Vikings Release 2 Players
Janik Eckardt
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After the trade for new backup quarterback Nick Mullens, the Vikings had to make a subsequent roster move. The number of players on the roster was 86, and they had to get down to 85. On Tuesday, the number has to go down even further, to 80.
The Vikings started with two moves.
Julian Taylor
His story is sad, as he tore his ACL in December 2019. The 49ers reached and lost the Super Bowl without the defensive tackle. It was the last game Taylor played in the NFL to this point, as he couldn’t make the Titans roster in 2021 and was a free agent all year. In 2020, he spent the season on the reserve/pup list. In 2018 and 2019, Taylor played just over 100 snaps each year.
The Vikings signed him and hoped he could get his career back on track without success. Taylor didn’t appear in either Vikings preseason game. His release is with an injury designation. If no team claims him off waivers, he’ll go back to the Vikings on injured reserve and miss the 2022 season. That’s the most likely scenario because teams don’t claim players that didn’t play football in almost three years.
Albert Wilson
The veteran receiver signed with the Vikings in June. He was supposed to compete for the punt returning job and become a depth receiver. Wilson has over 2,400 receiving yards in his career. He played for the Chiefs and the Dolphins in his career.
In the first preseason game, Wilson caught two passes. Both were touchdown passes from Kellen Mond. In the second game, however, Wilson couldn’t catch his lone target and didn’t touch the football.
His release means that the Vikings have a different plan at the receiver position. Fellow veteran Olabisi Johnson is the front runner for a spot. He’s a solid receiver with all the necessary fundamentals to be a good depth option. Also in the mix are former undrafted guys and camp standouts Trishton Jackson and Myron Mitchell.
While Mitchell struggled in the second preseason game, Jackson is turning heads. Jalen Nailor, the rookie wideout, has enough talent to make the roster. The final competitor is special teams ace Dan Chisena. He doesn’t provide much to the offense, but his insane speed makes him a great gunner on the punt unit.
More Cuts Bound to Happen
The Vikings have a tumultuous day in terms of roster moves. Nick Mullens cost the organization a 2024 conditional 7th rounder in a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Four more players have to go on Tuesday. Sean Mannion, who most likely lost his job to Mullens, could be on his way out. Another potential cut is the tight end, Shaun Beyer, after not playing a single snap in the preseason game against the 49ers.
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
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