With the preseason wrapped up, the real work starts now for the Minnesota Vikings. The roster cutdown deadline hits Sunday, August 30 at 4 p.m. EST, and that means every team in the league is juggling the same problem: who sneaks onto a practice squad, who gets claimed on waivers, and where can a roster get better before the regular season opens.
For the Vikings, three spots stand out as the ones to watch.
The first is edge rusher. Minnesota still has Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, and those two are set to open the season as the starters.
But after that, the room gets thin in a hurry. Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss are all unproven, and each saw only limited action last season.
Cam’Ron Stewart and Kenny Dyson are also in that bubble range, which makes this a clear area to monitor. Jake Golday could get a look here too, but the Vikings are likely to explore trade or waiver options if they want more dependable depth.
Interior offensive line is another spot that could use reinforcements. The projected group has Blake Brandel at center, with Donovan Jackson and Will Fries at guard.
On paper, that could work. In practice, the concern is the same one that follows this unit every year: injuries.
Fries was the only starter in this group to appear in all 17 games last season, and Brandel, while promising, is still relatively new to the position after filling in for the injured Ryan Kelly. The source material also notes Brandel has had snapping-accuracy issues with Kyler Murray, which only strengthens the case for Minnesota to look for a proven veteran center.
Behind the starters, the depth chart includes Michael Jurgens and Gavin Gerhardt at center, plus Joe Huber, Henry Byrd, Vershon Lee, Tomas Rimac, and newly signed Joshua Gray at guard. With the injury history and the mixed preseason results from the backups, this feels like a position where waivers could bring in a needed upgrade.
Safety rounds out the list. Josh Metellus will be Josh Metellus, and Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the likely other starters to begin the season unless Harrison Smith returns.
Jacob Thomas has been one of the preseason’s surprise UDFA breakouts, and third-round pick Jakobe Thomas is expected to see significant snaps after coming back from a preseason injury. Tavierre Thomas will again handle special teams work, and Kahlef Hailassie could carve out a role after spending last season on the practice squad.
Even with all that, the Vikings may still want more help here. Safety is a key piece in Brian Flores’ defense, which often uses three at once, and if Smith does not return, Minnesota could still be in the market for another body with real upside.
The Vikings have plenty of roster decisions ahead, and Sunday will shape how they attack the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Vikings Just Created A New Offensive Line Roster Squeeze
The Vikings kept working the waiver wire after the 11 a.m. Central deadline, claiming center Nick Samac and guard Trevor Keegan to add even more competition up front. Samac arrives after stops with the Ravens and Panthers, while Keegan comes over after time with the Eagles and Cowboys, giving Minnesota two more interior line options at a position group that has already been under the microscope.
What comes next is the part worth watching, because the team has not yet announced the corresponding roster moves needed to make room on the 53-man roster. With two new linemen in the building and limited space to sort through, Minnesota has created a fresh numbers crunch, and the decisions it makes now will say plenty about how it wants to stabilize the offensive line heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Already Have Plenty To Debate In Nolan Teasleys First Roster
The Vikings have their final 53-man roster for the 2026 season, and it gives fans an early look at how new general manager Nolan Teasley wants to shape the team after taking over in May. Cut day always brings its share of surprises, but this one carries extra weight because Teasley had the final say on every move, from the rookies who made it through to the players who landed on the reserve/injured list.
For Minnesota, the roster is more than a paperwork milestone. It is the first real glimpse of Teasleys priorities and the first chance for fans to argue over what he values most in building the team. Some of those choices will look sensible right away, others may take time to sort out, and a few will almost certainly fuel debate long after the roster was posted. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings 53-Man Roster Leaves One Immediate J.J. McCarthy Question
The Vikings trimmed down to their initial 53-man roster, and the quarterback room remains one of the most closely watched parts of the team heading into the regular season. Minnesota kept four passers on the roster mix, with Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer all still in the picture, while other moves around the roster included several cuts and a few players shifting to reserve lists.
For McCarthy, the immediate question is how the Vikings plan to sort out the quarterback situation from here, especially with so many bodies still attached to the position. Elsewhere, the roster math brought some tough decisions, including Tyler Batty landing on a season-ending injured designation and Jeshaun Jones unavailable for the first three games, all of which adds another layer to how Minnesota enters the season opener. [Read more 🡒]