Vikings finalize roster cuts, update 53-man depth chart
The Vikings have trimmed the roster to 53 players ahead of Tuesday's 3 p.m. deadline, setting the stage for one final week of possible moves before the rosters lock in ahead of the Sept. 11 opener at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Green Bay Packers.
Minnesota also traded offensive lineman Jesse Davis to the Steelers and acquired defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, who was a second-round pick in 2020, from the Texans.
You can find all of the roster cuts further down in the story, but here's what the starting depth chart appears to be, according to Vikings.com.
Offensive starters (projected)
- QB: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens
- RB: Dalvin Cook, Alex Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler
- FB: CJ Ham
- WR: Justin Jefferson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- WR: Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn, Jalen Nailor
- TE: Irv Smith Jr., Johnny Mundt, Ben Ellefson
- LT: Christian Darrisaw, Blake Brandel, Vederian Lowe
- LG: Ezra Cleveland, Chris Reed
- C: Garrett Bradbury, Austin Schlottman
- RG: Ed Ingram
- RT: Brian O'Neill, Oli Udoh
Defensive starters (projected)
- DE: Jonathan Bullard, Ross Blacklock
- DT: Harrison Phillips
- DE: Dalvin Tomlinson, James Lynch, Esezi Otomewu
- OLB: Za'Darius Smith, D.J. Wonnum
- ILB: Eric Kendricks, Troy Dye
- ILB: Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah
- OLB: Danielle Hunter, Patrick Jones II, Luiji Vilain
- S: Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus
- S: Cam Bynum, Lewis Cine
- CB: Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, Akayleb Evans
- CB: Cameron Dantzler, Andrew Booth Jr., Kris Boyd
Special teams starters (projected)
- K: Greg Joseph
- P: Ryan Wright
- LS: Andrew DePaula
- KR: Kene Nwangwu, KJ Osborn, Ty Chandler
- PR: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jalen Nailor
Here's who was waived or placed on injured reserve in the past 48 hours.
TE Zach Davidson
This means Irv Smith Jr, Johnny Mundt and Ben Ellefson likely stick, though Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports that Minnesota has interest in signing Davidson to the practice squad.
TE Nick Muse
The seventh-round draft pick is a roster cut.
WR Dan Chisena
With Trishton Jackson also waived, the Vikings receivers appear to be Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Jalen Nailor.
DT Jaylen Twyman
Twyman gets cut after being one of the preseason's most charming storylines. He missed last season after being shot four times, only to come back and make a good impression in his second year in the league.
CB Nate Hairston
Per Darren Wolfson, Hairston has been cut. That likely means the six cornerbacks on the roster are Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler, Chandon Sullivan, Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans and Kris Boyd.
CB Parry Nickerson
Nickerson's departure means the sixth and likely final cornerback spot is down to Kris Boyd and Nate Hairston.
QB Sean Mannion
With Mond reportedly waived earlier Tuesday, the Mannion cut leaves just Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens on the roster. Does that mean Mannion will wind up on the practice squad? That's one working theory to keep an eye on.
G Wyatt Davis
Once predicted to be the beef-eater who could solve Minnesota's problem at right guard, Davis was stuck with the third team under Mike Zimmer and nothing changed this year under the new regime. Davis is the third third-round pick from 2021 to be waived, joining Mond and linebacker Chazz Surratt.
WR Trishton Jackson
With Jackson out and Bisi Johnson placed on injured reserve, the fourth and fifth wide receiver spots could be going to Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jalen Nailor and Dan Chisena, whose speed and versatility makes him a great special teams player.
LB Chazz Surratt
Like Kellen Mond, Surratt was one of four players the Vikings drafted in the third round in 2021. Injuries kept him from competing much this training camp and preseason.
QB Kellen Mond
It comes as little surprise as Mond, a third-round pick (No. 68 overall) in 2021 struggled this training can preseason when given the chance to compete with Sean Mannion for the backup job. Instead, the Vikings traded for Nick Mullens.
DL Janarius Robinson
The #Vikings are waiving edge rusher Janarius Robinson, the 2021 4th round pick who missed the 2021 season due to injury. Young player with rare physical traits who should receive waiver wire consideration.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2022
The #Vikings have placed WR Bisi Johnson and DL T.Y. McGill, Jr. on IR.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 29, 2022
CB Tye Smith has been released. T Timon Parris and WR Myron Mitchell have been waived.
WR Bisi Johnson
Wide Receiver Bisi Johnson has his second consecutive season cut short due to a knee injury. Johnson looked poised to take on one of the final wide receiver spots on the roster after a good camp but tore his ACL in the Vikings final preseason game this last weekend. The Vikings placed Bisi on Injured Reserve today.
DT TY McGill
Defensive Tackle T.Y. McGill see's his season end prematurely after the Vikings placed him on Injured Reserve as well. After becoming one of the ‘breakout stars’ of the first two preseason games with 3.5 sacks, T.Y. McGill injured his ankle early in the final preseason game this last Saturday. He's spent time with nine teams since entering the league in 2015.
WR Myron Mitchell
Wide Receiver Myron Mitchell made 5 catches for 55 yards this preseason for the Vikings before his waived today. He spent last season on the Vikings practice squad after going undrafted in 2021 out of UAB.
T Timon Parris
Tackle Timon Parris joins Mitchell in being waived today by the Vikings. Parris spent time on the Vikings practice squad last season. According to PFF, Parris did not have a good final preseason game against the Broncos allowing four QB pressures in just 44 snaps.
CB Tye Smith
Cornerback Tye Smith spent time last year on the Vikings practice squad. Smith was among five players in the first round of cuts back on August 16 but was brought back last Thursday after the Vikings cut punter Jordan Berry. The Vikings released Smith today among their five roster moves.
C Josh Sokol
The backup center to Garrett Bradbury will be Austin Schlottman or Chris Reed.
