2022 Minnesota Vikings Cuts Tracker: The Path to a 53-Man Roster
The Vikings, like the NFL's other 31 teams, are in the middle of a difficult couple of days. They have to waive or release over two dozen players to get down to an initial 53-man roster ahead of the Tuesday afternoon deadline.
That means unpleasant conversations for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell with a bunch of players, many of whom have been with the team all offseason long or for multiple years.
"There’s a tough 48 hours ahead for all of us," O'Connell said after the preseason finale. "A lot of guys are going to make us make some really hard decisions."
This is the first cutdown day for the Vikings' new regime. Although no one likes telling players they're not going to be on the roster, O'Connell is at least glad to have Adofo-Mensah by his side during the process.
"The fact that me and Kwesi get to go in and have that dialogue like we’ve had from day one, it’s going to be a smooth process and then we’ll be right there side-by-side delivering that news to those guys," he said. "Not going to be a fun two days, but no one I would rather go through it with than Kwesi."
It helps that O'Connell has been there before, on the player's side of things. He was waived or released five times (and traded once) during his playing career.
"I’ll always look these guys in the eye, be honest with them," O'Connell said. "I had some practice at that sitting on the other side of that chair, and the best times and conversations that I remember, even though it didn’t sound great hearing it, were the coaching points and how I could ultimately be better for the next opportunity."
It also helps that the Vikings can bring back a big chunk of the players they end up cutting by signing them to the 16-man practice squad if they clear waivers.
Below, you'll find an updated tracker of all the players the Vikings have reportedly waived or released on Monday and Tuesday.
Tuesday, August 30
Final cuts: G Kyle Hinton, S Myles Dorn, LB William Kwenkeu
Full initial 53-man roster here.
Traded: G Jesse Davis
Not a roster cut, but it functions the same way for trimming down to 53. The Vikings have traded Jesse Davis to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 seventh-rounder. The veteran lost the RG competition to rookie Ed Ingram this offseason. Trading him saves the Vikings $1.5 million.
LB Blake Lynch
This is a mild surprise. Lynch started six games for the Vikings last year and had two sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and an interception. The Vikings' new regime clearly prefers Troy Dye, though, as Dye was ahead on the depth chart all summer.
DL Armon Watts
Wow! The first true shocker of the day. Watts was penciled in as a starting defensive lineman in the Vikings' base defense. Waiving him saves $2.54 million against the salary cap.
Update: the Vikings have traded for Texans DL Ross Blacklock, a former second-round pick. That explains the Watts move.
DL T.J. Smith
Smith never climbed the depth chart on the defensive line, making him an easily projectable cut.
S Mike Brown
Brown was another rookie UDFA longshot.
QB Sean Mannion
The Vikings are officially down to two quarterbacks on the active roster in Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens, as expected. If Mannion sticks around on the practice squad, that would likely mean Kellen Mond won't be back in any capacity.
RB Bryant Koback
Koback was this year's A.J. Rose Jr., an undrafted rookie RB brought in to be a camp body, handle a lot of preseason snaps, and perhaps crack the practice squad. The Toledo product turned 25 preseason touches into just 88 yards. We'll see if he sticks around on the PS.
WR Dan Chisena
Chisena has made the initial 53-man roster as a special teams ace in each of his first two seasons, but that won't be the case this year. The Vikings are now down to just five wide receivers on their roster, which suggests they might sign or claim another one soon. Chisena, like Myron Mitchell and Trishton Jackson, could be a practice squad candidate.
TE Zach Davidson
This one is only a slight surprise. Davidson has a lot of upside because he's 6'7" and can run, but he still has a long ways to go as a blocker and dropped too many passes in the preseason. This leaves the Vikings with just three tight ends on the roster.
DL Jaylen Twyman
Twyman's return to football this season after getting shot last summer was a great story. He was unable to climb up the depth chart on the Vikings' defensive line this offseason, but he could be a practice squad candidate or get another opportunity elsewhere.
TE Nick Muse
Muse, the Vikings' seventh-round pick this year, is their first 2022 draftee to get cut. If he clears waivers, he should basically be a lock for the practice squad. He'd have this year to develop before competing for a roster spot in 2023.
CB Nate Hairston
Hairston is a veteran who has played some meaningful regular season snaps in his career, but he was deep down the depth chart in Minnesota. This means Kris Boyd will be the Vikings' No. 6 cornerback, if they indeed keep six on the initial roster.
CB Parry Nickerson
Another unsurprising move. Nickerson spent all of last season on the Vikings' practice squad, and they could go that route again this year so they have the flexibility to elevate him for a few games if needed.
G Wyatt Davis
There it is. That's three of the Vikings' four third-round picks from a year ago gone. Davis was hoping to take a leap in his second season, but it never happened as he remained buried on the third-team OL throughout camp.
OLB Zach McCloud
McCloud is an undrafted rookie outside linebacker from Miami who got a good chunk of guaranteed money. He's a practice squad candidate.
LB Chazz Surratt
Another of the Vikings' 2021 third-round picks has been waived. Surratt was an odd pick at the time and never climbed up the depth chart. Minnesota's new regime is moving on.
WR Trishton Jackson
This is a surprising one. I thought Jackson might benefit from Bisi Johnson's injury and make the roster as the No. 6 receiver. Instead, it looks like Dan Chisena might make the 53-man for a third straight year, unless the Vikings only keep five WRs. Jackson will likely be a practice squad guy if he goes unclaimed.
C Josh Sokol
Sokol, a rookie UDFA out of Sacred Heart, spent the offseason as the Vikings' third-team center. He showed some flashes in the preseason and could be a practice squad candidate.
QB Kellen Mond
This is a notable one. Mond was a third-round pick just a year ago, but it was former Vikings GM Rick Spielman who made that selection. The new regime wasn't tied to the Texas A&M product. After he struggled mightily throughout the preseason, the Vikings move on. Mond could still be a practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.
OLB Janarius Robinson
Robinson missed all of his rookie season due to injury and then struggled in this year's training camp.
Monday, August 29
Placed on injured reserve: WR Bisi Johnson (ACL) and DL T.Y. McGill Jr. (ankle)
Reports earlier on Monday indicated McGill had been released. Instead, the Vikings placed him on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He might ultimately reach an injury settlement with the Vikings where he gets paid while on IR and then is released when he's healthy. Johnson is out for the year with another torn ACL.
T Timon Parris
Parris was always a longshot to make the team and a rough game against the Broncos sealed his fate.
CB Tye Smith
Smith was first released on August 16th. The Vikings then brought him back on the 25th to provide some depth while they dealt with a couple cornerback injuries. He's now been cut again, just four days later.
WR Myron Mitchell
Mitchell is a 2021 UDFA out of Alabama-Birmingham. He had a solid training camp, but the Vikings have a lot of depth at wide receiver. One or two of Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, and Dan Chisena will make the team.
