Vikings unveil 'unofficial' depth chart for opener against Packers
The Minnesota Vikings have released what they're calling an "unofficial" depth chart ahead of the season opener Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
There are no major changes from the unofficial depth chart that was released Aug. 30, though it's notable that Jalen Reagor is listed as the starting punt returner and rookie cornerback Akayleb Evans appears to be ahead of fellow rookie Andrew Booth Jr. on the depth chart.
Reagor is listed as WR4, behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn.
Rookie first-round pick Lewis Cine is the backup safety to Cam Bynum and Jonathan Bullard is checked in as a starting defensive end in Minnesota's 3-4 defense, with Ross Blacklock, whom Minnesota acquired from Houston after releasing Armon Watts, is Bullard's backup.
Offensive starters, backups (projected)
- QB: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens
- RB: Dalvin Cook, Alex Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler
- FB: CJ Ham
- WR: Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor
- 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, backups (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, Kris Boyd
- CB: Cameron Dantzler, Akayleb Evans., Andrew Booth Jr.
Special teams starters, backups (projected)
- K: Greg Joseph
- P: Ryan Wright
- LS: Andrew DePaula
- KR: Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler, KJ Osborn
- PR: Jalen Reagor, KJ Osborn, Jalen Nailor
Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen. His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011. Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play. Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers. Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.