After two preseason games, two days of joint practices with the Ravens and a long stretch of camp work, the Vikings look close to settling their roster. The biggest battles have mostly been decided, and a handful of rookies have made sure their names stayed in the conversation.
With the 5 p.m. CT deadline set for Sunday, the roster picture is coming into focus.
The team is trying to enter a crucial year with major implications, including for quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Kevin O’Connell. Assistant HC Frank Smith has also introduced a revamped run game to make the offense more dynamic, while defensive coordinator Brian Flores is trying to keep the defense rolling the way it has.
One of the wildest calls in the projection comes at quarterback: J.J. McCarthy is being viewed as having a 50/50 chance of being on a different team by week one.
His issues with accuracy keep showing up, and the low trade value is the only thing holding him in place as QB3 for now. If the Vikings could get even a fifth-round pick, the idea is that both sides might be better off starting over.
At running back, the shift toward the ground game appears to be tilting the numbers. The projection leans toward keeping four backs instead of six receivers, with Zavier Scott getting the nod over Demond Claiborne because Scott gives the team a safety net after Claiborne’s ball security problems. Claiborne’s speed has stood out, but the fumble concern is hard to ignore.
The backfield isn’t the only area where a rookie has forced the issue. Max Bredeson has continued to draw attention in joint practices, and the Vikings have already started moving him around to take advantage of his versatility. The expectation is that he’ll be used in a lot of different ways.
At receiver, the battle has been tough to call for most of camp, but the roster projection says the run-game emphasis may have tipped the balance. Dontae made a push for the 53, though he hasn’t flashed the same way Felton or Price has. Jeshaun Jones was also suspended three games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, which makes his path much harder.
Tight end feels more settled. Gavin Bartholomew has kept impressing throughout the summer, and Murray continues building chemistry with T.J.
Hockenson. Ben Yurosek looks like a strong practice-squad candidate.
The offensive line picture includes some uncertainty at center, even after a solid showing in joint practices. The projection puts the starter back in place, but the team is still expected to explore other options there, especially with rookie Gavin Gerhardt looking shaky. League-wide center injuries may make it difficult to find help.
On the defensive side, Elijah Williams has been one of camp’s bright spots and looks like a strong bet to make the 53, even if his role is mainly to help across a rotating front. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has also started to stand out more lately after his offseason position change, and Jake Golday has been getting reps at multiple spots, even taking first-team snaps in place of Andrew Van Ginkel. Depth remains a need in that room.
Jacob Roberts made a loud case for himself on Saturday against the Ravens, finishing with six tackles to tie the team lead for the day. He has been a steady playmaker in camp, and after intercepting a pass in the first preseason game, he’s now projected onto the final roster.
Dwight McGlothern was also in the mix before being waived Tuesday with an injury designation. If he clears waivers, the team can place him on injured reserve. Chuck Demmings has been quieter since a fast start to camp, but his physicality and fight fit what Flores wants.
Another Jacob also made noise. Jacob Thomas tied Roberts for the team lead in tackles on Saturday, adding to a camp that already included an interception in his first preseason game and first-team reps against the Ravens.
Jakobe Thomas missed much of last week with a back injury, while Tavierre Thomas is expected to contribute mostly on special teams. The group has become so crowded with Thomases that it may need nicknames just to keep everything straight.
At punter, Brett Thorson has clearly shown enough to make people notice, but his development through the NFL International Player Pathway Program may be too valuable to pass up if he clears waivers. Johnny Hekker may not be the player he once was, but he’s steady enough to keep for now, and he’s also shown he can throw the ball if needed.
In Other News...
Vikings Suddenly Face A JJ McCarthy Decision Nobody Expected
With the Vikings headed to Denver for their final preseason game Friday, the focus is less on who will suit up and more on what comes next at quarterback. Most starters are expected to sit, which leaves the evaluation stage squarely on the backups, and JJ McCarthy has suddenly become part of a much bigger roster conversation than anyone anticipated a short time ago.
McCarthy and Carson Wentz have been splitting second-team reps in practice, a sign that the Vikings are still sorting out how they want the depth chart to look. ProFootballTalk reports there is even speculation Minnesota could have to waive McCarthy during cutdown time, though the preference would be to find a trade if that path becomes available. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Receiver Battle Just Put Dillon Bells Early Buzz In Danger
Dillon Bell entered the summer as one of the more intriguing undrafted rookies in the Vikings receiver mix, building some early buzz with a promising minicamp and enough preseason production to get noticed. For a player trying to carve out a place on a crowded roster, that kind of start usually matters, especially when the path to the regular season is often decided by how a young receiver looks in camp and in preseason game action.
But Bells case has gotten tougher as the competition around him has sharpened, and one recent projection suggests the early momentum may not be enough to secure a 53-man roster spot. His limited depth of target has worked against him, and with other receivers improving, the Vikings now have a decision to make on whether they want to carry six wideouts or try to tuck Bell onto the practice squad. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Safety Decisions Get Complicated If Harrison Smith Isn't Done
Around the NFC North, the annual roster-cut season always turns into a guessing game, and the Vikings are no exception as analysts start sketching out who stays, who goes and who begins the year with an injury designation. For Minnesota, the safety room has become one of the more interesting places to watch, especially with projections still sorting through likely roster spots and the possibility that some players will need time before they are ready to contribute.
The reason it matters is simple: if Harrison Smith is not actually done, the Vikings have to think differently about how they manage that group. A veteran of his caliber changes the shape of the depth chart, and any uncertainty around his status can ripple into other decisions on cuts and retention, especially with the roster deadline approaching and a few players around the league expected to open the season on PUP or otherwise sidelined. [Read more 🡒]