The Minnesota Vikings came up short against the Tennessee Titans on the road in the team’s final preseason game. The 13-23 loss wasn’t a complete loss for the purple and gold, since there were some things to be happy about.
The Titans played many of their starters on Friday, with the Vikings opting to sit their first team. Despite that, Minnesota had a competitive exhibition against Tennessee, which started No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at quarterback.
The loss means the Vikings will finish the preseason 1-3 with limited playing time for their starters. Fans will get a much better look at the team when they go to Chicago to take on the Bears in Week 1 of the regular season on Monday Night Football.
This was the final opportunity for some Minnesota Vikings players to make their case to be on the 53-man roster or practice squad. 53-man NFL rosters must be set by 3 pm CT on Tuesday, which means news of cuts will probably start rolling in soon.
Which Minnesota Vikings players excelled and who struggled against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 of the preseason?
Here are three Minnesota Vikings players who helped their cases to stick around on Friday, and two players who didn’t help their situation in the final preseason game.
Vikings winner No. 1: Levi Drake Rodriguez, defensive line
The surprise trade of Harrison Phillips to the Jets opens up opportunities for young defensive linemen. Levi Drake Rodriguez had two hits on the opposing quarterback, including a sack of quarterback Brandon Allen. He was already likely to be on the 53-man roster, but he likely solidified his spot in this game.
Vikings loser No. 1: Brett Rypien, quarterback
The Vikings have the option of carrying three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster if they want to hold on to more than two, but J.J. McCarthy is assured one of those spots. That means Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer are fighting for one, maybe two, sports. Rypien looked solid at first, but then his performance fell apart. He completed seven of his 14 passes for 62 yards but had a costly red zone interception on a tipped ball.
Vikings winner No. 2: Max Brosmer, quarterback
Rypien’s misfortune could help Max Brosmer’s case. The undrafted free agent quarterback looked good in this game, completing 15 of 23 passing attempts for 161 yards and a touchdown. He had another nice deep ball on a fourth down that looked beautiful, but it was dropped by Dontae Fleming, who otherwise led the team with two catches for 53 yards.
Vikings loser No. 2: Oscar Chapman, punter
Oscar Chapman didn’t punt at all during the Vikings’ preseason loss. He did act as a holder, but for now, it looks like the job will belong to Ryan Wright. It’s somewhat disappointing to have a competition end like this, but the good news is that Chapman will have a roster exemption thanks to the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Chapman looked capable during training camp and the preseason, so it is likely not the last we’ll see of him.
Vikings winner No. 3: Zavier Scott, running back
Another competition likely came to an end on Friday. The Minnesota Vikings wanted to make sure they got to see more from Zavier Scott, and he didn’t disappoint. The running back carried the ball five times for 28 yards while adding one catch for six yards. But he wasn’t done there. Scott also had a nice 29-yard kickoff return that adds even more value to putting him on the 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season.
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