After being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Khyree Jackson was expected to fill a key role for the Vikings on defense this season. He never got a chance.Tragically, Jackson died in a car accident on July 6 in his hometown of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

In the aftermath of Jackson’s death, the Vikings have made various efforts to keep his memory alive. His jersey number 31 will go unused this season as will the locker he occupied at TCO Performance Center. Additionally, the Vikings will wear helmet decals with his initials.

As a way to further honor Jackson, the Vikings invited members of his family to attend the preseason game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was a touching scene as Jackson’s mother Ebbony, father Raymond, and brother Kolston served as the honorary captains.

Talking to reporters after the Vikings earned a 24-24 win over the Raiders, head coach Kevin O’Connell opened his postgame press conference with some words about Jackson and his family in attendance.

“I’m really thankful for them coming up and spending a couple days with us,” O’Connell said. “I thought it was a very special moment for our team.”

Additionally, the Vikings was also a private celebration for Jackson on Friday afternoon, giving his former teammates a chance to let his family know how much he was loved.

“Just want to make sure they always know that they’re part of our Vikings family moving forward,” O’Connell said. “Just really thankful for them doing that because Khyree’s for sure been on all of our hearts and minds as we work through training camp.”

Reichard’s moment

In the 24 hours leading up to the preseason game, O’Connell told his players he thought it was going to hinge on the right leg of rookie kicker Will Reichard.

“I thought it might come down to a kick,” O’Connell said. “I told the team last night I thought Will would kick the game-winner, and he did.”

Indeed. After the Vikings forced a punt in the final minutes, reserve quarterback Jaren Hall led a drive down the field, completing passes to receivers Ty James and Thayer Thomas and setting up a 37-yard field goal attempt for Reichard with everything hanging in the balance.

He calmly went through his routine and sent the ball right down the middle.

Richter’s performance

Though many of the storylines centered on the offense, and for good reason, rookie edge rusher Bo Richter was a standout on defense. He showcased his relentlessness whenever he was on the field and was rewarded for his effort with a sack.

Though it will still be an uphill climb for Richter to make the team, he’s at least put himself in the conversation after going undrafted out of Air Force.

The other notable standout on defense among the reserves was rookie defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez. He logged a lot of playing time and got home with a sack.

“It’s a younger team that we’re trying to track development at different positions,” O’Connell said. “Ultimately, I like the enthusiasm, I like the juice, and I like the guys that have laser focus on that progress we talk about.”