A very early Vikings roster projection with exhibition games about to kick off

The Vikings will release their first official depth chart this week, before they open the preseason Saturday at home against the Houston Texans. As they begin their exhibition schedule, here’s an early projection of who will make their 53-man roster at the start of the regular season:

J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell

Howell has struggled at the beginning of training camp, and Brett Rypien got some second-team work Saturday. It’s also possible that the Vikings could obtain their No. 2 quarterback from another team. But for now, we’ll stick with Howell based on his experience; the Vikings traded for him because he has started in the NFL before, and that experience is enough to keep him on the roster for now.

Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Zavier Scott, C.J. Ham

Scott, who has had plenty of work in training camp, makes it ahead of Ty Chandler in this projection, though the three preseason games could ultimately determine the third running back spot. Chandler, a fourth-year back, could still help himself if he shows growth in pass protection during the preseason.

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Lucky Jackson, Tai Felton, Silas Bolden

There’s still plenty to determine with this group. The Vikings need to see whether Rondale Moore is recovered enough from his knee injury to be worthy of a roster spot, and they are still awaiting word from the NFL on a possible Addison suspension. But Jackson, who has seen some time with the first-team offense during an impressive start to camp, makes the club with a chance to play a role in the passing game. Bolden, an undrafted free agent who has been working as a returner, could make the team in part because of his ability to contribute on special teams.

Sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew’s lower-back injury has kept him on the physically-unable-to-perform list through the start of training camp, and it’s unclear how soon he will be healthy enough to play. That opens up a spot for Yurosek, a Georgia product who got $234,000 guaranteed from the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill, Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, Justin Skule, Walter Rouse

The Vikings’ five starters appear set, and they have got decent reason to feel good about the versatility of their reserves: Brandel might be more valuable as a swing lineman, Skule can step in at tackle, Rouse is a guard who can play tackle, and Jurgens, who might be the team’s center of the future, can apprentice for now behind Kelly.

Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Taki Taimani

The Vikings are set with their three veteran tackles (Phillips, Allen and Hargrave). The rest of the group is filled with intriguing young players. Three (Rodriguez, Redmond and Taimani) return after emerging in 2024. Ingram-Dawkins could find a role as a pass rusher thanks to an explosiveness that caught the Vikings’ attention in the NFL draft.

Turner will have a larger role in his second year, joining Greenard and Van Ginkel in the Vikings’ pass rushing group while Cashman and Pace occupy the inside linebacker spots. Wilson, a veteran who returns for his second stint in Minnesota, gives the Vikings a stable presence who has done his best work in passing situations. King, an intriguing linebacker the Vikings took in the sixth round, has the instincts and range to make the team. It could mean the Vikings releasing 2022 third-round pick Brian Asamoah and saving $1.453 million in the process.

Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Kahlef Hailassie

The big battles here will be at the bottom of the depth chart, between McGlothern, Zemaiah Vaughn (a 6-3 undrafted free agent who has had some impressive moments) and Hailassie, who has lined up next to Jackson at safety in camp. Coaches have been impressed by Hailassie, a former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns defensive back. He has also played corner in his career and could snag on a spot on the roster.

Will Reichard, Ryan Wright, Andrew DePaola