Vikings vs Texans preseason game August 9 2025

Vikings Beat Texans 20-10: McCarthy Returns, Murphy Stars

August 11, 2025•6 min read

The Minnesota Vikings opened their 2025 preseason campaign with a convincing 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday night, highlighted by J.J. McCarthy's triumphant return and breakout performances from several depth players fighting for roster spots.

Game Summary

Final Score: Vikings 20, Texans 10
Attendance: 66,655

J.J. McCarthy's Emotional Return

The story of the night belonged to J.J. McCarthy, who made his return to game action after 364 days away from football due to his meniscus injury. The rookie quarterback, playing in just his second NFL preseason appearance, completed 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards and successfully led a field goal drive in his lone series.

"It felt amazing to be back out there," McCarthy said post-game. "The emotions were definitely there, but once I got into the flow of the game, everything felt natural again."

Head coach Kevin O'Connell praised McCarthy's composure: "You could see the emotion on his face when he took that first snap. For a young player who's been through what he's been through, to come back and execute the way he did was really encouraging."

Sam Howell's Redemption Performance

Sam Howell delivered the most impressive quarterback performance of the night, completing 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards while adding a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak. The veteran backup, who had struggled during training camp practices, showed marked improvement in his decision-making and accuracy.

"Sam is one of those guys that just needed to get into game action," O'Connell noted. "His preparation and work ethic have been outstanding, and you saw that translate tonight."

Howell's touchdown came on a short-yardage situation where he powered through the line for the score, showcasing both his arm and legs in the victory.

Gabriel Murphy's Breakout Night

Undrafted linebacker Gabriel Murphy emerged as the defensive star of the game, recording 2 sacks and 5 quarterback hits in a dominant performance that likely secured his roster spot.

Murphy's first sack came on a blindside rush that forced a Texans punt, while his second sack demonstrated his ability to win with both speed and power moves. The performance capped off a strong training camp for the former college standout.

"Gabriel has been working his tail off since he got here," defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. "Tonight was just a continuation of what we've been seeing in practice. He's got a motor that doesn't quit."

Defensive Playmakers Shine

Kahlef Hailassie's Ball Skills

Safety Kahlef Hailassie provided the most exciting defensive moments of the night, recording 2 interceptions in the fourth quarter after being moved from cornerback to safety during the game.

The position switch proved immediately beneficial, as Hailassie showed improved instincts and ball skills in the deeper coverage role. His first interception came on a well-timed break on an out route, while his second pick demonstrated excellent hands and concentration in traffic.

"The switch to safety felt natural," Hailassie explained. "I've played some safety before, and the coaches felt it might be a better fit for my skill set. I'm just happy I could make some plays to help the team win."

Zavier Scott's Emergence

Undrafted running back Zavier Scott turned heads with his performance, showing excellent vision and burst through the holes created by the offensive line. Scott ran for 40 yards on just 7 carries. Scott's running style and special teams contributions made a strong case for a practice squad spot at minimum.

Concerning Injury News

The victory came with significant injury concerns that could impact the Vikings' depth chart:

Rondale Moore's Devastating Injury

Wide receiver Rondale Moore suffered what head coach Kevin O'Connell described as a "significant" knee injury on his first punt return of the game. The injury appeared serious enough that Moore was immediately carted off the field.

"It's concerning," O'Connell said. "Rondale was having a great camp and was really starting to find his role in our offense. We'll know more after the MRI, but it doesn't look good right now."

The injury is particularly devastating given Moore's expected role as a slot receiver and return specialist in the Vikings' offense.

Zeke Correll's Ankle Fracture

Center Zeke Correll suffered a fractured ankle during the game, creating additional depth concerns along the offensive line. Correll had been competing for a backup role and special teams contributions.

Offensive Line Struggles Continue

The Vikings experienced multiple fumbled snaps throughout the game, with center Michael Jurgens struggling with consistency in his exchanges with different quarterbacks. The snapping issues were a continuation of problems that surfaced during training camp.

"We've got to clean up the snapping situation," O'Connell acknowledged. "It's something we'll continue to work on in practice. You can't have those kinds of mistakes during the regular season."

Special Teams Evaluation

The Vikings' special teams units showed mixed results, with solid coverage on most plays but some concerning moments in protection schemes. The return game, impacted by Moore's early injury, will need additional evaluation in upcoming preseason games.

Kicker Will Reichard connected on his field goal attempts and extra points, continuing his solid preseason performance.

Looking Ahead: Joint Practices with Patriots

The Vikings will host the New England this week for joint practices with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by their second preseason game on Thursday, August 16.

"The joint practices will be great for us," O'Connell said. "Getting to work against a different scheme and different players will help us evaluate our guys in new situations."

The practices will be particularly important for players on the roster bubble, as the Vikings continue to evaluate depth across multiple position groups.

Roster Battle Implications

Winners:

Gabriel Murphy: Two-sack performance likely secured roster spot
Kahlef Hailassie: Position switch to safety paying dividends
Sam Howell: Bounced back from poor training camp showing
Zavier Scott: Undrafted rookie making strong impression

Concerns:

Center depth: With Correll's injury, competition for backup spots intensifies
Wide receiver depth: Moore's injury creates opportunity but also concern
Snapping consistency: Ongoing issues need resolution before regular season

Statistical Breakdown

Team Stats:

Total Yards: Vikings 261, Texans 194
Passing Yards: Vikings 175, Texans 129
Rushing Yards: Vikings 86, Texans 65
Turnovers: Vikings +2 (3 interceptions)
Time of Possession: Vikings 33:37, Texans 26:23

Individual Standouts:

Sam Howell: 11/13, 105 yards, 1 rushing TD
J.J. McCarthy: 4/7, 30 yards
Gabriel Murphy: 2 sacks, 5 QB hits
Kahlef Hailassie: 2 interceptions

Final Thoughts

The Vikings' 20-10 victory over Houston provided exactly what preseason games should: meaningful evaluation opportunities, encouraging performances from key players, and areas for continued improvement.

J.J McCarthy's successful return from injury represents the most significant positive from the night, showing both his physical recovery and mental readiness for NFL action. Gabriel Murphy's breakout performance and Kahlef Hailassie's position switch success provide depth solutions the coaching staff can build upon.

However, the injuries to Rondale Moore and Zeke Correll create new challenges for a team already managing depth concerns at multiple positions.

As the Vikings prepare for joint practices with New England, the focus will shift to building on the positives while addressing the ongoing issues that could impact regular season success.