The Vikings got down to 53 on Sunday, but the roster still looks unfinished in a few spots that matter. Some of the bubble decisions are settled now, including the fates of Dillon Bell and Jacob Thomas, yet Minnesota still has work to do before Week 1 against Green Bay.
One of the oddest parts of the initial roster is that the Vikings are carrying four quarterbacks. J.J.
McCarthy is still there for now, even after a rough preseason and the possibility that he could sit as QB3. A cut or trade never seemed likely, mostly because he’s young, relatively inexpensive, and knows the playbook.
Kevin O’Connell’s preference for depth also plays into it.
That said, McCarthy’s long-term future in Minnesota is hardly locked in. The door is still open for another team to come calling during the season with an offer strong enough to test how committed the Vikings really are to keeping him. For the moment, though, he appears set to open the year on the roster, with Max Brosmer as the likely QB3 if anything changes.
The bigger issue may be on the edge. Tyler Batty’s torn ACL already thinned the group, and the Vikings are now staring at a very shallow rotation behind Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Right now, that depth chart is basically Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss, who have combined for one sack in their careers. Both are young and have shown some promise, but the lack of experience stands out in Brian Flores’ system.
Jake Golday and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins give Minnesota some flexibility because they can play as tweeners, but that doesn’t solve the need for a proven edge presence. Free agency still offers names such as Haason Reddick and Leonard Floyd, and the Vikings have waited this long to make a move.
That’s risky if either starter misses time early. A veteran addition by signing or trade by the end of the week feels very possible.
Center is another spot that looks too thin to survive as is. The Vikings kept only eight offensive linemen, and the lone true center on the roster is actually Blake Brandel, who shifted to the position midway through 2025 after spending his career as a swingman. He’s back in that role for 2026 after Gavin Gerhardt was cut and Michael Jurgens landed on the Reserve/Injured list, leaving Minnesota without another center in place.
Brandel has not exactly settled anyone down this summer. His snapping issues have continued into late August, and the Vikings may want more than just a backup at the position.
A trade for a center could even push Brandel back into a reserve role. However it happens, it’s hard to imagine Minnesota opening the season without another center added soon.
In Other News...
Vikings Already Reworking Their Roster As More Moves Loom
The Vikings trimmed down to their initial 53-man roster, then immediately started reshaping it by claiming two offensive linemen off waivers and clearing room with another round of cuts. Quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Dillon Bell were both on the first version of the final roster, only to be waived shortly after as Minnesota continued to adjust the back end of the roster.
Brosmer and Bell could still circle back to the organization if they clear waivers and land on the practice squad, but for now their status reflects just how unsettled things remain in Minnesota. With the opener approaching, the Vikings still appear to have more sorting to do, and this latest shuffle suggests the roster picture may not settle for a while yet. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Practice Squad Is Taking Shape With One Decision Still Looming
The Vikings practice squad is starting to come into focus after the team filled most of the spots with familiar names from training camp. Fifteen players landed on the unit, giving Minnesota a group that already knows the system and has spent much of the summer around the building. Among the players on the list are DaVeawn Armstead, Michael Briscoe and Jack Nelson, along with several others who were part of the teams recent camp work.
One decision still hangs over the group, though, and it could shape the final look of the squad. Minnesota waived quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Dillon Bell to make room for new waiver claims, and both could still circle back as the Vikings sort through the last bit of roster business. For a team that likes continuity on the back end of the roster, the final choice will say plenty about which developmental pieces the Vikings want closest at hand. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Final Cuts Just Changed Everything For These Fringe Survivors
The Vikings first 53-man roster of the 2026 season brought some clarity, and it also gave a handful of fringe players a real foothold as the team moved through cut-down day. Among the names still standing are punter Brett Thorson, halfback Demond Claiborne, offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan and edge rusher Chaz Chambliss, each of whom did enough in the preseason to stay in the conversation as Minnesota sorted out the back end of the roster.
For players in that group, surviving the initial cuts is only part of the battle, because the roster remains fluid before the regular season begins. But the fact that Minnesota kept them around says plenty about how the staff viewed their camp work and how each might fit if the Vikings need depth, special teams help or a surprise contributor once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]