Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster

The Vikings have finalized their initial 53-man roster, cutting 35 players among these transactions:

Released:

• DT Jonathan Harris
• P Johnny Hekker
• DT Isaiahh Loudermilk
• S Tavierre Thomas

Waived/injured:

• CB Marcus Allen
• OLB Kenny Dyson
• WR Dontae Fleming
• RB Jermar Jefferson
• TE Bryson Nesbit
• LB Jacob Roberts

Waived:

• CB Da’Veawn Armstead
• WR Michael Briscoe
• G Henry Byrd
• WR Terrill Davis
• C Gavin Gerhardt
• G Joshua Gray
• S Kahlef Hailassie
• CB Tre Hawkins
• LB Bangally Kamara
• TE Marshall Lang
• TE Matt Lauter
• G Vershon Lee
• OL Tristan Leigh
• OL Delby Lemieux
• CB Bryce Phillips
• OL Tomas Rimac
• DT Jahvaree Ritzie
• LB Josh Ross
• WR Trayvon Rudolph
• WR Marcus Sanders Jr.
• RB Zavier Scott
• OLB Cam’Ron Stewart
• DT Smith Vilbert
• CB Jarod Washington

Waived (with injury settlement):

• CB Dwight McGlothern Jr.

Placed on IR (designated to return):

• C Michael Jurgens

Placed on IR:

• OLB Tyler Batty

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

• WR Jeshaun Jones

The Vikings will keep four quarterbacks on the roster with three former top 10 picks — Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, and J.J. McCarthy — joined by undrafted second-year passer Max Brosmer. The team’s backup center, Jurgens, will miss at least four games before he might be able to return to the active roster. The team saw an undrafted rookie make the team in wide receiver Dillon Bell. The Georgia pass catcher joins a group led by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings.

Bell’s fellow undrafted rookie out of Georgia, punter Brett Thorson, will be the Vikings punter for 2026 after beating out veteran Johnny Hekker. Thorson won the NCAA’s Ray Guy Award last year for the nation’s best punter. He joins kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola in the special teams battery.

Minnesota had a third undrafted rookie make the team on defense. Former James Madison rookie safety Jacob Thomas really impressed throughout camp and will join rookie third-round pick Jakobe Thomas in the Vikings secondary, pushing out the veteran Tavierre Thomas. After a minimal role as a undrafted rookie last year, Batty was expected to be a key rotational player on the defense this year, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Unfortunately, a torn ACL suffered in the team’s final preseason contest will force him to miss the entire season.