Vikings Cutdown Week Delivered Curveballs
The final cut to 53 players making NFL teams has always been a misnomer, as the reality is that the roster is in flux for at least one week after cutdown Tuesday.
That’s certainly the case for the Vikings, who pulled off several big moves this week in signing veteran free agent quarterback Carson Wentz to back up J.J. McCarthy after trading the inconsistent Sam Howell to the Eagles and then making a much-needed trade with Carolina to bring back wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Vikings cutdown week delivered curveballs as Minnesota finalized its 53-man roster, making unexpected moves and sparking new questions ahead of the season.
With only four cornerbacks on the roster after trading Mekhi Blackmon to the Colts, there will surely be one or two cornerbacks added via free agency or waiver claims.
Here’s my breakdown of where things stand as of Wednesday, 12 days before the Monday night opener in Chicago.
Adam Thielen Returns Home
The Panthers drove a hard bargain as they were content with hanging onto Thielen as a savvy vet to mix with their young receivers. They knew the Vikings’ first choice for adding a veteran receiver was to bring back one of the franchise’s all-time great wide receivers, a two-time Pro Bowler who knows the Vikings’ offense from his 2022 season with Coach Kevin O’Connell.
The trade essentially is a swap of fifth-rounders, and the Panthers receive a fourth-rounder (in 2027) while the Vikings get a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026.
Thielen has also worked out with McCarthy over the past two summers prior to training camp, so they have a connection.
I think this is a great move by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Coach Kevin O’Connell to acquire Thielen — the Detroit Lakes, MN native — who could start the opener alongside Justin Jefferson. The two were Vikings starters in Jefferson’s first three seasons. We’ll see how soon Jalen Nailor returns from his hand injury, but there will be no Jordan Addison until Week 4 due to his suspension.
Roster Cuts for the Vikings Were Not Entirely Predictable
When Jefferson, Addison, Thielen, and Nailor are all available and as third-rounder Tai Felton continues his development, the wide receiver position will definitely be a team strength. Thielen’s addition helps weather the storm while Addison is away for three weeks, and with Nailor’s injury situation (although it was good news for the team that he didn’t wind up on injured reserve for the first four games). Nailor is a free agent after this season if he’s not extended, so Thielen could be a big part of the team’s plans in 2026, too, if Nailor becomes too pricy.
Carson Wentz Signing
The big news on Sunday was the trade of Sam Howell to Philadelphia and the signing of former Eagles first-round pick Wentz to be the veteran backup QB behind McCarthy. I like the move. Wentz has 94 career starts; he’s better than Howell or Brett Rypien, who was released, and Wentz played in a similar offense at the Rams in 2023.
The 32-year-old Wentz has talent, as shown by his Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro selection in 2017 when he went 11-2 as the Eagles starter before tearing his ACL. He’s backed up the last two seasons at the Rams and Chiefs, and he will look at the move to the Vikings as a homecoming of sorts as a North Dakota native and North Dakota State alum.
Wentz also has the opportunity to fine-tune his craft under O’Connell as a QB whisperer a la Sam Darnold last season, especially if he is forced into extended action (which the Vikings hope is not the case if McCarthy stays healthy and plays well). Wentz also has close ties with QB Coach Josh McCown, who backed up Wentz for the 2019 season in Philly.
Max Brosmer is a great story as the undrafted ex-Gophers QB who earned the No.3 QB job with a fine camp and preseason. He had another good showing on Friday with 161 passing yards and a TD.
Surprises amid a Bonanza of Undrafted Players on the Roster
There were a few surprises when the cut was made to 53 players. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, a 2023 third-round pick coming off an ACL injury and inconsistent in his rookie season, was traded to the Colts for a sixth-round pick. After this trade and the subsequent cuts, the team had only four corners remaining. That is sure to change in the coming days through waiver pickups or free agent signings, and veteran Fabian Moreau was signed to the practice squad. He played in seven games for the Vikings last season.
OLB Gabe Murphy flashed in preseason (1 ½ sacks in the Houston game) but lost out to undrafted Chaz Chambliss and Bo Richter. Murphy was signed to the practice squad and could still develop into a good NFL player.
I was surprised Tim Jones made the initial 53 over Thayer Thomas at wide receiver after Thomas took a lot of first-team and slot receiver reps in camp and preseason games and made a lot of tough catches. Jones subsequently was cut after the Thielen trade, but Jones was signed to the practice squad along with three other wide receivers (Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones, and Dontae Fleming, a tall, athletic WR who I like a lot as a developmental project). However, Thomas is not even on the practice squad, which seems odd.
It was disappointing for the running game, pass protection, and special teams play that fullback C.J. Ham was placed on IR with an ankle injury and will have to miss at least the first four games.
The Vikings saved a significant amount of salary cap room and got younger by keeping several undrafted players on the initial 53-man roster. Brosmer leads the list that includes strong, raw DT Elijah Williams, receiver/returner Myles Price, tight end Ben Yurosek, guard Joe Huber, linebacker Austin Keys, and preseason star back Zavier Scott, who made the 53, along with Ty Chandler (one of them could be released when Ham is activated or when the team adds a corner).
Ryan Wright held off Oscar Chapman, with Wright’s holding for Will Reichard last season being a key factor, and Chapman bobbled a snap in the final preseason game at Tennessee. It was a mild surprise that Chapman was not signed to the international player spot on the practice squad (OT Max Pircher from Italy got that spot).
Around the NFL Observations
The biggest news around the league this week was the signing of two star players who were hold-ins during training camp. The Bengals gave 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson a $14 million raise for this season, and he can become a free agent next March. And Commanders Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin signed a three-year, $96 million extension.
No resolution yet in the contract impasse between the Cowboys and four-time Pro Bowl DE Micah Parsons, who is seeking an extension as he enters the last year of his rookie contract. Dallas has a week to resolve Parsons’ situation before their Thursday night opener in Philadelphia.
The last remaining starting QB spot went to 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler over 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough in New Orleans. The Saints could wind up as one of the teams picking early in the 2026 draft that appears destined to have an excellent QB class, perhaps led by former Saints star QB Archie Manning’s grandson Arch from Texas (who has a big test in the season opener on Saturday at defending national champion Ohio State). Arch, of course, also has a couple of famous uncles—Peyton and Eli Manning.
You must be logged in to post a comment.