The Vikings and Patriots staged a brisk joint session at TCO, teeing up Week 2 preseason intrigue. Drake Maye faced a stiff test from Flores’ defense early, with the Vikings pressuring him into sacks before settling into a cleaner pocket and delivering a calm, downfield strike to Boutte. J.J. McCarthy pushed the pace with aggressive, heat-tested throws, including a deep connection to Aaron Jones, signaling a growing comfort with route structure and timing. Jordan Addison emerged as Maye’s favorite target, while Justin Jefferson watched from the sideline but stayed engaged, lending leadership and energy to the backdrop of a changing Vikings WR room. Diggs drew the spotlight for New England, injecting veteran savvy into a cross-town storyline that will color Week 2. The session stayed in check with only light scuffles, as Vrabel and Flores kept tempers contained, framing a tangible chess match as Minnesota and New England sharpen their respective rosters for the next game.

Addison’s rapport with McCarthy and Maye hints at a path to early-season targets if Jefferson’s hamstring lingers, while Maye’s pocket feel and late-day accuracy provide optimism for the Patriots’ rookie-era expectations. The practice underscored the evolving quarterback depth charts and the trans-seasonal drama around a cross-conference clash, giving fantasy managers a clearer read on which young pass-catchers could see a meaningful uptick in targets and how the two rookie quarterbacks may push each other for the helm in Minnesota’s offense and New England’s attack.