Minnesota Vikings News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Multiple Minnesota Vikings are in danger of losing their roster spot after surprise training camp performances

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 6:42 PM ET

When it comes to Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah building out the 53-man roster, it's going to be a tough process.

Most of us have heard about boy math and girl math, but let me introduce you roster math. Once you get to the last few roster spots, it's about figuring out if it's best to maximize the roster with a combination of the practice squad, financial burden, and draft pick investment. Overall talent doesn't always mean they make the roster, but a great performance could force some difficult decisions that weren't likely beforehand.

There are quite a few Vikings who could lose their roster spot because of impressive performances, and they've already lost one in linebacker Brian Asamoah II.

QB Brett Rypien

The backup quarterback battle has been one of the bigger storylines of training camp. Sam Howell was traded for to be the backup quarterback, but it was meant to be a competition with Rypien. What nobody expected was it to also be a competition with UDFA Max Brosmer

Rypien is someone who is reminiscent of head coach Kevin O'Connell. He's got the mind and aptitude to play quarterback, but the arm talent isn't there to be successful at the NFL level. With Brosmer showing he deserves to be on the roster, Rypien is a likely member of the practice squad, and will be able to make it there easier than Brosmer.

Reps like this are great to see from Max Brosmer. Goes through his progressions and rips a missile to the back of the end zone for a touchdown pic.twitter.com/HQl3xwK1tZ
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) August 12, 2025

RB Ty Chandler

Backup running back has been a tough spot over the course of O'Connell's tenure. In each of the last two years, they have traded for Cam Akers. This year, that is likely not the case, as they have both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.

Where things look interesting is the third running back spot. Chandler was that guy last season, but he's being crept up on by Zavier Scott, who's been excellent during training camp. The one saving grace that Chandler has is the fact that he's an elite special teams player, but it might not be enough.

FB C.J. Ham

Fullback feels like a lost art in the National Football League. Ham has been with the Vikings since 2016 and has been on the active roster since 2017. He's earned his way to being a captain for the Vikings because of his work on special teams. However, his job could be in jeopardy.

This preseason, the Vikings have been using a lot more tight ends in the backfield instead of having a fullback. That kind of versatility is good from a roster math standpoint, and moving on from Ham would save the Vikings $2.75 million on the salary cap. Would it be good from a team chemistry standpoint? That's the big question.

DT Taki Taimani

Last year during training camp, two young defensive tackles stood out in a big way with both Taimani and Jalen Redmond playing so well that the Vikings were forced to keep both. Each player ended up playing a major role on the defensive line during the season.

This year, Levi Drake Rodriguez looks much improved, and the likes of Elijah Williams and fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins have both impressed during camp. Taimani had a good game against the Patriots on Saturday, but it might not be enough with how deep this position group is.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: