3 Roster Bubble Guys for Vikings Who Are Now a Bit Safer
The Minnesota Vikings will slash the current roster by 42% in nine days. The NFL’s cutdown deadline is August 27th.
3 Roster Bubble Guys for Vikings Who Are Now a Bit Safer
Thereafter, the club heads to New Jersey for a date with the New York Giants in Week 1 and is a one-point underdog.
And after several injuries and training camp + preseason performances, these are three Vikings players whose job security is significantly safer than one month ago. They’re listed alphabetically.
1. Jaren Hall (QB)
Although Hall could still end up on the practice squad, his fate with the Vikings weirdly became better after J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury. He’ll see a lot of action in the final preseason game next weekend, as he did in the first two.
On Friday, Minnesota signed once-promising quarterback prospect Matt Corral, but if he’s a dud, Hall would be on deck as the QB3 in 2024. Shortly after the Vikings’ preseason win over Las Vegas eight days ago — before the news of McCarthy’s meniscus tear — Hall seemed destined for a roster cut or practice squad assignment. That’s different now.
2. Patrick Jones II (OLB)
Hotshot undrafted free agent Gabriel Murphy hasn’t stood off the page this summer and is battling a minor injury. Many Vikings-themed voices, including this website, expected Murphy to make the September roster. But that declaration was apparently premature.
Jones II’s roster-bubble status has become safer through veteran incumbency, so keep an eye on his playing time (or lack thereof) in the preseason. The less playing time for a bubble candidate is sometimes better for his roster stock. It could suggest the player is safer.
3. Nick Mullens (QB)
Mullens went from a fringe roster-cut theory in early July — to one snap away from leading the Vikings in 2024. Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was lost for all of the 2024 campaign, making Mullens’ presence on the depth chart absolutely vital.
Meanwhile, his initial QB3 competition, the aforementioned Hall, hasn’t totally dazzled this summer. With McCarthy out and Hall battling for the QB3 job or practice squad if Minnesota signs another quarterback, Mullens is the unabashed QB2 behind Sam Darnold.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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