Written By Sam Ekstrom
The Vikings cut the roster down to 75 names earlier this week and focused their search on a handful of players during the final preseason game at Tennessee.
At this point, there are roughly 58 players in the running for 53 spots. Here is how I have it all shaking down by 3:00 p.m. Saturday.
* indicates a change from the third projection
(Starters are listed in Bold and are based on a 1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR offense and a 4-3 defense.)
QUARTERBACKS (3)
QB Matt Cassel
QB Teddy Bridgewater
QB Christian Ponder
On the bubble: none
The preseason went about as well as the Vikings could have hoped from a quarterbacking perspective. Matt Cassel earned the job fairly, but Teddy Bridgewater proved himself capable with five preseason touchdowns against zero interceptions. Not a bad one-two punch at the QB position.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
RB Adrian Peterson
RB Matt Asiata
RB Jerick McKinnon
FB Jerome Felton
On the bubble: none
This foursome has been set for quite a while, but man, Joe Banyard is making the decision hard. He ran through the Titans Thursday night and finished with 111 yards. Much like former Vikings RB Jordan Todman found a spot with the Jaguars, Banyard will probably land somewhere and be a solid no. 2 or no. 3 back. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Norv Turner is excited to start incorporating Adrian Peterson, who sat out the whole preseason. “We obviously haven’t played our best player yet, so I think he will bring something to the entire package in terms of what we’re doing,” said Turner.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
WR Greg Jennings
WR Cordarrelle Patterson
WR Jarius Wright
WR Adam Thielen
WR Rodney Smith
On the bubble: Jerome Simpson
Jerome Simpson’s suspension was upheld by the league today, making him ineligible until Sept. 22. It’s yet to be determined whether the Vikings have enough patience to hold onto Simpson while he misses three games. Fortunately, Simpson does not count toward the 53-man roster while suspended, so the Vikings can safely give spots to up-and-comers Adam Thielen and Rodney Smith.
TIGHT ENDS (4)
TE Kyle Rudolph
TE Rhett Ellison
TE Chase Ford
TE: Allen Reisner*
On the bubble: none
It took plenty of deliberation to make the change, but Allen Reisner appears to have done enough to earn a spot. He scored three touchdowns this preseason and was targeted four more times against Tennessee, hauling in all four catches. Reisner has been excellent throughout the preseason, and with Chase Ford’s health in question, keeping a fourth tight end makes sense.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8)
LT Matt Kalil
LG Charlie Johnson
C John Sullivan
RG Brandon Fusco
RT Phil Loadholt
G David Yankey
C Joe Berger
T Antonio Richardson
On the bubble: G Vladimir Ducasse*
With Reisner stealing a roster spot, the offensive line loses a member. With the exception of a slightly nicked up Phil Loadholt, this unit has remained healthy, so depth may not be as critical. The casualty could be Vladimir Ducasse, the former New York Jet. Antonio “Tiny” Richardson has great upside, despite being undrafted, David Yankey is another promising rookie who was taken in the fifth round, and Joe Berger has already established equity with the team in past years. This leaves Ducasse on the outside looking in.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8)
DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
NT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison
DE Scott Crichton
DE Corey Wootton
DT Fred Evans
DT Shamar Stephen
On the bubble: Tom Johnson
Linval Joseph announced this week that he is good to go for the team’s Sept. 7 opener. That leaves the only question mark at tackle, where Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen are competing. Johnson is the more experienced veteran, but the Vikings have more stock in their draft pick Stephen. I believe Stephen is the favorite.
LINEBACKERS (7)
SLB Anthony Barr
MLB Audie Cole
WLB Chad Greenway
SLB Gerald Hodges
MLB Jasper Brinkley
WLB Michael Mauti
WLB Larry Dean*
On the bubble: Brandon Watts
“You can’t make the club in the tub,” said Mike Zimmer, specifically about CB Josh Robinson, but insinuating that injuries don’t help your cause for getting a roster spot. This may be the case with Brandon Watts, who missed Thursday’s game, while special teams guru Larry Dean got three tackles and a hit on the quarterback. Also note that I’ve demoted Jasper Brinkley and made Audie Cole the starter. Cole was the team-leader in tackles against Tennessee and should be better in pass coverage than Brinkley.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (11)
CB Captain Munnerlyn
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Marcus Sherels
CB Josh Robinson
CB Shaun Prater
CB Jabari Price
S Robert Blanton
S Harrison Smith
S Andrew Sendejo
S Kurt Coleman
S Chris Crocker
On the bubble: Jamarca Sanford
I think Shaun Prater and Kurt Coleman did enough this preseason to feel safe. Jabari Price and Chris Crocker will have to sweat. Incumbent SS Jamarca Sanford is in danger of losing his job; again, injuries don’t help. It’s tough to pencil in any certainties with the secondary besides Harrison Smith and Captain Munnerlyn. This unit definitely has the most to prove entering the regular season.
SPECIALISTS (3)
P Jeff Locke
K Blair Walsh
LS Cullen Loeffler
No contest. The snapper, holder and kicker have been in perfect harmony the last two weeks, going 7 for 7 on field goal attempts.
Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket. He has previously served as a play-by-play broadcaster in Iowa and South Dakota and has covered Minnesota sports since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights.