Names Popping Up Early at Vikings' Training Camp

Jan 29, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National wide receiver Reggie Virgil (15) of Texas Tech grabs a pass over National cornerback Charles Demmings (16) of Stephen F. Austin during National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Names Popping Up Early at Vikings' Training Camp

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kyler Wolff | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 10:55 AM ET

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It's training camp season, and everybody is trying to impress the coaches and make inroads on the roster. The Vikings have had a great couple of first practices, and some guys have stood out, and some positional battles have gotten clearer, but it's still early. We aren't anywhere close to finding out what the final roster will look like, but some guys are already turning heads and playing their way into the hearts and minds of Vikings fans and coaches. These guys are making waves in training camp and are making a case that they could be future impact players for the team as early as 2026.

Charles Demmings

Charles Demmings has surprisingly gotten reps with the first-team defense, and he's really impressed with his play. The fifth-round pick from Stephen F. Austin hasn't faced elite competition in his young career, but Brian Flores trusted him to cover the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in the first week of practice, and he made a couple of standout plays. Demmings had two big pass breakups down the field on practice Saturday that really had fans excited. He has definitely been one of the biggest rookie standouts in camp so far.

Jordan Mason

Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) runs the ball against Green Bay Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs (28) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Running back Jordan Mason has his eyes set on the RB1 spot above Aaron Jones this season, even though both guys are expected to get plenty of carries regardless of who is at the top of the depth chart. Jordan Mason came into camp and immediately turned heads based just on his new impressive physique.

"You guys can probably even tell just the way he looks. He's in unbelievable shape right now," head coach Kevin O'Connell said when mentioning Jordan Mason's year-over-year improvement. His slimmed-down, more toned look has so far translated to more burst and speed, as Mason looks sharp in the first few practices of camp.

Gavin Bartholomew

Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew (TE02) participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Gavin Bartholomew was on the outside looking in coming into training camp, trailing Ben Yurosek on the depth chart after missing his entire rookie season to a back injury. Bartholomew reminded people of his potential as a pass catcher this week, reeling in several passes from multiple quarterbacks and looking like a potential backup this year if he can continue showing off in practice and in preseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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