Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings are working through their second day of joint practices Thursday, against the New England Patriots. On Saturday, they will host the Pats at U.S. Bank Stadium for their second of three preseason games.
By next week, head coach Kevin O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the rest of the MN Vikings coaching staff will start getting serious about who will make the final 53-man roster, not to mention where those who do make the it will fit into the Vikings’ week one regular season depth chart.
One position where Minnesota has a ton of talent and one of the best starter groups in football, is EDGE rusher (or outside linebacker in the Vikings’ base 3-4 defense). Last season, a now 28 y/o Jonathan Greenard and 30 y/o Andrew Van Ginkel combined for 23.5 sacks, 91 tackles and 41 QB hits.
Greenard has been excellent today against Decker. Pressure allows Van Ginkel to strip Goff pic.twitter.com/qtKkXSeJxp
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 20, 2024
In 2025, the Minnesota Vikings hope to inject more of sophomores Dallas Turner and Gabe Murphy into their EDGE rotation, to help keep Greenard and Van Ginkel fresh, and opposing offensive lines guessing.
Dallas Turner underperforming at MN Vikings camp + preseason?
But a KFAN radio rant on Wednesday, from popular voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, seems to call into question everything from Turner’s development to his role within Minnesota’s defense for the upcoming season.
PA clearly came away feeling underwhelmed by Dallas Turner’s performance last weekend, and concerned that O’Connell might feel the same way, though he makes it clear that he hasn’t spoke to the Vikings head coach, about Turner, since Saturday.
For the audio crowd 👀
(Via: @KFAN1003) https://t.co/M3g3n3ILGp pic.twitter.com/3D0Z9IFtvQ
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 13, 2025
“What do you do with Dallas Turner? I’m just going to lay it out like that. What do you do with Dallas Turner? Where do you play him, how much do you play him? Do you care that he was a first round pick, do you care that Gabriel Murphy is outperforming him in training camp and the Texans game?
Do you care that O’Connell came into the Texans game really, really excited to watch the Dallas Turner performance. I certainly can’t say the HC of the Minnesota Vikings thought it was a bad performance, I wouldn’t know.
I just know that there wasn’t a lot said about [Turner] after the Texans game, and there was a lot said about [Gabe Murphy]. So I guess that would be the potential proverbial dark cloud on the horizon.”
Paul Allen – KFAN Radio
Dallas Turner, Gabe Murphy trying to rebound from slow rookie starts
Behind their two Pro Bowl outside linebackers, the Vikings get young at OLB dangerously fast. They selected a now 22 y/o Dallas Turner with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, shortly after they took QB JJ McCarthy at No. 10 overall.
Then, shortly after the 2024 draft ended, Minnesota signed a now 24 y/o UCLA undrafted rookie free agent, Gabe Murphy. Last year, Turner played in 300 total snaps over 16 regular season games, totalling 4 sacks, 20 tackles and 5 QB hits, not to mention how good he was last preseason.
Dallas Turner walks Trent Williams right back into Brock Purdy’s lap (also, the Vikings essentially only rushed two on this play). pic.twitter.com/yfpPONl80A
— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) September 16, 2024
Related: Patriots Head Coach Taking Joint Practices vs Vikings VERY Seriously
Murphy immediately impressed Vikings coaches and staff during last year’s summer workout, and all the way through 2024 training camp. Unfortunately, he wound up on the injured list to start the regular season, and only played 35 total defensive snaps in 2 games.
Early on during summer workouts and 2025 training camp, comments made by coaches and reports from local media suggested nothing but good things behind the scenes, for the former first round pick.
Dallas Turner in the backfield stole
Howell’s lunch, snack, and dinner.
Wooooof😤 pic.twitter.com/jcBmvyiOz9
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 28, 2025
Dallas Turner showed up at TCO Performance Center looking noticeably bigger, and he seemed to be winning more reps against Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen. More recently, however, all that optimism has faded a bit, which makes this critique — from a very plugged-in Paul Allen — are worrisome, at the least.
Mentioned in this article: Dallas Turner Paul Allen Training Camp
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