Murray debuts as Minnesota's starting QB and Dart throws for a TD as Vikings beat Giants 13-10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Everything is new for Kyler Murray after joining the Minnesota Vikings, so he made sure to soak in every little thing, from the flights and bus rides to the purple-and-white uniform.

“I’ve never been more excited to play a preseason game,” Murray said. “Reality's set in.”

In his first game action since being named the starting quarterback, Murray led a drive that ended in a field goal on the way to a 13-10 victory at the New York Giants on Saturday in each team's preseason opener.

Murray, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, completed two of his three passes for 10 yards as Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell played his first-team offense — minus top receiver Justin Jefferson — for just one series.

“I had a blast,” Murray said. “Today was everything I thought it would be.”

J.J. McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft who has been relegated to backup duty, struggled in his first possession before settling in to finish 4 of 7 for 34 yards.

In John Harbaugh's first time on the sideline as Giants coach, starter Jaxson Dart was sacked twice on six drop-backs, the second time getting crushed by Vikings safety Jay Ward.

Dart was escorted to the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion, then returned two snaps later to complete a 15-yard touchdown pass to rookie Malachi Fields on the second-year QB's final play of the game.

Proud of how the drive ended, Dart questioned the visit to the medical tent, which he visited several times during his rookie year.

“As far as the blue tent, I really respect the rules and the thought behind (it) the NFL has of keeping players healthy and reviewing things,” said Dart, who was 3 of 4 for 26 yards. “But at the same time, I’m still puzzled by it just feeling like every time I get hit, I find my way in there, which at times I still try to wrap my head around.”

Vikings safety/linebacker Jamal Adams was taken off the field on a cart after going down on a noncontact play and grabbing at his right knee early in the second quarter. O'Connell did not want to go into details but confirmed it was a right knee injury and added that the initial exam did not look good.

“We’ve absolutely loved his play style, his compete and he was genuinely carving out a significant role for himself,” O'Connell said. “It just kills you. It absolutely guts you. ... Just absolutely crushed for him.”

Adams, 30, was playing in his first game with Minnesota after signing on the eve of the start of training camp.

Fourth-string quarterback Max Brosmer exited with an injury to the thumb on his right, throwing hand, and O'Connell said more tests were planned.

Nearly a decade removed from his glory days with the Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. played his first game back with the team that drafted him and drew big cheers from the fans in attendance when he entered in the second quarter and made his first catch on a 6-yard pass from Jameis Winston. Beckham made one more catch for no gain.

The 33-year-old called it a surreal afternoon.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Beckham said. “I’m just excited, trying to stay in the moment, be where my feet are at and make plays.”

Vikings receiver Myles Price kept his strong camp going into the preseason. Price had four receptions for 51 yards, most notably a one-handed touchdown catch from Carson Wentz in the third quarter.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. takes the field for a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) is helped off the field after being sacked by Minnesota Vikings' Jay Ward during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (24) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants' Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates with wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) after connecting for a touch pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) pitches the ball to running back Demond Claiborne during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New York Giants Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass against the New York Giants during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Hawaii’s Big Island was threatened Saturday with its first possible direct hit from a hurricane in 155 years as Hurricane Lala roared in the Pacific Ocean and gusty wind, waves and rain pounded the region.

The National Hurricane Center said Lala’s maximum sustained winds increased to 75 mph (120 kph), making it a Category 1 hurricane. The eyewall was forecast to move over or near the island’s southern end by the evening, lashing its worst winds at volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level.

Gov. Josh Green, noting rainfall of 2 inches (5 centimeters) an hour, said “people should be sheltering in place now.”

Forecasters said higher elevations on the island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could get as much as 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rain. That could cause life-threatening mudslides in a mountainous area where people live off the grid in improvised housing.

Earlier the governor called it an “enormous storm,” capable of destructive flooding and even the possibility of wildfires kicked up by strong winds across the island chain. Electricity was knocked out for nearly 20% of customers on the Big Island, according to poweroutage.us.

Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, said he planned to “hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don’t go out” at a care home just outside Hilo. He said gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles.

“I think stocking up is part of life over here. ... You learn to be self-reliant,” Camara said.

Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the Big Island's east coast, said his power generator was ready and a 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank was full. He said the main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia, a common tree.

“They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,” said Caputo, 50, a local fire captain. “They can make roads impassable. I made sure my trees were trimmed a few days ago.”

The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, and tropical storm warnings were issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.

A Category 3 hurricane hit the northeast corner of the Big Island in 1871, according to research by a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist. The latest forecast has Lala striking “very close to the southern tip of the Big Island,” said Vanessa Almanza, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu.

Shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures, rather than structures that might collapse. “It doesn’t take landfall to create destruction,” Almanza said.

The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of total rainfall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) across the island chain.

Many Hawaii residents are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March. Growers still recovering are worried about more damage, according to Hawaii Farm Bureau director Brian Miyamoto.

As winds ramped up across the islands, Almanza said dry and breezy conditions outside the storm would elevate fire concerns.

In 2023 the Maui town of Lahaina burned during extreme winds as a hurricane passed far to the south.

“Since the fire, everybody is way more aware of weather in general and our environment and things that are happening,” said Archie Kalepa of Lahaina, who is well known in the area for his surfing, paddling and other ocean skills.

Kauai, which is several islands northwest up the archipelago from the Big Island, is where Hurricane Iniki made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in 1992 — an El Nino year like this one, when a warming of the Pacific near the equator increases Pacific hurricane activity and affects weather patterns across the globe.

“It did $3 billion worth of damage. It destroyed thousands of homes, and it did kill six people,” said Steven Businger, a University of Hawaii scientist. “We just can never know if a storm is going to turn.”

Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu contributed.

People walk along a path at Waikoloa Beach Resort as Tropical Storm Lala strengthened on the Big Island of Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Sandbags are seen at a Hawaii County Department of Public Works sand pile ahead of Tropical Storm Lala in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii, with up to 25 inches of rain possible on the island of Hawaii, also commonly known as the Big Island. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Casey Delaries makes a sandbag in preparation for Tropical Storm Lala in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii, with up to 25 inches of rain possible on the island of Hawaii, also commonly known as the Big Island. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Shaheer Faltas, left, and his father-in-law, Joe Brosnan, fill sandbags in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Lala in Captain Cook, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

This satellite image released by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Lala over the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (NOAA via AP)