The roster: Where it is, where it's going

The roster: Where it is, where it's going

Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins take an educated, position-by-position guess at the form the Vikings' roster will have taken by the season opener Sept. 8 at Green Bay.

QUARTERBACK (3 ON THE ROSTER)

Starter: Tarvaris Jackson

Backup: Gus Frerotte

On the bubble: John David Booty, pictured, Brooks Bollinger

Comment: Although Booty has experienced typical rookie growing pains in training camp, he appears to have the inside track to win the job over Bollinger. Remember, last year the Vikings tried to sneak rookie Tyler Thigpen through waivers in order to place him on the practice squad but lost him to Kansas City.

RUNNING BACK (5)

Starters: Adrian Peterson (RB) and Thomas Tapeh (FB)

Backups: Chester Taylor (RB), Maurice Hicks (RB), Jeff Dugan (FB)

On the bubble: Naufahu Tahi (FB)

Long shot: Albert Young (RB), pictured

Comment: The Vikings kept six last season, and the final decision will come down to special teams. Tahi is solid in this area, but he might be competing with players at different positions. Dugan is helped by his ability to also play tight end. Hicks will be the team's primary kick returner. Young likely will land on the practice squad.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6)

Starters: Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice

Backups: Bobby Wade, Aundrae Allison, Robert Ferguson

On the bubble: Jaymar Johnson, Martin Nance, pictured, Darius Reynaud

Long shots: Daniel Davis, Nate Jones

Comment: The biggest question is whether the Vikings keep five or six. Nance, Johnson and Reynaud all have had impressive stretches; the latter two also can help as returners. Ferguson's veteran presence and willingness to play on special teams makes him a lock.

TIGHT ENDS (3)

Starter: Visanthe Shiancoe

Backup: Jim Kleinsasser, Garrett Mills, pictured

Long shot: Braden Jones

Comment: The coaching staff is high on Mills, and he entered camp with a chance to win playing time at this position and H-back. An ankle sprain has slowed him, but it's likely he has a spot locked up.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8)

Starters: Bryant McKinnie (LT), Steve Hutchinson (LG), Matt Birk, (C), Anthony Herrera (RG), Ryan Cook (RT)

Backups: Artis Hicks (G/T), Marcus Johnson (T), John Sullivan (C)

On the bubble: Brian Daniels (G), Tim Mattran (G/T), Dan Mozes (C/G), Drew Radovich (T), pictured

Long shots: Sean Dumford (T), Chase Johnson (T), Brock Pasteur (T)

Comment: This appears to be a pretty clear-cut group. The coaching staff likes the on-the-bubble group, but there are only so many roster spots available. Radovich, an undrafted free agent from Southern Cal, is the most likely to crack the 53. He was having a strong camp before dislocating his shoulder in the first preseason game.

DEFENSIVE LINE (8)

Starters: Ray Edwards (DE), Kevin Williams (DT), Pat Williams (DT), Jared Allen (DE).

Backups: Fred Evans (DT), Ellis Wyms (DT), Otis Grigsby (DE), Brian Robison (DE)

On the bubble: Letroy Guion (DT), pictured

Long shots: Martail Burnett (DE), Leger Douzable (DT), Chris Norwell (DE)

Comment: Guion is the wild card. The Vikings might try to get the raw fifth-round pick from Florida onto the practice squad. Wyms and Evans are the primary backup tackles, and Grigsby has been impressive for much of camp.

LINEBACKERS (7)

Starters: Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, Ben Leber

Backups: Vinny Ciurciu, Derrick Pope

On the bubble: Erin Henderson, pictured, Rufus Alexander

Long shots: David Herron, J Leman

Comment: The Vikings finished last season with seven at this position and could keep that many again. The season-ending knee injury to Heath Farwell opened up a spot for at least one of the players on the bubble. Erin Henderson leads the team in tackles in the preseason and also has made plays on special teams. Alexander is returning after missing his rookie season because of a knee injury.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)

Starters: Cedric Griffin (CB), Antoine Winfield (CB), Darren Sharper (S), Madieu Williams (S), Tyrell Johnson (S)

Backups: Charles Gordon (CB), Marcus McCauley (CB), Eric Frampton (S)

On the bubble: Michael Boulware (S), pictured, Benny Sapp (CB), Brandon Sumrall (CB)

Long shots: Husain Abdullah (S), Dee McCann (CB), Marcus Walker (CB)

Comment: The final spots again will be about special teams. Frampton is a standout in this area and is thus going to make it. Boulware also has experience. Sapp opened some eyes by having a strong start in camp. Williams' neck injury, which is expected to sideline him for the first three regular-season games, makes Johnson the starter at free safety.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Locks: Ryan Longwell (K), pictured, Chris Kluwe (P), Cullen Loeffler (LS)

Comment: These are set in stone. Rookie kicker Steven Hauschka got some valuable experience, but that was so Longwell could be well rested entering the season.