Vikings announce cuts to pare roster to 53 players

The Vikings kept seven receivers and eleven defensive linemen – most ever by Mike Zimmer at the positions – as they announced cuts to get the official player roster down to the required 53 players ahead of next week’s season opener.

Players cut today could be re-signed to join the practice squad and further cuts are a virtual certainty considering the 53-man roster currently includes only two safeties (Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris).

Click here to see the full 53-man active roster on the Vikings official website

Notable among the cuts is 6-year veteran offensive lineman Brett Jones. With several players shuffling on the offensive line this offseason, Jones was the odd man out.

Fellow veteran lineman Aviante Collins, who has 4 years of experience, was the second-most tenured player cut.

The Vikings head into the season with just two active quarterbacks – Kirk Cousins and Sean Mannion. Rookie Nate Stanley and second-year Jake Browning were both cut but are likely candidates for the practice squad.

Many thought Alexander Hollins had a solid chance to make the 53-man. He was on the active roster late last season and has shown flashes of talent, but it figures Chad Beebe beat him out for the final spot in a crowded receivers’ room.

Reciever Quartney Davis also was among those cut. The Vikings paid Davis a relatively large sum to bring him into camp as an undrafted free agent.

On the other hand, there are success stories. Undrafted free agent Dan Chisena survived the initial roster cut-down. He’s shifted between receiver and safety on the official roster, but figures to make his mark on special teams. Chisena only caught 3 passes in college at Penn State, but was a track star and should have a chance to shine on special teams.

5th round pick K.J. Osborn is also among the seven receivers retained. He’s in line to return kicks and punts.

Position breakdown of #Vikings 53-man roster:

•QB: 2
•RB: 4
•FB: 1
•WR: 7*
•TE: 3
•OL: 9
•DL: 11*
•LB: 5
•DB: 8 (6CB / 2S)
•ST: 3

* = most under Zimmer

PLACED ON RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP):
NO. …. PLAYER ……………………… POS…EXP. ………… COLLEGE
42 ……. Ben Gedeon …………………. LB…….. 4 ……………… Michigan
CONTRACT TERMINATED, VESTED VETERAN:
NO. …. PLAYER ……………………… POS…EXP. ………… COLLEGE
61 ……. Brett Jones …………………….. C…….. 6 ….. Regina (Canada)
WAIVED:
NO. …. PLAYER ……………………… POS…EXP. ………… COLLEGE
40 ……. Jake Bargas………………….. FB……. R ……… North Carolina
64 ……. Blake Brandel …………………. T……. R ……….. Oregon State
3 ……… Jake Browning ……………… QB…….. 1 …………. Washington
34 ……. Nevelle Clarke ………………. CB……. R ……………………. UCF
76 ……. Aviante Collins ……………… G/T…….. 4 ……………………. TCU
14 ……. Quartney Davis …………….. WR……. R ………….. Texas A&M
86 ……. Brandon Dillon ………………. TE…….. 1 ………………… Marian
46 ……. Myles Dorn (Injured) ………… S……. R ……… North Carolina
32 ……. Mark Fields II ………………… CB…….. 1 ……………… Clemson
87 ……. Nakia Griffin-Stewart ………. TE……. R ……………. Pittsburgh
68 ……. Kyle Hinton …………………….. G……. R ……………. Washburn
15 ……. Alexander Hollins ………….. WR…….. 1 ……… Eastern Illinois
63 ……. Jake Lacina ……………………. C……. R ….. Augustana (S.D.)
48 ……. Blake Lynch ………………….. LB……. R …………………. Baylor
26 ……. Nate Meadors ……………….. CB…….. 1 …………………. UCLA
44 ……. Josh Metellus ………………….. S……. R ……………… Michigan
13 ……. Dillon Mitchell ………………. WR…….. 1 ……………….. Oregon
60 ……. David Moa ……………………. DT……. R ………….. Boise State
37 ……. Steven Parker …………………. S…….. 2 ……………. Oklahoma
57 ……. David Reese II ………………. LB……. R ………………… Florida
7 ……… Nate Stanley ………………… QB……. R ………………….. Iowa