EAGAN, Minn. — At one point, flames felt possible.

It was Thursday afternoon at the TCO Performance Center, and here came Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner once again. The 2024 first-round pick blasted around the edge with so much speed that he looked powered by octane.

For the second straight day in joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens, Turner turnstiled Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley. His lengthy arms caused problems. His relentlessness made second efforts effective. His output generated so much noise on one of the practice fields that, every now and then, coaches and players peered over to see what caused the commotion.

Turner’s teammates gushed about him. Second-year defensive lineman Elijah Williams described Turner as an intimidating presence on the field. Another second-year defensive lineman, Ty Ingram-Dawkins, speculated about an award-worthy type of season.

“Man,” veteran Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. said. “To see how big of a jump it’s been … and how fast he’s playing … It’s going to be a special year.”

What’s the next act for JJ McCarthy in his NFL career?

Derrik Klassen

The Vikings need that to be the case. They traded talented edge rusher Jonathan Greenard in April to the Philadelphia Eagles. His departure left the cupboard otherwise bare at the position. And even though defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system deploys blitzes to make pockets chaotic, certain defensive situations require edge rushers to win.

Turner provided glimpses of his potential in the final eight weeks of 2025. With Greenard out with an injured shoulder, the Vikings asked Turner to play the more traditional edge-rushing role in Flores’ defense. It unlocked more production than at any point in Turner’s young career. He recorded 6.5 sacks over those final eight games (he totaled eight on the season) and held up versus the run on the edge.

Trading Greenard signaled an internal belief that Turner’s trajectory would continue to point upward.

Hope, though, doesn’t come with any guarantees. That’s why these two days from Turner warrant attention. Satisfaction from one sack didn’t prevent him from tornadoing his way to the quarterback for another. His standard seems to be rising with his responsibility.

“I just think he’s not complacent at all,” Ingram-Dawkins said. “He always wants to grow. That’s going to show this year on the field.”

Turner’s showing was perhaps the most important storyline of these joint practices, at least among those unrelated to the quarterbacks. Here are some other nuggets that stood out:

Undrafted rookie Jacob Thomas establishing early trust

Safety may be the most interesting position group on the Vikings. For one thing, Flores asks his safeties to initiate the communication on defense. The uncertainty surrounding Harrison Smith’s future adds to the intrigue.

Losing Jamal Adams to a torn quad affected the team’s depth. Third-round pick Jakobe Thomas hasn’t practiced fully in recent weeks due to back stiffness. On Thursday, safety Theo Jackson left practice early with a leg injury. Fortunately, Jacob Thomas, an undrafted rookie from James Madison, has emerged as a viable option.

The former high school quarterback impressed the Vikings staff this spring with his smarts. Flores’ defense is notoriously complex, especially for safeties. But Thomas absorbed most of it with ease.

“His IQ is just different,” Murphy said. “He’s just one of those guys who is very smart. You can tell.”

Fellow safety Jay Ward singled out this trait: “He can get us into the next call. He plays fast and furious. You can count on him.”

Thomas nearly intercepted Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in an early red zone sequence Thursday. Just as impressively, when Jackson left the field, the Vikings tossed Thomas into the mix with the starters and maintained their defensive dominance.

Asking him to play significant snaps from the beginning of the season feels lofty. But the idea that the Vikings may have found another future contributor in undrafted free agency speaks to their sharp identification process.

Best of the rest

• Minnesota’s passing game had more success Thursday. Quarterback Kyler Murray connected with Jauan Jennings on a deep ball down the right sideline in an 11-on-11 period. He also threaded a pass in rhythm to superstar receiver Justin Jefferson over the middle.

Some of the Ravens’ disguised coverages bothered the Vikings’ timing. The physicality of Baltimore cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins also kept Minnesota from more consistent hits downfield.

Still, the day-to-day growth matters. The arc is eerily similar to former starter Sam Darnold’s progression during training camp in 2024.

• After a disappointing day on the ground Wednesday, multiple Vikings offensive linemen felt better about the way they adjusted and adapted on Thursday. Running back Jordan Mason squeezed through pockets with ease. Rookie running back Demond Claiborne blurred around the right side for a touchdown.

• As much as Turner is deserving of praise, Murphy singled out Ingram-Dawkins as another Vikings defender who has made a leap. Ingram-Dawkins returned this spring in exceptional shape. His ability to line up on the interior and the edge offers the type of versatility Flores covets. He figures to play a meaningful role while rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange find their footing.

• Every fall, Vikings legends visit the TCO Performance Center for practices. But rarely does Randy Moss make an appearance.

His presence Wednesday and Thursday mattered under normal circumstances, but Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell revealed Thursday that Moss had also spent time in the receivers’ meeting room. Moss sat next to second-year wideout Myles Price. He offered tidbits to Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

The Vikings always value Moss’ presence, but this level of participation indicates a deepening of the relationship between the franchise and one of its pillars.