Minnesota Vikings Reduce Roster To 80 Players

The NFL’s second round of roster cuts came yesterday. The Minnesota Vikings had to reduce their roster from 85 to 80 players. The team’s roster reductions actually started on Monday. That’s when the Vikings acquired quarterback Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. The addition to the roster forced a corresponding move. The Vikings made two.

Contract Terminated/Vested Vet:

Albert Wilson, WR

Waived/Injured:

Jullian Taylor, DL

Despite having some fine moments, including two touchdowns in the first preseason game, it felt like Albert Wilson was on the wrong side of the receiver numbers game. The Vikings top three receivers are set with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn. Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Olabisi Johnson are the top contenders for the fourth receiver role. Young receivers Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, and Myron Mitchell were all ahead of Wilson on the depth chart. Releasing Wilson now might give him a shot at catching on with a team in need of veteran receiving depth. 

Jullian Taylor simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since tearing an ACL in 2019. He signed with the Vikings in April but injuries continued to keep him sidelined. He was waived with an injury designation. If he clears waivers, he’ll revert to the Vikings injured reserve. From there, the team can either keep him on injured reserve or release him with an injury settlement. 

Those moves had the Vikings roster sitting a 84 players. The roster was reduced to 80 players yesterday. 

Waived

Shaun Beyer, TE

Harrison Hand, CB

Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform

Ryan Connelly, LB

Blake Proehl, WR

Shaun Beyer was added to the roster just before training camp. With a late start, he was unable to climb the tight end depth chart. 

If there’s been a surprise release through the first two rounds of roster cuts, that would be Harrison Hand. A 2020 fifth-round pick, he has always been on the verge of earning playing time. Last year, he was a prime candidate to break out. If anything, he fell toward the back of the depth chart. He couldn’t sustain a roster climb this training camp. Hand is a talented corner. Releasing him now might give him time to catch on with a new team. His NFL opportunity is still wide open. Maybe a change of scenery will help. 

The Minnesota Vikings roster is now at 80 players. The next round of cuts is the big one. 27 players. The Vikings must cut the roster to 53 players next Tuesday.