Initial impressions of an initial Vikings 53-man roster with some youthful surprises

A youth movement is spreading through the Vikings roster. The initial 53-man squad set on Tuesday afternoon included seven undrafted rookies. They’ll help offset the Vikings’ light five-player draft class and what was one of the oldest NFL rosters last season.

Remember, everything is subject to change. This is not a final 53-man roster. The Vikings could still add a player or two at positions of need, such as wide receiver or cornerback, with new talent becoming available on the waiver wire and among released veterans.

Here’s an initial look at the initial 53-man roster:

J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer

Waived: Brett Rypien

Kevin O’Connell made his feelings known about his quarterback depth when the team shipped Howell to Philadelphia for a late-round draft pick swap on Sunday. The Vikings worked out Wentz on Saturday before agreeing to terms with him the next day, bringing in a new experienced No. 2 option about two weeks before the Sept. 8 season opener in Chicago. It’s probably not the ideal plan behind McCarthy, but Brosmer, the former Gopher, gives them a promising developmental option as one of the undrafted rookies to make the initial 53.

Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Zavier Scott, Ty Chandler

Injured reserve: C.J. Ham

The top duo is set with Jones and Mason looking to provide the kind of 1-2 punch that O’Connell’s Vikings offenses have not yet had. Scott, a third-year undrafted back out of Maine, earned a spot with a strong camp running and receiving. Chandler also stays in the fold while Ham will miss at least four games due to an undisclosed injury that landed him on injured reserve. It remains to be seen whether Scott or Chandler is No. 3 in the pecking order or who will handle kick return duties with receiver Tai Felton. The Vikings could retain Stewart or Valladay on the practice squad.

Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, Tim Jones, Myles Price

Suspended: Jordan Addison

Waived: Lucky Jackson, Thayer Thomas, Silas Bolden, Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, Robert Lewis

T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek

PUP list: Gavin Bartholomew

Waived: Giovanni Ricci, Nick Vannett, Bryson Nesbit

The No. 3 job goes to Ben Yurosek, the undrafted rookie who got the guaranteed money of a sixth-round draft pick ($254,000). He got the nod over veterans Vannett and Ricci. Yurosek did not have to compete with Bartholomew, the sixth-round pick who remains sidelined by a back injury. He was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first four games of his rookie season.

T Christian Darrisaw, G Donovan Jackson, C Ryan Kelly, G Will Fries, T Brian O’Neill, G/T Blake Brandel, C/G Michael Jurgens, T Justin Skule, T Walter Rouse, G/C Joe Huber

The Vikings kept three familiar reserves — Brandel, Jurgens and Rouse — to go with two new additions, Skule and Huber, behind a fortified starting five. They feel strongly about their depth, keeping 10 blockers — the most on an O’Connell-coached roster since his first season in 2022. The team spent big money to sign Fries and Kelly, the two former Colts starters, before drafting Jackson, the new left guard, in the first round. Expectations are as high as they can be for a line bookended by Pro Bowl-caliber tackles in O’Neill and Darrisaw, who appears on track to start Week 1.

Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams

Waived: Taki Taimani, Travis Bell, Jonathan Harris

The Vikings’ crowded defensive line led to some surprises, including the trade that sent 2024 team captain Harrison Phillips to the Jets for a sixth-round pick. That appeared to be the byproduct of Elijah Williams’ emergence as he nudged aside Phillips and Taimani, last year’s undrafted darling, to make this year’s team. Coaches like Redmond in a bigger role. Ingram-Dawkins, a fifth-round pick, showed promise too.

Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss

Injured reserve: Tyler Batty

On the edge, Chambliss beat out Murphy for the fifth spot as the undrafted rookie out of Georgia made a strong impression in camp. Batty left the preseason loss to the Titans with a right knee injury and will miss at least four games.

Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., Eric Wilson, Kobe King, Austin Keys

Waived: Dorian Mausi

The Vikings parted ways with Brian Asamoah II earlier in camp and still kept five inside linebackers. Asamoah likely saw that coming, which may have led to his early release. Keys, one of the team’s top undrafted signings out of Auburn, lived up to the expectations and earned a roster spot. Perhaps he’ll contribute right away with King, the sixth-round pick, on special teams.

Waived: CB Zemaiah Vaughn, CB/S Kahlef Hailassie, S Mishael Powell, CB Ambry Thomas, S Gervarrius Owens, CB Reddy Steward, CB Keenan Garber

This is the lowest number of defensive backs the Vikings have kept on an initial team since 2020, when only eight made the cut. It’s the fewest under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who must have signed off on trading cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to the Colts on Monday. The front office cut everyone else except for McGlothern, the second-year corner who was getting third-team reps in joint practices with the Patriots. At safety, the experienced Thomas and versatile Ward round out the depth behind Smith, Metellus and Jackson. Don’t be surprised to see Vaughn and Hailassie return on the practice squad if they’re available on Wednesday.

K Will Reichard, P Ryan Wright, LS Andrew DePaola

Waived: P Oscar Chapman

The Vikings opted for consistency and kept the specialist trio intact, although the Vikings can retain the Australian Chapman with a free practice squad spot for international players. That allows the Vikings to carry two punters and keep Wright’s competition around. Holding for field goals was a factor in the decision. Each punter held for six kicks, and each saw five go through the uprights in the preseason. Wright held for a 63-yard miss in the preseason finale against the Titans, while Chapman’s last hold of a 55-yard attempt did not convert in Tennessee.