Following the conclusion of the Minnesota Vikings’ first preseason game, some of the more closely fought position battles are becoming a bit more clear as performance and snap counts and other criteria are considered. The only starting positions that remain undecided are punter and punt returner at this point, although kick returner is probably not 100% decided either.
Kevin O’Connell mentioned in his post-game press conference how important it is to see the circumstances surrounding a player’s performance, rather than just the stats, as the chaos of a preseason game can have a big impact on performance. Which units were on the field on both sides of the ball, for example, along with particular player matchups can have a big impact, particularly in comparing one player’s performance at the same position with another’s. There can be a lot of mixing in of second- and third-team players that can make the competition level more of a mixed bag that has to be assessed as part of a player’s evaluation.
But there are several emerging battles for the last roster spot on some position depth charts that are worth noting. Here are the top eleven emerging position battles following the preseason game against the Texans.
RB3: Ty Chandler vs. Zavier Scott
Zavier Scott had a number of positive runs against the Texans on Saturday, although he was probably the beneficiary of some better run blocking than Ty Chandler had too. Chandler was more productive in his run-after-catch opportunities. Scott had received some praise for his training camp performance but it’s difficult to really judge too much given the limited contact.
But after Saturday’s preseason game, it looks like a genuine competition for the RB3 spot. Kevin O’Connell has challenged Ty Chandler to improve his pass blocking as he sees that skill as essential for a RB3 to see the field much without compromising the offfense. Zavier Scott missed a block in pass protection on Saturday, allowing a defender to spin past him for a quarterback hit, so Scott may also have some work to do in pass protection.
Zavier Scott had 12 reps on special teams as well, while Chandler just had one, so the coaching staff may want to see what special teams value Scott brings- which is an important part of the RB3 role as well. Scott graded near average according to PFF on special teams so that doesn’t move the needle.
But the bottom line on this competition is it won’t come down to who had the most rushing yards in preseason. Demostrated ability as a receiver, blocker, and special teamer will all be part of the evaluation.
EDGE5: Bo Richter vs. Tyler Batty
Richter may have the inside track on this battle, based on his performance last season- particularly on special teams- but Batty is giving him a run for the last edge rusher spot on the roster. Batty had a tackle and an assist on special teams on Saturday, along with a batted pass that resulted in an interception, while Richter had a tackle on special teams as well and was credited for half a sack. Batty had two pressures to Richter’s three. Batty had 12 reps on special teams compared to Richter’s five, and Batty had 35 reps on defense to Richter’s 24.
Batty is a bigger body at 6’5”, 275 pounds – more of a 4-3 base end really- but can also take reps inside as well. Richter is 6’2”, 250 pounds- the same size as a few other linebackers- and can drop in coverage.
Batty benefitted from more reps against third-string competition, but nevertheless is giving the Vikings’ coaching staff something to think about with this last spot on the edge rusher depth chart.
LB4: Kobe King vs. Chaz Chambliss vs. Brian Asamoah II vs. Austin Keys
Throughout training camp, Kobe King has looked pretty well established as the LB4 behind Cashman, Pace, and Wilson. He’s always ran with the second-team defense and it looked like he would displace Brian Asamoah II for the last linebacker spot on the roster.
But now I’m not so sure.
King is a sixth-round draft pick but that isn’t high enough to automatically make the roster. The issue with King, who is a product of Linebacker U Penn State, is whether he is anything more than a two-down thumper. That role doesn’t carry a lot of value in the NFL and particularly not in Brian Flores’ scheme, where versatility is desired if not expected at this point. At this point he hasn’t shown that he is and even in that role he wasn’t particularly strong on Saturday.
Brian Asamoah II is a known quantity at this point- a good special teamer but doesn’t offer much of anything at linebacker. I don’t think that’s enough for him to secure a roster spot at this point. He’s listed ahead of King and Austin Keys on the linebacker depth chart, but I think that’s more based on seniority than anything else. He’s gotten exclusively third-team reps in training camp. He graded similarly to King on Saturday according to PFF on 23 snaps defensively, so he’s still in the running but likely a long shot to make the roster.
Austin Keys is another 6’2”, 250 pound linebacker who was primarily a two-down thumper at Auburn. He also hasn’t seen a lot of reps in training camp but got 14 on defense against the Texans and did relatively well with those compared to King and Asamoah. He also did well on 14 special teams reps and had a tackle. Nevertheless, Keys also seems like a long shot to unseat the others.
Which brings us to Chaz Chambliss. He’s on the edge rusher depth chart but has also been getting reps at off-ball linebacker. This is the preferred versatility Brian Flores is looking for in his edge rushers as he looks to have Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner in the edge rusher/off-ball linebacker role to confuse offenses. Chambliss brings this versatility in the same 6’2”, 250 pound body as Richter and Keys and King. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Flores to keep Chambliss on the inside linebacker depth chart, who graded well in all phases of defense at Georgia last year.
