EAGAN, Minnesota — The wait is finally over for Caleb Banks. The Vikings' first-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft, selected at No. 18 overall, has been a tantalizing figure in the abstract since the moment his name was called. But a broken bone in his left foot required surgery, forcing him to sit out organized team activities through the spring and into early summer. Now, with training camp officially underway, Banks is not only back to full strength but has already started taking reps with the starting defensive line.

"It’s been long overdue," Banks said after his first NFL practice. "I’m ready to focus on football now, and not have to sit in the training room and do 1,000 calf raises."

The big defensive tackle had been itching to get on the field since the spring, but the Vikings wisely exercised patience. They wanted to ensure he was 100% before letting him loose. "They weren’t just going to let me go out there and do what I want to do," Banks explained. "They were just making sure I was good and doing everything that I could to make sure I was 100%."

One of the key figures in Banks' development will be defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. When asked about working with Nielsen, Banks cracked a smile and paused before answering. "He’s a very serious guy, which, I think, is what I need," Banks said. "He’s a guy that I feel like every defensive tackle would want in their corner."

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores echoed the cautious optimism. "I’m excited to get him out here," Flores said. "He’s been working extremely hard."

As Banks continues to prove himself, his rep count is expected to climb. There will be mistakes along the way, but the Vikings are confident in his ability to learn and grow.

Beyond the rookie's return, Day 2 of training camp at TCO Performance Center offered plenty of other storylines. The quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy remains the headline act. Murray had a mixed day: a couple of bobbled snaps that hit the turf, a few errant passes that could have been intercepted, but also some dazzling throws. He connected with receiver Dontae Fleming on a majestic deep ball in 11-on-11 drills and found Tai Felton for a sharp completion in 7-on-7. To close practice, Murray delivered a back-shoulder fade to Felton and then a perfectly layered ball to star receiver Justin Jefferson along the sideline.

McCarthy, meanwhile, had a quieter session. He wasn't bad, but he didn't produce any standout moments. After taking what appeared to be a sack early in 11-on-11, he strung together a few underneath completions. His best throw came in 7-on-7, when he laced a pass over the middle to tight end Bryson Nesbit with velocity — a trait that has been a consistent strength. He also hooked up with receiver Jeshaun Jones on what looked like a busted coverage.

Other notable performers included veteran linebacker Jamal Adams, who signed with the Vikings on the eve of camp and is already getting first-team looks. Flores seems eager to evaluate Adams in real time to see how he fits the scheme. The best play of the day came from receiver Myles Price, who made an incredible adjustment on a deep ball from quarterback Carson Wentz. It marked the second straight practice that Price has made a splash. Rookie running back Demond Claiborne also caught attention with his explosive bursts in limited action, though his smaller stature is noticeable.

The best quote of the day came from special teams coordinator Matt Daniels, discussing All-Pro kicker Will Reichard: "The good ones want to be left alone. The great ones want to be coached."

On the injury front, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was not seen during 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills, though he did warm up with his position group. The reason for his absence was not immediately clear. Cornerback James Pierre, who appeared to cramp up on Wednesday, returned to action on Thursday.

The acclimation period continues Friday, with fans set to attend for the first time on Saturday.