Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster

Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings trimmed the roster to 53 players. It’s really an initial 53-man roster. There will be changes before the team gets to their first game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on 9/10.

Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster

Offense (25)

Quarterback (3)

  8 Kirk Cousins

12 Nick Mullens

16 Jaren Hall

Running Back (3)

  2 Alexander Mattison

32 Ty Chandler

26 Kene Nwangwu

Fullback (1)

30 C.J. Ham

Wide Receiver (6)

18 Justin Jefferson

17 K.J. Osborn

  3 Jordan Addison

83 Jalen Nailor

19 Brandon Powell

  5 Jalen Reagor

Tight End (4)

87 T. J. Hockenson

84 Josh Oliver

86 Johnny Mundt

34 Nick Muse

Offensive Linemen (8)

71 Christian Darrisaw

72 Ezra Cleveland

56 Garrett Bradbury 

67 Ed Ingram

75 Brian O’Neill

64 Blake Brandel

65 Austin Schlottman

74 Oli Udoh

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (5)

94 Dean Lowry

95 Khyiris Tonga

97 Harrison Phillips

93 Jonathan Bullard

78 Jaquelin Roy

Outside Linebacker (5)

99 Danielle Hunter

  0 Marcus Davenport

91 Patrick Jones

98 D.J.Wonnum

55 Andre Carter II

Inside Linebacker (4)

33 Brian Asamoah

58 Jordan Hicks

40 Ivan Pace Jr. 

45 Troy Dye 

Cornerback (5)

  7 Byron Murphy Jr.

21 Akayleb Evans

11 Mekhi Blackmon

23 Andrew Booth Jr.

36 Najee Thompson

Safety (6)

22 Harrison Smith

24 Camryn Bynum

  6 Lewis Cine

44 Josh Metellus

20 Jay Ward

25 Theo Jackson

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

  1 Greg Joseph

Punter (1)

14 Ryan Wright

Long Snapper (1)

42 Andrew DePaola

***

There really weren’t many surprises. Six safeties might be a surprise. It shouldn’t be as head coach Kevin O’Connell hinted at it. With the performance of those six safeties through training camp and preseason games, it seemed like it was heading that direction. I actually thought that six safeties might come at the expense of the receivers. It didn’t. There are six receivers on the roster. Ultimately, the six safeties may have come at the expense of the cornerbacks. Najee Thompson made the roster for special teams. So, there’s really only four corners on the roster. With the position versatility of safeties Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and Camryn Bynum as well as significant use of three safety alignments, the Vikings defense should be fine with four corners. As long as everyone stays healthy. That can be said for all positions. Eight offensive linemen is light. I’m guessing that Chris Reed will make it nine when he returns from the non-football injury list. 

It didn’t take long for the Vikings to tweak the initial 53-man roster. It was reported this morning that running back Myles Gaskin, released by the Miami Dolphins, is signing to the active roster. An immediate thought is that Kene Nwangwu might start the season on the PUP list.