1. Greenard and Turner fan flames of defense’s heat
O’Connell and other coaches haven’t shied away from expecting some big things from outside linebacker Dallas Turner in his second pro season. The head coach said he considers Turner, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel as three starter-level players.
Van Ginkel has been sidelined, and Turner has repeatedly shined during reps at different points of camp.
The 2024 first-round pick has shown an explosive first step off the snap that fuels speed rushes. He’s also shown power and finesse. Turner had a tackle for loss on a run by Ty Chandler early and made a case for at least two sacks of J.J. McCarthy, including one with the QB in his own end zone.
Greenard, half of the returning Pro Bowl duo with Van Ginkel, left fingerprints over multiple periods of practice. He had a would-be sack of Sam Howell during the defense’s first opportunity against the second-team offense. In the next period against the first team, he ripped through the line of scrimmage for a tackle for loss on a run by Jordan Mason and teamed with Jalen Redmond to meet McCarthy in the backfield.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen also looked like he would have recorded a sack for a safety when the first-team offense was backed up against its own end zone.
Beyond those efforts, the Vikings defense worked in some linebacker and safety blitzes to continue battle-testing the offense. On one blitz by Ivan Pace, Jr., Greenard batted down an outlet pass at the line of scrimmage.
We’ll also mention Joshua Metellus snagging the day’s lone interception after a pass intended for Zavier Scott bounced up.