Chambliss missed the first few days of training camp with an injury, but has been given a lot of reps since then. And he had 31 reps defensively on Saturday and another 13 on special teams. He was the highest graded linebacker defensively (edging out Austin Keys) according to PFF and also graded above average on special teams.
I wouldn’t say Chambliss is necessarily the front runner in this competition, but he does offer the versatility Flores is after and also looks like he could be a quality special teamer.
Punt Returner/WR5: Silas Bolden vs. Myles Price vs. Lucky Jackson
With Rondale Moore likely out for the season, the punt returner job suddenly opens up.
Silas Bolden might have the inside track at the moment, but I think he needs to inspire more confidence from the coaching staff and he needs to demonstrate an explosive punt return like he did in college. At this point he’s got a couple muffs on tape in practice and doesn’t have anything else of note as a punt returner, so his hold on the position is very slight and still mostly based on his college tape rather than what he’s done in purple.
During Monday’s practice, Ben Goessling reported that Myles Price and Lucky Jackson were fielding Oscar Chapman punts, while Silas Bolden and Jalen Nailor were doing the same from the punt machine. My guess is that these are the four candidates for the punt returner job, with Nailor probably last on the list.
I’d keep an eye on Myles Price in this competition. The Vikings acquired Silas Bolden, Rondale Moore, and Myles Price primarily to compete to be a more dynamic punt returner than they’ve had the last several years. I’d be surprised if Lucky Jackson beats them out in that respect or even Jalen Nailor. Bolden may be the most dynamic of the bunch, but if he proves to be unreliable, Price may have a golden opportunity to make the roster.
Price averaged 12.6 yards per punt return last season at Indiana, which was second-best in the FBS for the 2025 draft class. Silas Bolden averaged 10.5 yards per punt return, but also had 3 muffs. I’m not aware of any punt return stats for Lucky Jackson- he didn’t return any punts in college or in the UFL that I can see. He’s also been an ancillary guy in training camp fielding punts. Jackson is also 28, which is a negative factor for him making the roster over a younger guy.
Price hasn’t been talked about much since he was acquired by the Vikings, but he hasn’t really made any noticeable mistakes, either in training camp or in Saturday’s game, where he had two receptions- one for a TD. He gets targeted here and there in training camp and I’m not aware of any drops he’s had at this point. Kind of a sneaky, under-the-radar possibility to make the roster as the punt returner and who may also have some value on the kick return team and as a backup wide receiver. He ran a 4.41” 40.
Backup Swing Tackle: Walter Rouse vs. Leroy Watson
It looks like Justin Skule will be the primary swing tackle for the Vikings, or at least the backup at left tackle. Behind Skule, however, there is a battle brewing between Rouse and Watson. Both played well on Saturday. This is probably Rouse’s job to lose, but Watson is proving to be a tougher competitor than anticipated. Logan Brown had a mixed performance on just 19 reps on Saturday- good pass blocking, not so much in run blocking. But very small sample size skew grades. It may be that the Vikings are looking to sneak Brown onto the practice squad.
Backup Guard: Henry Byrd vs. Joe Huber
Byrd has been a practice squad guy for the Vikings last season and has excellent size and athleticism for the guard spot. But rookie UDFA Joe Huber is getting an extended look in both training camp and in Saturday’s preseason game. He had an elite 94.7 overall PFF grade on 55 snaps but needs to get stronger to have a chance at elite grades against first-team competition. Still, he’s a competitor with solid technique and a wrestling background that can be helpful with balance, leverage, and hand fighting. My guess is that he’s a good bet to make the roster as a backup guard. He’s played a season at both guard spots, another at right tackle, and even a handful of snaps at center.
Byrd looks a little bigger than Huber to me, although they’re both listed as the same size. But Byrd is also a little less consistent than Huber at this point but still did fine on Saturday.
I’m guessing the Vikings keep Blake Brandel as the primary guard veteran backup, although I wouldn’t say he’s had a good or standout training camp at this point. It may also be that the Vikings are giving extended reps to Byrd and Huber to see if they really need Brandel or not. He’s a $3.9 million cap hit and maybe the Patriots would be interested in his services as they’re starting a 3rd round rookie at left guard at the moment. They’ll get a chance to see him in person on Wednesday and Thursday and if they like Garrett Bradbury as their starting center, they should love Brandel at left guard. Dalton Risner is still out there too.
TE3: Ben Yurosek vs. Giovanni Ricci, Bryson Nesbit, Nick Vannett
My sense is that Yurosek is becoming the clear front runner in this competition, and Nesbit and Vannett are long shots at best to gain the TE3 spot. Ricci has his moments, but is inconsistent and not much upside at this point. Vannett had a decent game on Saturday, but his long history as a mediocre journeyman is well established and at 32 he’s not getting any better. Yurosek has upside and also had a decent game on Saturday.
Punter/Holder: Ryan Wright vs. Oscar Chapman
My sense is that Chapman may have the edge as the better punter overall with higher upside at this point, but that isn’t going to matter if he can’t get in a groove as a holder with Will Reichard. Reichard hasn’t been as accurate with Chapman as the holder and if that doesn’t change there really isn’t much of a chance for Chapman to make the roster. They may attempt to get him on the practice squad and in time he could beat out Wright, but for now Chapman’s chances hinge primarily on his ability as a holder.
