A post-preseason Game 2 53-man roster projection
With one week remaining in training camp/preseason, we take a shot at the 53-man roster and answer the biggest questions
By Matthew Coller
The Minnesota Vikings have just a few days and one more preseason game to resolve the biggest questions about their squad as the NFL’s roster cutdown deadline is August 26.
So let’s take a shot at predicting the 53-man roster and look at the biggest questions that still remain…
Quarterbacks (3)
JJ McCarthy, Sam Howell, Max Brosmer
Biggest question: What are the Vikings’ QB2 options?
Give Sam Howell credit for a strong opening preseason game and solid joint practices against the New England Patriots but his rough outing in the second preseason contest may have given the Vikings pause that they have the right QB2 for the job.
If they do not roll with Howell as JJ McCarthy’s backup, who can they get as a potential upgrade this late in the offseason? The options are not inspiring. For example, here are a handful of QBs that could be available:
Carson Wentz, Skylar Thompson, Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco, Tommy DeVito or Jameis Winston, Mike White, Kyle Trask, Sam Ehlinger.
It’s tough to argue that any of them would be a significant improvement, especially without any reps running the offense in practice.
Does that mean Brett Rypien could be the more trusted option? He has appeared to be the most in command of the offense of any of the backups. Physically speaking, however, it’s hard to see him being consistently accurate or athletic enough to win games if McCarthy went down for multiple weeks.
What about Brosmer? He appears to have proven worthy of making the team. He’s been in control of the offense, accurate and solid throughout camp and the preseason. But asking a rookie UDFA to be one snap away from playing on the biggest stage might be pushing him too fast. Brosmer makes more sense to develop for this year and have as QB2 next season.
Running back (5)
Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Ty Chandler, Zavier Scott, CJ Ham
Biggest question: Has Zavier Scott earned his shot?
Last year on cutdown day the Vikings only kept three players in the backfield, so this one might be going out on a limb. But with the emphasis on the kickoff return, the Vikings need a No. 2 returner along with Tai Felton and it makes the most sense for that to be Chandler considering his past returning experience. Chandler has also shown in the past that he can be an explosive changeup option in the backfield.
While Scott hasn’t played in regular season games before, he has proven during camp and the preseason that he has a unique skill set. He has been a legitimate weapon in the underneath passing/screen game and shown some power in his rushing ability. He has made it very difficult on the Vikings to cut him.
The other side of that coin is that it might not be likely that another team would poach Scott, meaning they could probably get him through to the practice squad despite his strong preseason.
Wide receiver (5)
Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison*, Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, Lucky Jackson, Myles Price
*Addison will be on the suspended list and won’t count on the 53-man roster
Biggest question: Is there another receiver on the way?
Before the second preseason game, it seemed that Lucky Jackson had solidified himself as the fill-in option when Jordan Addison is out for the first three games due to suspension but two bad drops in Saturday’s game combined with another drop in joint practices may raise some question about the former XFL’er being able to take on a significant role.
Tai Felton has looked better and better as a receiver as time has gone by and might have a shot at convincing the coaching staff that he should be the next-man up when they go into 11 personnel to start the season.
It might be an overreaction to one preseason game but Myles Price’s breakout against the Patriots with two explosive returns can’t be ignored. Without anyone else on the squad making a case for themselves as the punt returner, Price may have earned himself the job — at least to start the year.
Overall, confidence in both the depth receivers and returning situation can’t be particularly high at the moment. Does that mean that they will look elsewhere? Here are a handful of available players who might be of interest:
Brandon Powell, Adam Thielen (cut/trade), KJ Osborn, Odell Beckham Jr., Amari Cooper, Nelson Agholor, Tyler Boyd, Jamison Crowder, Mecole Hardman (cut/trade), Trey Palmer (cut/trade), Elijah Moore (cut/trade), Josh Reynolds (cut/trade), Kendrick Bourne (cut/trade)
Tight end (3)
TJ Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek
Biggest question: Do they trust the UDFA with TE3?
When the Vikings drafted Gavin Bartholomew, it seemed that they found their Johnny Mundt replacement. But he started on the PUP list and has remained there for all of training camp. Bartholomew’s absence left two UDFAs Ben Yurosek and Bryson Nesbit to compete for the job with veteran Giovanni Ricci. None of them ran away from the competition, so they recently signed veteran Nick Vannett, who caught two passes in Saturday’s game. Will they roll with the journeyman TE or the rookie UDFA? Or will they look for another tight end that becomes available on cutdown day? It’s hard to know right now.
Offensive line (9)
Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill
Justin Skule, Walter Rouse, Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens
Biggest question: Did anyone else make a case?
During the two preseason games, UDFA guard Joe Huber was the highest graded Vikings offensive lineman by PFF. Could his play in the games make a case for him to land on the roster? It looked early in camp like UDFA Logan Brown might have a shot at unseating Rouse as the developing young tackle but Brown slid to the third team and has only played late in the last two preseason games.
Defensive line (6)
Harrison Phillips, Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Biggest question: Can they get Elijah Williams through to the practice squad?
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