The first Vikings depth chart of the preseason is interesting regarding the preseason game in Las Vegas on Sunday. It’s not a big deal, however, that early in camp. While the Vikings are expected to run a lot of 11-personnel this season, the chart is listed in 21-personnel, two backs, one tight end, and two wideouts.
Offense
QBs
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Kellen Mond OR Sean Mannion
RBs
Starter: Dalvin Cook
Backups: Alexander Mattison; Kene Nwangwu; Ty Chandler; Bryant Koback
FBs
Starter: C.J. Ham
Backup: Jake Bargas
WRs
Starters: Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson
Backups: K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette; Bisi Johnson and Myron Mitchell; Trishton Jackson OR Jalen Nailor and Dan Chisena; Albert Wilson; Thomas Hennigan and Blake Proehl (Active/PUP list)
TEs
Starter: Irv Smith Jr.
Backups: Johnny Mundt; Ben Ellefson; Zach Davidson; Nick Muse; Shaun Beyer
OTs
Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Brian O’Neill (RT)
Backups: Blake Brandel (LT) and Olisaemeka Udoh (RT); Vederian Lowe (LT) and Timon Parris (RT)
Cs/Gs
Starters: Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C) and Jesse Davis (RG)
Backups: Chris Reed (LG), Austin Schlottmann (C) and Ed Ingram (RG); Kyle Hinton (LG), Josh Sokol (C) and Wyatt Davis (RG)
Nothing surprising about the offense. The expected starters are listed as starters. Jesse Davis is still the first-team right guard. Wyatt Davis being listed as the third-team right guard is not encouraging. At this point, it would be a surprise if he makes the team. Ben Ellefson still has the inside track over Zach Davidson. Neither of Mond or Mannion are listed as lone backup for Cousins on the unofficial Vikings depth chart.
Defense
DEs
Starters: Dalvin Tomlinson, Armon Watts
Backups: Jonathan Bullard and James Lynch; Jaylen Twyman and Esezi Otomewo; Jullian Taylor
DTs
Starter: Harrison Phillips
Backups: T.J. Smith; T.Y. McGill, Jr.; Tyarise Stevenson
OLBs
Starters: Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith
Backups: Pat Jones II and D.J. Wonnum; Luiji Vilain and Janarius Robinson; Andre Mintze and Zach McCloud
MLBs
Starters: Eric Kendricks (MLB) and Jordan Hicks (WLB)
Backups: Troy Dye (MLB) and Brian Asamoah II (WLB); Chazz Surratt (MLB) and Blake Lynch (WLB); Ryan Connelly (MLB — on Active/PUP list) and William Kwenkeu (WLB)
CBs
Starters: Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler
Backups: Chandon Sullivan and Andrew Booth, Jr.; Kris Boyd and Akayleb Evans; Parry Nickerson and Harrison Hand; Nate Hairston and Tye Smith
Ss
Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum
Backups: Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus; Myles Dorn and Mike Brown
For the first time in decades, the Vikings will play a 3-4 defense. Bynum and Dantzler are listed as starters at corner, while rookies Booth and Cine are still backups at their positions.
Special Teams
K
Starter: Greg Joseph
P/holders
Starter: Jordan Berry
Backup: Ryan Wright
LS
Starter: Andrew DePaola
KRs
Starter: Kene Nwangwu
Backups: K.J. Osborn, Ty Chandler
PRs
Starter: Smith-Marsette
Backup: Jalen Nailor
The only competition among specialists is at punter, Berry is listed at the top on the first Vikings depth chart. Kicker Greg Joseph has already beaten his competition in OTAs. The punt returning job is vacant, Smith-Marsette is getting the first chance to win it.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
Janik Eckardt
Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his favorite team, despite Christian Ponder being the quarterback at the time. Soccer has been his first love. Classic rock is his music genre of choice and he loves sitcoms.