Vikings’ final preseason game will take place on Saturday, capping off an eventful month of games and the remainder of training camp.

5 things we’ve learned about the Vikings so far in August

Minnesota’s next regular season date is September 8th at the New York Giants in New Jersey.

Here are the five things we’ve learned about the team since the beginning of August, in ascending order of importance (No. 1 = most important).

5. Everyone is too excited about big-name veterans from free agency

Since mid-May, the Vikings have signed Dalton Risner (OG), Robert Tonyan (TE) and Duke Shelley (CB), men who are theoretically considered permanent fixtures in the squad due to their name recognition and previous performances.

However, with the deadline for squad reduction approaching on Tuesday, there is a tangible chance none of these men are on the 53-man squad. The spectators were perhaps excited for nothing. As Mike Zimmer once said: “This is a young man’s game.”

4. UDFAs are the real deal

Five undrafted free agents discovered by General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late April have good to reasonable chances of making the regular season roster: Dallas Gant (ILB), Jeshaun Jones (WR), Dwight McGlothern (CB), Bo Richter (OLB) and Taki Taimani (DT).

That’s a lot. Quite simply.

The hype surrounding men like McGlothern after the draft proved to be real, at least in the summer.

3. The WRs are ready … the panic was exaggerated

For months after the draft, Vikings fans called on the franchise to sign Hunter Renfrow or Michael Thomas—basically to “do something”—but they never did.

Fast forward to the end of the preseason, and that same crowd (including this website) is happy with Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield at the bottom of the WR depth chart. Minnesota’s coaching staff knew it was well-stocked at the wide receiver position and the outside panic was overblown.

2. Defensive secondary circulation

The Vikings have added six defensive backs in the last month

• Duke Shelley
• Jacobi Francis
• Bobby McCain
• Fabian Moreau
• Nahshon Wright
• Stephen Gilmore

Francis was released on Friday, but you get what I mean. After Khyree Jackson’s death and Mekhi Blackmon’s torn ACL, Adofo-Mensah stepped into action.

1. Vikings can’t have nice things

A “of course it would happen” moment: Rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy played phenomenally in his very first preseason game – and also tore his meniscus in the process. He will miss the entire year of 2024.

Instead of McCarthy earning the QB1 job outright or getting on-the-job practice time at some point in the regular season, he’ll have to watch and learn for his entire rookie year, and because he’s on the injured list, he’s not eligible to return at all in 2024.

The motto “Vikings fans can’t afford nice things” still applies.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel. VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis and opinions on all things purple team related, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Viking obsession dates back to 1996. Listed secret passions: Peanut butter ice cream, “The Sopranos,” Basset Hounds and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information from OverTheCap.com.