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It has been nice to get Vikings Training Camp up and running, even though the team has encountered some early challenges.

Players and coaches continue to work through their grief after the death of Khyree Jackson in an automobile accident.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke at the Maryland funeral for Jackson and his friend Isaiah Hazel on July 26.

"It was an incredibly sad day and somber," O'Connell explained. "You guys know how I felt personally about Khyree and just in my short time what he proved to me, who he is as a person and who had already become a great teammate. It's easy to share messages and thoughts that you truly do feel and believe, but it doesn't help make it any easier in that setting.

"I just hope I did Khyree justice and really our whole team that didn't make the trip," O'Connell continued. "I felt like it was important that we represented everyone and the Minnesota Vikings the way we like to, where we think the standards of how we treat our players, their families, there's no greater moment than that to go do that."

O'Connell, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels and passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones were joined by Vikings rookies Dallas Turner, Taki Taimani and Jeshaun Jones in making the trip for the funeral.

The Vikings also are dealing with losing Mekhi Blackmon to a torn ACL he suffered during the first practice. Fellow cornerback Shaq Griffin is working through a soft tissue injury he suffered the following day.

In spite of the early challenges, the sell-out crowd this past Saturday provided their enthusiasm for the return of football at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Thanks to everyone who made it out and dug deep on a steamy day.

The guests included members of the 18U girls flag football team from Edina who represented the Vikings the previous weekend at the NFL Flag Championships in Canton, Ohio. The squad got a win against the team that was repping the Packers and then endured a long drive home after their flight was among those cancelled.

Today is the first day for players to be wearing full pads, and the session also is sold out. Click here to check on ticket availability for other days.

Can't wait to see how this season goes. With expectations down, we would love to have an upside surprise, for a change.

Regarding QB development process, why do the majority of people now think sending out a new QB, into a situation where they are most likely going to fail, is the preferred path? We've seen the [Packers] do the opposite and have good success in sitting the young player for a season or two. Unless you have a true dual-threat QB, I just don't agree with "learning through failure."

— Alan Shoaf in Indianapolis via Winston-Salem, North Carolina

This seems like a good spot to start. Expectations projected by external sources have been lower than they were a year ago.

I understand why and how common it is for people to project win totals, but I think inside the building that expectations are evaluated differently, particularly in the midst of training camp.

O'Connell likes to say "progress is the process," and he further explained that philosophy last Saturday during a media session.

"The point of it being, there's no tangible scoreboard on the wall for me to be able to show the team every single night at training camp when we meet and say, 'Hey, this is how much better we got today, this is how much better we did not get today.' It's just a matter of individually, collectively, … as our team continues to shape itself through the competition of everybody trying to do that from meeting room time, how they're handling their pre-practice and post-practice routines."

I think most folks that Alan mentions are eager to see what the Vikings landed when they made J.J. McCarthy the highest-drafted QB in franchise history.

One can point to the success the Packers, the Chiefs and other teams have had recently and historically when developing a highly drafted QB behind the scenes instead of expediting the timeline.

There have been some positives shown by veterans Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens, as well as McCarthy — and some negatives. I've been trying to quickly relay key moments from the practices in our daily observations, and my colleagues in VEN are putting together clips and highlight reels for you to see the action.

There probably won't be a shortage of reactions when clips of a positive or negative play (recorded by VEN, media members or people in the stands) make their way to social media, but the positives and negatives at this point are part of the process.

I was wondering if all the quarterbacks will play in the preseason.

Thanks,

— Scott Murphy in Eagan

That's a good question. I don't want to get out ahead of speaking for O'Connell.

We know that he did not have Kirk Cousins play in the 2022 or 2023 preseason games, but O'Connell already had previously coached Cousins in Washington, so they had that experience.

O'Connell's continued evaluation of things could impact his decision for each preseason game. The Vikings are going to lean heavily on their joint practices with the Browns in a couple of weeks.

Which QBs do you expect to make the team, and who will be the starter?

— Steve Beeman

Darnold has taken most of the first-team reps, but McCarthy has worked in a few. Mullens' prior experience in this system allows the distribution of reps to offer more for McCarthy.

O'Connell said last Monday that he believes there will be enough reps to get the evaluation he wants before the season opener. He also said he didn't want McCarthy to come into his first training camp with "any kind of preset ceiling or floor to where he's at."

"That's the excitement that I know he feels showing up to go to work every day. He's had a great offseason and a great summer leading into this. He's ready to go," O'Connell added. "Sam got off to a really great start in the spring. And I'm looking forward to him to really take that momentum and start running."

The deep balls that Darnold has been consistently hitting to the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison have been impressive since he's had a relatively small amount of time with each receiver.

He also bounced back immediately on Saturday after tossing a pick in the red zone to Harrison Smith by drilling a throw to Jalen Nailor for a touchdown.

McCarthy had a really crisp day in the red zone, completing four of five passes, but he also got a learning opportunity on a late pass over the middle that was intercepted by Theo Jackson.

The Vikings made sure to keep three QBs on the active roster last season and wound up starting four in multiple games.

Do you see Lewis Cine getting significant playing time this preseason? Can't see giving up on him yet! Think if given the opportunity, he could be a very good safety.

Thoughts?

— John Heil

The Vikings develop every player in the building. Cine was not participating in Saturday's session, but his status has not been mentioned.

Safety is again one of the deeper positions for the Vikings with Smith, Camyrn Bynum, Joshua Metellus, Jackson, Jay Ward and Cine all returning from last season.

