The Vikings arrived in Cleveland Tuesday afternoon ahead of two days of joint practices with the Browns and Saturday's second preseason game for both teams.

The team charter took off just hours after Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus during Minnesota's first preseason game and will undergo surgery. McCarthy did not make the trip to Cleveland.

Connections galore

There are ample connections between the current installments of the Vikings and Browns, as well as some interesting historical links.

It was quite fitting that on my way to board the bus from Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center to the airport, I passed Paul Wiggin in the hallway. He's enjoyed an incredible NFL run that included playing for Cleveland from 1957-67, coaching Vikings defensive linemen and assisting Minnesota's personnel department in a variety of roles.

It was neat to see someone who's had such an impact on the sport while on the way to the cradle of professional football that is Northeast Ohio.

Wiggin, 89, teamed with Vikings Ring of Honor defensive end Jim Marshall in Cleveland in 1960, the season before the Browns traded Marshall to Minnesota.

Marshall played through the 1979 season — the first 19 in Vikings history — without missing a game.

The joint practices have been orchestrated by O'Connell, who began his NFL coaching career in Cleveland in 2015 under Vikings Assistant Head Coach Mike Pettine, and Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, who rose through the ranks with the Vikings, beginning as an assistant to former Head Coach Brad Childress.

Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also has ties to the Browns, having worked for Cleveland Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry.

Vikings cornerback A.J. Green III and Tuesday signee Jordan Kunaszyk, a linebacker, have previously played for the Browns. Quarterback Nick Mullens started one game for Cleveland in 2021.

The following Browns previously spent time with the Vikings: T Hakeem Adeniji (2023), G Wyatt Davis (2021-22), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (2021-22), DE Za'Darius Smith (2022) and LB Jordan Hicks (2022-23). Browns assistant Bill Musgrave was Minnesota's offensive coordinator from 2011-13.

Storylines & Matchups

I had the fortune of speaking with Browns.com's Staff Writer & Content Creator Kelsey Russo, who has been with the team for about a year, and she filled me in on how things have been going with Cleveland's training camp.

Here are a few storylines with Cleveland, as well as some intriguing matchups that Russo and I are interested in seeing during the joint practices.

The Browns have been working through injuries at multiple positions, including both starting tackles spots (LT Jedrick Willis, Jr., and RT Jack Conklin), as well as at running back (Nick Chubb and D'Onta Foreman).

Additionally, Tomlinson and cornerback Greg Newsome II are on the mend.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson's status

After playing in six games in 2022 and six more in 2023, Watson is progressing his availability for his third season with the Browns.

Russo said the quality of reps expected in the controlled environment is a welcome milepost for the three-time Pro Bowl QB.

"Deshaun is going to take the majority of the reps during the joint practices but is not going to play in the game on Saturday," Russo said. "He didn't play in the first preseason game but is supposed to play in the third preseason game. He has progressed through some really good milestones.

"Minicamp 7-on-7, and then the goal to doing [part of] training camp at the Greenbrier was to participate in everything," she added. "He threw six consecutive days while we were out there and looked really strong."

Browns feature talent heavy trio at WR

Amari Cooper is no stranger to Vikings fans who have seen him play well against Minnesota in one game with the Raiders and three with the Cowboys.

The Browns roster features two other high draft picks at the position in Jerry Jeudy (a first-rounder by the Broncos) and Elijah Moore (a second-rounder by the Jets).

Russo mentioned the receivers have been working on their choice routes, getting on the same page with Watson.

"They're a quieter group, but they all try to help one another," Russo said. "Amari has really taken that leadership role to another level."

Vikings DBs have logged quality reps against skilled teammates, but it will be beneficial to face different players.

Cleveland DBs vs. Vikings WRs

Russo highlighted this pairing as one of the more intriguing sets of matchups because of how Cleveland's defensive backs have been performing and because of Minnesota's receivers.

"They've looked really, really sharp," Russo said of the Browns cornerbacks. "That was one of the matchups I'm curious to see — obviously with Justin Jefferson against Denzel Ward or Martin Emerson, Jr. Greg Newsome has not practiced yet, but [Emerson] has had a really good camp and has stood out with the way he's been in coverage with some really good plays in camp, some breakups in the red zone and picking off passes. He's really stood out to me as somebody who has taken another step in his trajectory. He spent the offseason with Denzel in Florida and picked his brain. Denzel has really stepped up in that sense.

"Kahlef [Hailassee] has had a really good camp, making a name for himself," Russo added. "Cam Mitchell, similar. Cam had a really good play yesterday, picking off a pass intended for Amari Cooper and got a hand on another one intended for Elijah Moore."

Vikings offensive line vs. Cleveland's defensive line

As for me, one matchup I have great intrigue in watching is what will happen between Minnesota's offensive line and Cleveland's defensive line.

The Vikings have basically been rolling with Christian Darrisaw, Blake Brandel, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram and Brian O'Neill as the first unit.

Darrisaw and O'Neill were able to practice against Smith heading into the 2022 season, and any rematches should be plenty intense. Myles Garrett also is one of the best edge defenders in the game.

On the interior, Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson could provide some challenges for interior linemen who will miss the on-field reunion with Tomlinson.