Viking veterans' return under J.J. McCarthy's leadership propels team to a 20-10 victory over Texans in their preseason debut
Minnesota Vikings Preseason Opener: A Mixed Bag of Injuries and Promising Performances
The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their preseason with a 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans, a game that was marked by both injuries and promising performances.
Rookie center Zeke Correll suffered a right ankle fracture in the second half of the game, casting a shadow over the Vikings' offensive line. On the other hand, J.J. McCarthy, the first-round pick from Michigan, watched the game from the sidelines as a precautionary measure, having shown impressive form in joint practices.
In the Texans' camp, starting quarterback Davis Mills led a 74-yard scoring drive on the team's opening possession, ending with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Berrios. However, the absence of running back Nick Chubb, who missed practice time due to a head injury, was noticeable.
Kevin O'Connell, the Vikings' head coach, expressed disappointment about Rondale Moore's injury, calling it one of the most painful things for him as a coach. Moore, who was signed by the Vikings this offseason, suffered a serious left knee injury during a punt return in the second quarter and will have an MRI on Sunday. Wide receiver Jordan Addison, who will be suspended for the first three games of the regular season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, was also absent.
The Vikings' offense, led by Sam Howell in McCarthy's absence, managed to score twice in the first half. Howell finished the first half with 11 completions out of 13 attempts for 105 yards. McCarthy, who replaced Howell before the Vikings' second possession, completed 4 out of 7 passes for 30 yards and led a scoring drive in his only series against the Houston Texans.
The Texans' final two drives ended in interceptions by Kahlef Hailassie, securing a win for the Minnesota Vikings in McCarthy's first game in almost a year.
Christian Darrisaw, offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, did not play as he continues to recover from a season-ending knee injury from the previous year.
Looking ahead, the Minnesota Vikings will host the New England Patriots next Saturday, while the Houston Texans will host the Carolina Panthers. The Texans will be without wide receiver Jordan Addison for the first three games of the regular season due to his suspension.
- The upcoming game between the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots will be a football game that follows a mixed bag of injuries and promising performances, as the team grapples with players like Christian Darrisaw still recovering from season-end injuries and Rondale Moore awaiting an MRI on a serious left knee injury.
- J.J. McCarthy, the first-round pick from Michigan, will likely see more game time in the upcoming matches, as he was held back as a precautionary measure in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
- In the sports-analysis perspective, the Vikings' offense showed signs of strength, with quarterback Sam Howell leading a scoring drive in the first half against the Texans.
- The Houston Texans, on the other hand, will have to find replacements for suspended player Jordan Addison for their first three games of the regular season, due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
