Stock Up, Stock Down: 5 Players Impacted by First Vikings Preseason Game

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Minnesota Vikings preseason football officially kicked off Saturday as they headed out east to face off against the New York Giants. While the 13-10 victory may not have any impact on the team itself, it could play a factor it who makes the final 53-man roster at the end of the summer. Here are five players who may have seen significant impacts to their stock during this afternoon’s game. Stock Up: S Jay Ward

Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward sets up in coverage along the boundary on Sep 14, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field as the Vikings defended Philadelphia in a primetime matchup. Ward locked into his assignment while the Eagles motioned pre-snap, giving a snapshot of an early-career rep in a challenging road atmosphere. The play illustrated Ward’s positioning and awareness in a high-pressure situation.

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports. With Harrison Smith no longer in Minnesota and looking more and more by the day that he won’t be suiting up in a Vikings uniform this year, the team needs a player to step up as a starting caliber player at the safety position. Jay Ward is the most obvious choice to fill that role, and in Saturday’s game, he showed his versatility on the defensive side of the ball by picking up a sack of Jaxson Dart to end the first quarter while the Giants were trying to put together a drive.

Stock Down: RB Zavier Scott

Nov 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott (36) runs the ball during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images. While Demond Claiborne made a strong impact out of the backfield, Zavier Scott did not have as much success against the Giants. Scott had two carries for just six yards, and while Claiborne’s box score won’t jump out at anyone with 12 carries for 34 yards, his explosiveness out of the backfield was apparent with multiple runs being a block away from being broken for big gains.

The RB3 spot is going to be the saving grace for Scott to make the final roster, but for now, he hasn’t jumped off the page. Stock Up: OLB Dallas Turner

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner celebrates after a sack, with 2025 marking his second NFL season and the year he finished with 8 sacks for Brian Flores’ defense. Turner’s reaction captures the burst and confidence that helped him grow into a larger role for Minnesota during his early-career climb inside a surging pass rush. Mandatory Credit: YouTube. Dallas Turner didn’t play a ton on Saturday, but when he was on the field, he was impactful. That’s all that matters at this point.

On the first defensive drive of the game, Turner found his way into the backfield on third down and brought down Dart for a seven-yard loss to force a punt. These are the types of plays that the Vikings are going to need from the third-year pass rusher this season. Stock Down: QB J.J. McCarthy

Jul 29, 2025; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) takes part in drills during the teams training camp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

J.J. McCarthy wasn’t necessarily bad on Saturday, but a lot of the same flaws that were seen last year are still apparent. He doesn’t seem particularly confident in the pocket right now, and Carson Wentz certainly outperformed him on Saturday. This will be a big week for the young QB as the Vikings will be hosting joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens before their second preseason game. This upcoming week could very well decide if he is the QB2 or the emergency QB3 heading into the year. Stock Up: WR Myles Price

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Myles Price (31) returns a kickoff against the New England Patriots during fourth-quarter action at U.S.

Bank Stadium, Aug. 16, 2025, accelerating upfield with open space while showcasing his burst and vision as a dynamic special teams weapon pushing for a larger offensive role in the preseason. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images. Myles Price was the big winner on Saturday, catching the sole touchdown for the Vikings to seal their 13-10 victory.

Price already has value for the team has a special teamer, but his four catches for 51 yards, including a 28-yarder, and the score will certainly boost the coaching staff’s confidence in trusting him on the offensive side of the ball. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tai Felton, and Jauan Jennings on the roster, Price has almost certainly locked up the WR5 spot. Editor’s Note: Statistics from ESPN helped with this article. Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To …

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