Theo Jackson is the next Vikings safety up with Camryn Bynum gone. He’s been ready since he arrived.

The past two training camps, Vikings safeties coach Michael Hutchings has had Theo Jackson to himself on Field 2 during team walk-throughs.

He’s watched Jackson grow from a practice squad player acquired from the Titans after being cut in 2022 to a rotational depth piece to now the team’s No. 3 safety.

“I finally lost him to Field 1 this year,” Hutchings said after a recent practice, adding later, “We’re looking forward to a big year for him.”

A bigger role for Jackson seemed imminent even before the departure of Camryn Bynum to the Colts for a four-year, $60 million deal during free agency in March.

Four days before Bynum left, Jackson, 26, signed a two-year, $12.6 million extension on his contract that keeps him in Minnesota through the 2027 season.

“Oh man, I miss my guy so much,” Jackson said of Bynum. “I feel like there’s some shoes to fill, but I’m up for the challenge.”

Though Jackson’s role is bigger, it is a unique one, as he still sits behind 14th-year veteran Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus, who just signed a contract extension of his own, on the depth chart.

Jackson, a sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee in 2022, played only 78 snaps on defense last year and didn’t appear at all through six midseason games.

His most consistent playing time occurred in the final six weeks; Smith had a foot injury that limited him in Weeks 14 and 15 and opened up more playing time for Jackson.

That included when Jackson intercepted then-Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith to seal a 27-24 Vikings win, a play that surprised maybe everyone except his teammates.

“He’d been doing that a lot longer than when the fans get to see it,” Smith said recently. “Proud of him for that, but more so proud of him for always being ready.”

Through this year’s training camp, Jackson has appeared on the first team next to Smith and Metellus whenever the coverage calls for three or more safeties, typically playing in the deepest spot on the field.

Metellus called it “the best of both worlds”: Jackson gets to reap the benefits of his hard work and play with the first team, but he also gets to keep growing as a leader when he’s with the second team.

Leadership is the area both Metellus and Hutchings said they expect Jackson to grow his game most this season.

In any defense, leadership from the secondary is important.

“You’re the quarterback of the defense, so you have to be able to communicate,” Metellus said. “You have to be able to bring the guys along with you. You gotta be able to fix the mistakes, and you can’t do that without leading from the front lines. [Jackson’s] been doing a great job taking that role.”

With defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ more elaborate scheme, that leadership from the top of the field is even more crucial. There has to be a deep understanding of the system, the language, everything about what Flores does in order to be able to coordinate on-field adjustments for the entire defense.

Jackson, Smith and Metellus sit together in positional and defensive meetings, chattering about the defense and bouncing ideas to help make it easier for all 11 players on the field.

Jackson said he bugs Smith every day for tips on reading different pass coverages and keys. He watches Metellus for ways to increase the versatility in his game.

Even with an already-high football IQ — Metellus said Jackson would’ve been ready to step into any role he’s played in the past two years — Jackson said he puts in a little bit of extra work when it comes to understanding Flores’ defense.

Right now, he’s working on finding and evaluating the weaknesses of it so he can try to fill those gaps.

“[Flores is] definitely gonna put you in position to make a play, but now it’s up to you to make it,” Jackson said. “Combine that with the instincts that I have, and it’s a lot of plays to be made.”

Jackson undercut the throw and held on to the ball as he went to the ground. His momentum carried him into a roll backward onto and over his right shoulder.

The interception ended practice similarly to how Jackson ended the game in Seattle. He picked off another pass from Howell the next day, too, while playing with the first-team offense.

Hutchings, who’s spent so much time with Jackson thanks to their Field 2 days, called those Theo-like plays.

“You expect him to be around the ball,” Hutchings said. “You expect him to sniff things out.”

Jackson, of course, won’t be a one-to-one replacement for Bynum.

Metellus said with a smile that he’d leave the decision on whether Jackson is a match there to everyone else.

But Jackson has shown in camp that he’s ready for the step up Bynum’s departure allowed him to make.

Maybe he can help take the Vikings defense up a step, too.