S4: Jay Ward vs. Tavierre Thomas
I get the sense that after keeping five safeties on the roster last season, the Vikings will go back to keeping four on the roster this season as Josh Metellus won’t see as many snaps at linebacker or slot corner as he did last season, given that Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner may see more snaps at off-ball linebacker and Byron Murphy Jr. may see more snaps at slot corner- or maybe another defensive back too.
That backdrop, if accurate, sets the stage for a battle for the last spot on the safety depth chart. I’ve previously thought Jay Ward was safe as the fourth safety, but with Tavierre Thomas playing safety (and being an ace core special teamer last season), that puts Ward’s status in doubt. Ward was an above average core special teamer last season, but hasn’t seen the field much as a safety and mostly in mop-up roles.
He was given a lot of reps at safety on Saturday (41), but none on special teams, which was a bit curious. He didn’t grade well at safety (42.4 overall grade). Ward is built more like a cornerback than a safety but without the desired athleticism. He was known at LSU for his football IQ and was always around the ball, but he hasn’t had many opportunities to be around the ball since being drafted. And former sixth-round pick Theo Jackson has passed him on the depth chart (Ward was a fourth-round pick). Ward wasn’t particularly good at the gunner/vice jobs on special teams last year as Matt Daniels cycled through a number of players at those positions last season. Those jobs will likely go elsewhere this season- probably to Thomas, Okudah, Blackmon, and Felton primarily. So if all that happens, that could leave Ward without a clear role.
Thomas has versatility as a slot corner, where he played well for three seasons in Houston, and has value as a safety and core special teamer- probably more so than Ward on both counts. Thomas is an older player at 29, but if Ward isn’t able to carve out a role for himself and Thomas does, that should be enough for Thomas to gain the last roster spot at safety over Ward.
Bottom of the CB Depth Chart: Dwight McGlothern, Reddy Steward, Zemaiah Vaughn, Ambry Thomas
I wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that Reddy Steward was listed as third-string on the Vikings’ initial depth chart- ahead of Zemaiah Vaughn who was fifth-string. Sometimes the Vikings’ initial depth chart can be based as much on seniority when it comes to depth players, so I tend to look at them as the ‘beginning of training camp’ depth chart rather than the current depth chart. Nevertheless, Reddy Steward doesn’t have any real seniority or draft or contract status that would push him up the depth chart so it was curious to see him on the third string with Dwight McGlothern when he didn’t appear to be getting many reps or really standing out in training camp.
Steward is a slot corner and tied with Tavierre Thomas above for the fourth-best overall PFF grade among defensive players on Saturday (76.5). He still didn’t play a lot (he only had 11 snaps) and didn’t play on special teams. He graded well in preseason last season with the Bears (69.8) but it would seem the Vikings would want to see him more often in practice and in preseason as the potential sixth cornerback on the roster. The Vikings have also been giving Mekhi Blackmon some reps in the slot behind Byron Murphy Jr., so the Vikings may be gauging whether another slot cornerback is good enough to allow Murphy to play more or only outside cornerback.
But all that makes the back end of the cornerback depth chart a bit murky. It seems like they may keep six cornerbacks on the roster, which would leave McGlothern, Steward, and Vaughn (who I place ahead of Keenan Garber) competing for the last two cornerback spots.
At the moment I think McGlothern is likely to get one of them, but he’s not a roster lock either. Ambry Thomas is still competing as well and really all of the corners on the back end of the depth chart did fairly well on Saturday and there wasn’t a lot to differentiate them. At the moment it would appear Reddy Steward has the advantage, but a lot could change over the next couple of weeks.
QB3: Brett Rypien vs. Max Brosmer
Neither Rypien or Brosmer have been all that good in training camp prior to Saturday’s preseason game, but Brosmer looked better outside of two turnover-worthy plays- the fumble and throw behind Bolden that should have been intercepted. Rypien was slow to deliver the ball and faced pressure as a result. Brosmer seemed a little more poised in the pocket and deserves credit for engineering the touchdown drive, albeit with a turnover-worthy pass mixed in.
The question for the Vikings going forward is will Brosmer be able to avoid the turnovers to be a more viable QB3 on the field than Rypien, and is Brosmer on track to learn the scheme and operate all of it well enough to keep the Vikings competitive if he’s called upon.
I suspect the answer is that Brosmer will get there eventually, but won’t be there on week one, or by the bye week, but hopefully by the end of the season. Is that good enough? The reality is that if McCarthy went down for extended time the Vikings would add a veteran backup who would probably become the new backup over Brosmer this season, so maybe it doesn’t matter that much if Brosmer isn’t 100% ready this season.
In any case, Brosmer’s chances of being QB3 were helped on Saturday given the relative performance of him and Rypien. Of course the X-factor when it comes to QB3 is also which quarterbacks are released at the end of the month and whether any of those look better than Rypien or Brosmer.
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