When I was a kid, Bobby Bryant was my favorite player. His number was 20 and so was my birthday. My Dad took me to Vikings games at Metropolitan Stadium, and one game we went to, Bobby was injured and did not play. After the game, I saw him in the parking lot and my Dad told me to run after him and see if he would have his picture taken with me. I did, and Bobby was gracious and agreed. I was in awe. My Dad took the picture, but my Dad was handicapped and lost the use of his right arm as a child, so he did the best he could, but when we got the film developed, my Dad only got a picture from Bobby's shoulders down, so I had a picture of me and a body holding a Viking pennant. That's my Bobby Bryant story. He was a great tackler, a ball hawk, and made many, many big-time plays. Very worthy of the Ring of Honor.

Congratulations, Bobby!!

— Lee Ageton in Brandon, South Dakota

and

I'm still in disbelief that this honor wasn't given to Bobby Bryant sooner! Don't get me started on Canton! As a fellow Gamecock, I am grateful he's getting his due in Minneapolis, though.

— Red Brown

and

Wow, Bobby Bryant finally in the Ring of Honor. I remember watching him back in the '70s. Bobby played way beyond his size and was so much fun to watch. Way to go Bobby.

— John Karels

I'm combining these thoughts from Lee, Red and John that were continued reactions to Bryant being this year's inductee in the Vikings Ring of Honor.

Although the photo isn't what Lee pictured, that memory sounds so special, especially with it being an experience he shared with his father. Training camp is providing so many opportunities for fans to connect with current players and make memories that they'll keep for years.

I've already mentioned in this space that Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton were thrilled to help let Bryant know of his selection earlier this summer.

This past Saturday, I had the honor of interviewing Carl Eller and Scott Studwell about Bryant for some upcoming content we'll be rolling out. The Ring of Honor members were at camp Saturday, signing autographs for fans and happily spoke about what Bryant meant to the team.

When, if ever, do you think the Vikes are going to have the best chance of going to the Super Bowl and getting it done? I have been a fan since '61, and I love them, but they sure make it hard on a guy's health. SKOL!

— Patrick L.

and

These are my "hopes" for the Vikings upcoming season. #1) They stay healthy and avoid any serious injuries. #2) The team honors Khyree Jackson by wearing a uniform patch all year. #3) The coaches and especially the players dedicate themselves and their goals to each other, in honor of the fallen rookie. If they accomplish those things, the season and results will take of themselves, and I will happily accept both as a lifelong Vikings fan. After nearly 60 years of dreaming of a Super Bowl win, I realize that championing a team that I am proud to give my allegiance to is just as important. There has never been a team owner that can hold a candle to the Wilfs! We are lucky to have them, as well as the entire front office they have assembled. I love the direction this team is heading. 31 teams end the season disappointed. If we win it all, or are disappointed with a loss at the end of the season, as long as I can be proud of my team, they will not be a disappoint to me. SKOL Vikings!

— Dale Kruse

I'll combine these thoughts from Patrick and Dale.

Longtime Equipment Manager Dennis Ryan, who retired last year after 47 seasons with the club, was among those in attendance at a practice last week.

Knowing how much he gave to the organization to help players like Studwell, Eller, Bryant and the multitudes of others always places him high among those I'd like to see be able to see Minnesota win a Super Bowl.

I've already mentioned some external expectations being low for this season, but you can look around and see the recent extensions of Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw, as well as the steam that remains behind O'Connell and what his and Adofo-Mensah's teams are continuing to build here as positive outlooks for years to come.

As for Dale's "hopes," so far injuries have challenged Minnesota at cornerback, but the team will have to move past those. The Vikings are honoring Jackson's memory in multiple ways, including with a helmet decal. Turner and McCarthy both spoke last week about how much their fellow draft classmate meant to them and how they want to honor him by doing their best.

Looks like the travel game crew will be heading to Nashville to watch our Minnesota Vikings take on the Titans. We already have our tickets. Trying to figure out which home game we're attending. It's a toss-up between the Texans or Falcons game, both for obvious reasons, lol.

— Rick in Stillwater, Oklahoma

I'm consistently impressed by the way Vikings fans represent at road games. Many readers have been part of flipping an opponent's stadium Purple.

Music City is likely to be a popular road destination this year for multiple reasons, including the fact that it will be the first regular-season appearance by the Vikings there since the 2016 opener.

The Texans game will feature Bryant's Ring of Honor ceremony as part of Legends Weekend, which is kind of interesting since so many former Vikings are now Texans. The Falcons game is also highly anticipated because it will mark Cousins' return after six seasons here.

Hi there, listening to Gabe Henderson's recent "Simulation Mode" with Brandon Powell, I was impressed to hear he had been in the Rams the year they won the Super Bowl, so he knows what it feels like. Obviously, Kevin O'Connell was the OC with the Rams then, too. It got me wondering how many current team members or coaches have been on a winning Super Bowl team? I really think we are on a long-term trajectory to win one, even if this season doesn't end up having as many W's as we would all like.

— Lisa

O'Connell, Powell, tight end Johnny Mundt, defensive lineman Jonah Williams, Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, senior offensive assistant Chris O'Hara, defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, assistant inside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus were with the Rams when they won Super Bowl LVI.

Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was with Philadelphia the year the Eagles won Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Receivers coach Keenan McCardell helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl XXXVII with two touchdown catches.

Flores' time with the Patriots in the personnel department or as a coach spanned four of New England's Super Bowl wins (XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII).

So that's a solid collection of people who have helped a team reach the pinnacle. I'd imagine anyone with one or more rings always wants more.