4 Roster Bubble Guys for Vikings Who Are Now a Bit Safer
The Minnesota Vikings roster puzzle is coming together, with about three weeks of training camp and one preseason loss in the books.
4 Roster Bubble Guys for Vikings Who Are Now a Bit Safer
The Seattle Seahawks downed the Vikings Thursday night, 24-13, as Minnesota rested all starters. But between the start of training camp and the end of the first preseason showdown, a handful of Vikings roster-bubble candidates are a bit safer.
These are those players listed in alphabetical order.
1. Jonathan Bullard (DT)
Bullard certainly isn’t God’s gift to football, but his teammate James Lynch was lost for the season a little over a week ago. The unfortunate development for Lynch probably solidified Bullard’s roster security. The 29-year-old played 12 Vikings games last year, so he has the experience for a sequel in purple.
Heading into camp, though, Bullard was a roster-bubble player. Unless the Vikings sign someone like Ndamukong Suh, it would be a little strange to lose Lynch and Bullard.
2. Greg Joseph (K)
Special teams coordinator point-blank told the masses at the start of training camp that an honest-to-goodness kicking competition was on the way.
That has happened and will continue to happen, but Joseph likely has his incumbent job wrapped up. His competitor, rookie Jack Podlesny, hasn’t really done anything to fundamentally grab the job away from Joseph. And then Thursday night, Joseph boomed a 54-yard field goal with ease at Seattle.
In theory, Minnesota’s coaching staff could shock everyone and choose Podlesny over Joseph but don’t bet on it.
3. Jalen Reagor (WR)
A few weeks ago, VikingsTerritory’s Nate Powalie predicted Jalen Reagor would “emerge as a slot threat” in Minnesota’s offense at training camp. He also added, “Teams need speed and explosive play ability from their slot wideouts. And Reagor fits that mold perfectly.”
Reagor led the Vikings in receiving yards Thursday night and may have jumped off the roster bubble. The current general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, traded for the former 1st-Rounder last summer, and all Reagor has to do this summer is look competent enough to win a WR5 job.
For now, he’s doing that.
4. Luiji Vilain (OLB)
This man tabulated 3 tackles, 3 QB hits, and a sack at Seattle. The Vikings need productive EDGE depth in 2023, and the young upstart Vilain looks the part. Before training camp, he hovered around the OLB5 spot behind Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Patrick Jones II, and D.J. Wonnum.
Vilain has played well enough to earn a roster spot — and you should be genuinely disappointed if he’s relegated to the practice squad.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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