Every Viking Who Helped Their 53-Man Roster Odds Despite Loss vs. Ravens (Including Jacob Roberts)

Here's whose outlook is on the rise even though Minnesota didn't pick up the win on Saturday.

Jacob Roberts is one of five Vikings who helped their outlook during Saturday's loss to the Ravens. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Vikings didn't look great in their second preseason game, falling 13-3 to the Ravens on Saturday afternoon. The team failed to score a touchdown in the Week 2 exhibition game, which likely disappointed many fans who were hoping to see improvement from the previous game against the Giants.

It's "only" the preseason, sure, but 16 points and one touchdown scored in eight quarters is never a good look.

Several Vikings players needed a solid performance against the Ravens on Saturday to increase their chances of earning a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season, since the deadline to trim the rosters is rapidly approaching on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

The clock is ticking for players to convince the Vikings' coaching staff that they should be part of the team's roster for the upcoming season. Thankfully, there were a few individuals who stepped up when their backs were against the wall this weekend.

Zavier Scott, running back

Typically, there wouldn't be much debate about where running back Zavier Scott stands with the Vikings. He was a solid contributor last season and is having a solid lead-up to this year. However, he has rookie speedster Demond Claiborne fighting for a roster spot next to him. Scott will need to prove that he and Claiborne deserve a spot on the 53-man roster.

Against the Ravens, Scott led the team in rushing yards, with 28 yards on seven rushing attempts, an average of four yards per carry. He also got involved in the passing game, catching a pass for eight yards. All this was done in 22 offensive snaps, making his contribution a bit more impressive.

Dillon Bell, wide receiver

The wide receiver room for Minnesota has so much talent that at least one talented young passcatcher will likely be let go when roster cuts are made. Dillon Bell made a great case for himself to stick around against Baltimore in Week 2 of the preseason.

After a brief hiccup, things are trending in the right direction for Vikings WR Dillon Bell. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bell played the third-most offensive snaps on Saturday, taking part in 48 snaps. In that action, he was targeted on nine passes, hauling in six of them for 51 yards, including a nice 18-yard catch. He also returned one kickoff for 16 yards, which isn't very impressive but shows the team is looking for more ways to get him involved.

Jacob Roberts, linebacker

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has his unit aggressive, even during the preseason. Since Jacob Roberts is fairly low on the depth chart for Minnesota, it was surprising to see him get the third-most snaps of any defender.

In 35 plays, Roberts tied for the most tackles on the team with six, and three of those were solo efforts. It was clear that the Vikings wanted to see more from the 24-year-old linebacker, and he didn't disappoint when on the field, giving him momentum heading into the preseason finale.

Tristan Leigh, offensive lineman

The offensive line wasn't a strength for the Vikings against the Ravens, but Tristan Leigh did not stand out as a player who was a weak link. An undrafted free agent this year, the 23-year-old Clemson standout held his own against a tough Baltimore defensive front.

OL Tristan Leigh's performance on Saturday could have been solid enough for the Vikings to keep him in the mix for a 53-man roster spot. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Vikings got a long look at Leigh on Saturday as Leigh played right tackle. He took part in 52 snaps, tying Henry Byrd for the most of any offensive player. If the coaching staff wasn't considering keeping him on the 53-man roster, they should be doing that now.

Elijah Williams, defensive lineman

There are a lot of big bodies competing for spots on the Vikings' defensive line this season. With so many bodies in the mix, it can be easy to lose track of a player like Elijah Williams. He only played 22 snaps against Baltimore, but he made them count.

The statistics aren't pretty for Williams against the Ravens, but stat lines often don't do justice to determining a player's effectiveness in the trenches. His one solo tackle was for a loss, but more importantly, he did a good job holding his ground at the line of scrimmage. He earned a team-high grade of 86.5 for overall defense on Saturday, per Pro Football Focus.

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