Vikings roster bubble: 12 players who need to stand out in preseason opener vs. Texans

New York Times

2 days ago

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has never hidden his feelings about preseason games. It's not that he thinks they don't matter. He just doesn't view them as key evaluation points for the starters.
For the backups, though? It's an entirely different story. In past years, eventual members of the 53-man roster staked their claims on Saturday afternoons like this one against the Houston Texans.
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Who needs to show his stuff in the 2025 preseason opener? Here are 12 Vikings players, in order of their jersey number:
Moore is dynamic with the ball in his hands, and he's also shifty enough to get open. The questions lay everywhere else. Can he stay healthy for an extended period? And if he is healthy, how well has he picked up an offense more cumbersome than anything he experienced in college or during his first three NFL seasons? The Vikings' needs — receiver depth and someone to return punts — are big enough question marks to keep him in play. Saturday should present him with an opportunity to garner trust.
Asamoah has carved out a nice special teams role in recent years. Last season, he played 321 snaps there. His sideline-to-sideline burst has never been a question, but he hasn't found his footing on defense since Brian Flores became the coordinator. Rookie linebacker Kobe King adds a layer of competition. Asamoah is also in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Vikings could save nearly $1.5 million on the salary cap by parting with him.
J.J. McCarthy's performance Saturday will matter for optics more than anything else. Internally, the Vikings view this as a prime chance to practice the huddle operation, cadences and pre-snap checks. Howell, though, must impress. Minnesota needs to enter the season with a backup it can trust if needed in a pinch, and Howell hasn't inspired much faith through the first few weeks. The issue has not been his arm strength or layering, but rather his inefficiency operating an offense that asks the quarterbacks to go through reads. It hasn't helped that the Vikings' pass rush has been menacing, but if Howell is going to secure the backup spot, this is where he must start.
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Flores was asked last week about McGlothern, and the coach's answer revolved around consistency. McGlothern had made a few interceptions in consecutive days. Last year, he displayed sufficient ball skills to land on the 53-man roster. The cornerback room beyond Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah remains unproven. Mekhi Blackmon's involvement has increased in recent days, and undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn has received ample snaps with the No. 2 unit. McGlothern may make the team by sheer numbers, but he's going to have to earn it.
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Chandler's burst with the ball in his hands has never been a concern. His 23-carry, 132-yard performance in 2023 against the Cincinnati Bengals speaks for itself. For Chandler to establish himself as the No. 3 running back behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, he'll have to show a mastery of everything else: pass protection, pass catching and juice in the return game. He, too, is in the final year of his rookie contract. His departure could mean another $1.1 million saved.
The battle within Saturday's battle will be Chandler versus Scott. They've both taken plenty of snaps during training camp, and Scott has held his own. He doesn't have Chandler's top-end speed, but his receiving ceiling is higher. His path, in general, is fascinating. He was born in Vilseck, Germany, and attended college at UConn and Maine. The Colts scooped him up as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he has been with the Vikings since last season.
Richter being on this list is a nod to his productive training camp more than anything else. He became a key contributor on special teams last year. He'll likely continue in that role. It's more his pass-rushing explosiveness that has stood out of late. He executed a nasty spin move last week. He blazed off the line Wednesday. Flores won't reveal any of the schematic newness on Saturday, but it may not matter if Richter is impacting things the way he has on the practice field.
Few positions on Saturday are worth monitoring as closely as center. Veteran Ryan Kelly is the surefire starter, but his injury history places more importance on the backup options. Correll was an undrafted addition this spring. He played 51 games in college between Notre Dame and N.C. State. He has mostly been the third-team center in training camp, meaning he'll probably get a meaningful run alongside rookie quarterback Max Brosmer.
This is a massive weekend for Jurgens. The Vikings picked him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft. He struggled in the preseason last year, but another year marinating in the system should better prepare the Wake Forest product for his second go-around. If Kelly does not play Saturday, the Vikings will be relying on Jurgens for protection in front of McCarthy — a significant ask. Even if he's snapping to Howell, ensuring the pre-snap procedure runs smoothly will be critical.
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Jackson is the leader in the clubhouse for one of the receiver spots alongside Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton. This is his third year with the team. He arrived in 2023 after an exceptional season with the XFL's DC Defenders. His smarts and route-running technique have garnered respect among teammates and coaches. Jackson will be one of the featured receivers in Saturday's game. He may also return punts, which the Vikings toyed around with on Wednesday.
Last year, Jones leaked behind the Cleveland Browns defense and galloped 71 yards for a touchdown in the second preseason game. He isn't blazing fast on the perimeter, but his mold isn't too dissimilar from Jackson's. He knows the offense in his second season after the Vikings snagged him as an undrafted player from Maryland. His hands have been reliable throughout camp, and he should be targeted multiple times.
Because Jefferson hasn't practiced since the first couple of days with his left hamstring injury, Thomas may have the most 'wow'-inducing catches of anyone in camp. He impressed with a toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone last week. On Wednesday, he snatched a pass with one hand. He is like Jackson in that he's been here since 2023. Only so many preseason shots exist.
(Photo of Rondale Moore: Matt Krohn / Imagn Images)
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