4 Veteran Vikings Likely on the Chopping Block
The Minnesota Vikings concluded their preseason schedule on Saturday with a dominant 26-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the preseason now over, we are just a day away from each of the 32 NFL teams cutting their rosters down from 90 to 53 players. Here is a look at four veteran Vikings who are likely on the outside looking in when the 53-man roster is finalized.
G Dalton Risner
It just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for the Vikings to keep Dalton Risner around, at least not right now. After starting 11 games for Minnesota last year, Risner was re-signed this summer to potentially compete with Blake Brandel for the starting left guard position.
Instead, Risner suffered an injury, and he hasn’t seen much action at all with the Vikings this year. Not only does Brandel have the starting left guard spot locked up, but Risner is currently listed as a reserve at the right guard position, a spot that he has never played before.
Risner isn’t the most versatile offensive lineman amongst the group, and he hasn’t been available to practice. It would be very surprising to see him on the final roster.
RB Myles Gaskin
The Vikings have a difficult decision to make at the running back position. It seems likely that they are only going to be able to keep three backs alongside fullback C.J. Ham.
Myles Gaskin has looked impressive throughout the preseason, totaling 27 carries for 148 yards over Minnesota’s three preseason games. However, the top two spots are solidified with Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler being the 1-2 punch at the top of the depth chart.
Meanwhile, Kene Nwangwu carries value because of his kick returning abilities, and the fourth-year back has put together impressive performances in the backfield as well with 12 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown.
CB Duke Shelley
Duke Shelley was a hero during the Vikings’ 2022 run to the playoffs. He joined the team on the practice squad before eventually moving into the starting lineup during the latter half of the year.
This season, though, it doesn’t appear that we are going to be in store for a repeat performance from the veteran cornerback. Minnesota just recently signed Stephon Gilmore, the latest of a flurry of moves at the CB position this offseason to find more veteran depth.
Additionally, Dwight McGlothern, a UDFA, looks like he has earned himself a spot on the final roster with his performances throughout training camp and preseason. Shelley likely is going to be one of the odd men out for the CB race.
DT James Lynch
For three seasons, James Lynch quietly was a productive depth defensive tackle for the Vikings from 2020-2022. Then, an injury cost Lynch the entirety of his 2023 season, and he is now back in the fold fighting for a roster spot in 2024.
While the Vikings don’t have a particularly deep DT room, they have solid veterans in place at the top of the depth chart in Jonathan Bullard, Harrison Phillips, and Jerry Tillery. Behind them, Levi Drake Rodriguez has looked like a monster during his first NFL training camp while Jonah Williams can provide more veteran depth.
The Vikings could find a way to sneak Lynch onto the roster if they kept six defensive linemen, but the question then becomes where the additional cut comes elsewhere on the roster.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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