Vikings training camp roster: Where every position stands with five weeks until cut-down day

The Vikings begin training camp practices Wednesday with 91 players and a handful of position battles set to play out over the next month, including at wide receiver and cornerback.

Cut-down day, when NFL rosters must be down to 53 players, is Aug. 26. Teams must set their active rosters before 3 p.m. Central time that day.

Here’s what the Vikings roster looks like entering training camp, with some information on the biggest competitions and potential cuts:

J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, Max Brosmer

The hierarchy’s set here: McCarthy ascends to QB1. Howell, acquired via trade with Seattle during the draft, seems poised as No. 2 with Rypien close behind, though the addition of another veteran QB isn’t out of the question. Brosmer, the Gophers UDFA on whom the Vikings spent a decent chunk of guaranteed money, could stay on the active roster if there’s room but is no doubt a practice squad signing if not. We know the Vikings like a deeper quarterback room.

Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason, C.J. Ham, Ty Chandler, Zavier Scott, Tre Stewart

Jones, who had a career-best rushing season in 2024, is likely to lead in carries again even with the addition of Mason. But Mason was brought in for a purpose — his physicality — and is expected to make a difference at the goal line. Most interesting here is who the Vikings keep behind those two, as Chandler hasn’t performed to the level hoped in the past couple of seasons.

Nailor showing up to OTAs with some added bulk helped solidify that he’s holding on to the No. 3 spot. Behind the top trio, though, there’s certainly some competition — and competition that has special teams ties. Whichever of the rest of the wide receiving room, including third-round pick Felton, who the Vikings believe has “juice to squeeze” outside of just offense, can be of most help on special teams likely lands the other roster spots. Some of those guys could also get extra time on offense early if Addison is suspended for pleading no contest to a charge from his July 2024 arrest.

T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew (PUP list), Ben Yurosek, Bryson Nesbit, Giovanni Ricci

Hockenson is back from injury. Oliver got a three-year contract extension in June. Bartholomew was just drafted, though he was moved to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Monday. The Vikings kept only three tight ends on the active roster most of last season, even while Hockenson was out finishing his knee recovery.

C Ryan Kelly, G Blake Brandel, G Will Fries, T Christian Darrisaw, T Brian O’Neill, OL Donovan Jackson, T Justin Skule, C/G Michael Jurgens, T Walter Rouse, G Henry Byrd, T Leroy Watson IV, G Joe Huber, T Marcellus Johnson, T Logan Brown, OL Zeke Correll, G Vershon Lee

It’s unknown how much Fries (tibia) and Darrisaw (knee) will participate in training camp. Darrisaw saw limited action on the first day of minicamp in June, but O’Connell said after the surprise showing that Darrisaw’s recovery timeline — estimated to be about 10 months from his October injury — hadn’t changed. That means more time for some of the younger guys, mainly rookie Jackson, working alongside veterans Kelly and O’Neill.

The Vikings strengthened their edge-rushing unit during last year’s free agency and draft with the additions of Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner. They basically did the same thing this year for their interior defensive line by adding Allen, Hargrave and Ingram-Dawkins. But they were also counting on growth from guys like Redmond and Rodriguez, so the question becomes whether all will be kept or just enough to balance reps for some of the older guys in the group.

Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., Brian Asamoah II, Eric Wilson, Kobe King, Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi, Max Tooley

Cashman and Pace both missed time with injuries last year, and a lack of playable depth at the inside linebacker spot meant defensive coordinator Brian Flores ended up moving safety Josh Metellus into the box more to fill in. Asamoah is entering Year 4 and presumably expected to take a step up. But the Vikings also brought back veteran Eric Wilson, who was with the team from 2017-20, to add experienced depth at the position.

CB Byron Murphy Jr., CB Isaiah Rodgers, CB Mekhi Blackmon, CB Jeff Okudah, S Harrison Smith, S Josh Metellus, S Theo Jackson, CB Keenan Garber, CB Kahlef Hailassie, CB Dwight McGlothern, CB Reddy Steward, CB Ambry Thomas, CB Zemaiah Vaughn, S Mishael Powell, S Jay Ward, DB Tavierre Thomas

The secondary is one of the biggest question marks entering training camp, even with three of the team’s biggest contributors (Murphy, Smith and Metellus) all returning. Rodgers seems to have the No. 2 CB spot locked down, but could a healthy Blackmon challenge Okudah for the third spot? And at safety, there’s virtually no depth behind the starting three. Will the Vikings opt to add anyone as they narrow their cornerback depth chart?

No changes here from last year. Chapman, the odd man out, can still be kept around; as an International Pathway Player, he has a designated spot on the practice squad as its 17th member.