Vikings Announce Initial 53-Man Roster For 2023 Season

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The Vikings have announced their initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season. Things can and will change this week with potential veteran signings, waiver claims, and trades, but this is the roster for right now.
The following 35 players were waived or released:
- WR Blake Proehl
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Jacob Copeland
- WR Thayer Thomas
- WR Trishton Jackson
- WR Garett Maag
- RB DeWayne McBride
- RB Aaron Dykes
- RB Abram Smith
- QB Jordan Ta'amu
- TE Ben Sims
- TE Colin Thompson
- OL Josh Sokol
- OL Jack Snyder
- OL Alan Ali
- OL Jarrid Williams
- OL Christian DiLauro
- DL Ross Blacklock
- DL Sheldon Day
- DL Calvin Avery
- DL Esezi Otomewo
- DL T.J. Smith
- OLB Benton Whitley
- OLB Luiji Vilain
- CB Joejuan Williams
- LB Troy Reeder
- LB Tanner Vallejo
- LB Abraham Beauplan (injury designation)
- LB Wilson Huber
- S Jake Gervase
- CB Jaylin Williams
- CB Kalon Barnes
- CB C.J. Coldon, Jr.
- CB Jameson Houston
- CB Tay Gowan (injury designation)
Also, Vederian Lowe was traded to the Patriots and Chris Reed was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.
Here's the roster:
Offense
Quarterbacks (3): Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
Running backs/fullbacks (4): Alexander Mattison, C.J. Ham (FB), Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu
Wide receivers (6): Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Jalen Reagor
Tight ends (4): T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse
Offensive linemen (8): Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O'Neill, Blake Brandel, Austin Schlottmann, Oli Udoh
Defense and ST
Defensive linemen (5): Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, Jonathan Bullard, Jaquelin Roy
Outside linebackers (5): Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Pat Jones II, D.J. Wonnum, Andre Carter II
Inside linebackers (4): Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, Ivan Pace Jr., Troy Dye
Safeties (6): Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson
Cornerbacks (5): Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, NaJee Thompson, Andrew Booth Jr.
Specialists (3): Greg Joseph, Ryan Wright, Andrew DePaola
Junior Aho also remains on the roster with an exemption from counting towards the 53 because he's part of the International Player Pathway Program.
Any waiver claims the Vikings make will be processed on Wednesday. The team will sign 16 players for its practice squad soon.
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Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.
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