The Biggest Losers from Vikings Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings training camp is now in the rearview, giving way to the preseason, which will last three weeks.
A look at the biggest losers from Vikings training camp, highlighting the players who have fallen behind in position battles or struggled to impress coaches.
The regular season is less than one month away.
And with training camp kaput, these are five “losers” from the weeks-long event — men who struggled, fell on the depth chart, or failed to stand off the page.
The players are listed alphabetically.
“Losers” from Vikings Training Camp | 2025
These men did themselves no favors in Eagan this go-round.
1. Gavin Bartholomew | TE
Perhaps the “loser” term is unfair to Bartholomew, but in the strictest definition of the word, he lost at training camp.
Why? Well, he’s a rookie, and he didn’t partake. He’s on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a back injury. Another rookie tight end, Ben Yurosek, might’ve already surpassed Bartholomew on the depth chart. Can’t make the club in the tub comes to mind.
Pittsburgh Sports Now‘s Mike Vukovcan wrote last month, “The Active/PUP list means Bartholomew won’t practice but is permitted to take part in Viking team meetings, rehab with the team and counts as a member of their training camp roster.”
“No word has been given for Batholomew’s exact injury. Considering he’s entering the NFL as a later round pick, being sidelined at the start of training camp with an injury and missing valuable reps is not what Barthlomew wanted and could make it an uphill climb for him to make the roster.’
Minnesota also recently signed veteran tight end Nick Vannett in the wake of Bartholomew’s injury.
Vukovcan added, “Bartholomew certainly has the athleticism, hands and playmaking ability to not only stick on an NFL roster but also contribute. The question now is how long will it take him to become an active participant in Vikings training camp in order to make an impression on head coach Kevin O’Connell.”
2. Mekhi Blackmon | CB
Before the summer, Blackmon’s name graced Vikings cornerback conversations for those wondering who would start in 2025.
After training camp, it’s rather clear per the first depth chart that Blackmon is a CB4 or so. He’s not really in the mix to start. Those jobs have been claimed by Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah.
Per star power, Minnesota doesn’t have titan-of-industry cornerbacks. Blackmon has a real shot to claim a starter’s job. He hasn’t so far, and the regular season is one month away.
3. Ty Chandler | RB
Chandler still has an RB3 job, according to the new depth chart, but his kick returning job has been given to rookie wide receiver Tai Felton.
Couple that development with the fact that running back Zavier Scott produced a decent training camp, and Chandler’s days in Minnesota may be numbered. The fourth-year Viking needs a big preseason showing.
Our own Janik Eckart noted on Chandler Friday: “Running back Ty Chandler was an emerging playmaker for the Vikings late in the 2023 season, as he provided more juice in the backfield than Alexander Mattison, whose starting spot he snatched.”
“A couple of years later, Chandler is on the roster bubble and might not even be around when the organization travels to Chicago in September. He continues to struggle in pass protection, making it hard for coaches to trust him, and he’s been unremarkable as a kick returner. Furthermore, Chandler was replaced in each of the last two seasons by the pair of trades for Cam Akers.”
The Vikings could sign a running back on the post-cutdown free-agent market in two weeks.
Eckardt concluded about Chandler’s need for a big preseason performance: “This offseason, the Vikings added Jordan Mason in addition to re-signing Aaron Jones. He needs a big day to prevent the Vikings from looking at fellow depth runners Tre Stewart and Zavier Scott, or the waiver wire.”
4. Tai Felton | WR
Felton, indeed, is first in line for the kick returning job — and then that’s it.
The Maryland alumnus did not electrify coaches or fans at training camp and appears to have a WR5 or WR6 job at the moment. He’ll need time to develop, and folks shouldn’t expect Felton to be a huge part of the Week 1 offense.
Otherwise, he would’ve broken out a bit more at camp.
5. Sam Howell | QB
Howell finished camp somewhat strong — basically stopped throwing daily interceptions — but his two weeks in Eagan have created chatter on the internet about Minnesota needing a different QB2.
That isn’t good.
Howell can rewrite the narrative in the presseason — he’ll play a lot — but until then, Vikings-themed media is wondering if players like Jameis Winston or Trey Lance are available via trade.
That’s grounds for “training camp” loser status.
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