6 Roster Moves the Vikings Quietly Made Last Week
Until this week, the Minnesota Vikings hadn’t fired off many roster moves this summer, evidently content with a depth chart that looks ripe for Super Bowl contention.
The Minnesota Vikings made six under-the-radar roster transactions last week that could shape the preseason depth chart. Here’s a breakdown of the tweaks.
But general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took the lid off a bit this week, adding some new players, offloading a couple, and gifting a contract extension to a fan favorite.
These were the Vikings’ roster moves for the week. They’re noted in order of importance (No. 1 = most important)
Vikings Conduct Six Roster Moves
Adofo-Mensah wasn’t shy this week about fine-tuning his roster.
6. DT Alex Williams Waived
Minnesota signed Williams from undrafted free agency at the end of April, and he lasted about three months in purple. He could eventually return in a practice squad capacity. However, this summer, the team considered him the 90th-best player on the roster cut when Matt Nelson came aboard this week.
The Middle Tennessee State alumnus will now hope for a call from another NFL team.
5. LB Max Tooley Out
Adofo-Mensah signed Tooley to a futures contract in January, and by “futures,” he evidently meant seven months’ worth.
The Vikings signed the next guy on the list for special teams help, leaving Tooley as expendable and back on the free-agent wire. The Houston Texans originally unearthed Tooley from undrafted free agency in April 2024.
4. S Gervarrius Owens Signed
In unison with the Tooley move, Minnesota added Owens, a player with two games of NFL experience under his belt, including 41 special teams snaps. He won’t trend to make the active roster as a defensive contributor, barring catastrophe to two or three Viking safeties, but he has a puncher’s chance to reach the practice squad.
Owens attended the University of Houston from 2019 to 2022.
3. OLB Chaz Chambliss Activated from PUP
When camp began, the Vikings tossed tight end Gavin Bartholomew and OLB Chaz Chambliss on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Bartholomew remains on the list with a back injury, but Minnesota activated Chambliss this week.
The UDFA from Georgia is a long shot to make the active roster in four weeks, but he could earn a practice squad spot. The Vikings love UDFA EDGE rushers.
SI.com’s Will Ragatz noted on Chambliss after the draft, “The case for Chambliss is that he’s a tough, relentless, fundamentally sound football player no matter where he lines up. He played a career-high 436 snaps last season as a senior at Georgia and wound up tied for the team lead in sacks with Jalon Walker, a former five-star recruit who went 15th overall to the Falcons in this year’s draft.”
“Chambliss plays with physicality and a nonstop motor, and he’s a very reliable tackler. He can do a bit of everything: rush the passer, defend the run, even drop into coverage. That’s what is required of outside linebackers in Brian Flores’ defense.”
2. OT Matt Nelson Added
For offensive line depth, specifically at tackle, Adofo-Mensah added Nelson to the bottom of the roster. Nelson has partaken in 43 games, including 14 starts, so he has more experience than your average bear.
Justin Skule is likely the primary backup offensive tackle, but with uncertainty about roster spots for Walter Rouse and UDFA Logan Brown, Nelson could be a sneaky 53-man roster inclusion.
He’s 29.
1. Josh Metellus Extended
Adofo-Mensah put any contractual drama to rest, extending Joshua Metellus’ contract for an extra three years and adding $36 million, expansive with incentives up to $42 million. Metellus is now attached to the roster contractually longer than any Vikings defensive player, signaling Minnesota’s commitment to him for the long haul.
The Swiss Army knife defender was all smiles about his new deal, and just like that, all major purple contract matters are resolved.
Metellus is now around the NFL’s 13th highest-paid safety.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote about the agreement, “Metellus participated in the Vikings’ opening practice of training camp, saying afterward that he thought it was his responsibility as a team leader. An ankle injury forced him out of practice Thursday and Friday, but O’Connell said ‘we were being honest’ about the diagnosis and that Metellus’ absence was not related to negotiations.”
“Speaking Saturday, Metellus said there was no part of him that wanted to see if he could get a better deal next spring on the open market. The Vikings have now committed nearly $350 million in cash to their 2025 roster, capitalizing on the rookie contract of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to acquire a dozen veterans either through free agency or trade.”
Metellus turned 27 this offseason.
“They also re-signed running back Aaron Jones Sr., cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and safety Harrison Smith, and extended the existing contract of linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel,” Seifert added about Minnesota’s offseason.
Minnesota’s first preseason game is six days away.
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