EAGAN, Minn. — This is the time of year when the phones start to buzz. Roster cuts are coming. Every team has excess somewhere and a dearth of talent somewhere else.
The Minnesota Vikings enter Friday night’s final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans with plenty of decisions to make. They need receivers. The punt and kick returner situations remain a concern. The backup quarterback is not a lock. Ryan Wright is by no means a guarantee at punter.
Who is on the bubble? Which players need to perform well Friday night to find themselves on the right side of the cut line? Here are 11 names:
Hittin’ the road for the final preseason game pic.twitter.com/Zy6lxN2PVa
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 21, 2025
Ty Chandler, RB
He is one of the two remaining Vikings draft picks from 2022 — Jalen Nailor is the other. His juice as a runner is undeniable, and teammates have raved about his explosiveness and burst for several years.
It’s more a matter of everything else coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense asks of a running back. How well can he pass protect? How trustworthy is he as a pass catcher? Can he master the ins and outs of the scheme? Those are the areas where Chandler has lacked.
His kick returner potential keeps him in play. But the Vikings could view fellow running back Zavier Scott as a more viable candidate, especially with his size and receiving skills. Like many of the other names on this list, other teams would have interest in Chandler if he were to become available.
Lucky Jackson, WR
If the show “Hard Knocks” were in Minnesota, it’d feature Jackson. Not too long ago, he was starring in the XFL for the DC Defenders. Before that, he played for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League.
He was the leader in the clubhouse for a depth receiver position, then he dropped two passes last Saturday against the New England Patriots. Can he recover with a nice showing Friday night? It’s a tall order.
Tim Jones, WR
Behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Nailor, the most experienced receiver on the roster is Jones. He has caught 17 career passes. That’s a good snapshot of the current lack of veteran presence in the receiver room.
Jones started slowly but has been more reliable in recent weeks, especially working with quarterback Max Brosmer and the third unit. He was signed for his special teams prowess, but that might not save him considering how much of a priority it is to find some pass-catching receivers.
Elijah Williams, DT
Defensive backs coach Daronte Jones spotted him at a workout at Morgan State. The news spread to the rest of the defensive staff and the front office. The Vikings brought him in, and he has impressed from the outset.
Squint and you’ll see a player with a potential Jalen Redmond arc: undrafted, given a shot, developed. He can move horizontally, and he has some weight to his hands as a pass rusher. The Vikings don’t like to lose players with upside like his.
Taki Taimani, DT
He is often forgotten on the Vikings’ loaded defensive line. Maybe it’s because he was an undrafted signing last year. Perhaps it’s a byproduct of his skill set: He’s a run stopper. His 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame is unique on the Vikings.
Do they think they need a nose tackle type? If so, Taimani could play his way into a 53-man spot. If not, they could roll with the other six defensive linemen, including Williams.
Kahlef Hailassie, S
During Wednesday’s final training camp practice, Hailassie filled in with the first team alongside Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus. This was because of Harrison Smith’s absence due to illness. Still, it’s relevant.
The Vikings switched him from cornerback to safety early in training camp. The staff saw his versatility and smarts. Waive him, and another team could scoop him up. Keep him, and the safety room, which also contains former fourth-rounder Jay Ward, would be packed.
Myles Price, WR
Who is going to be returning kicks and punts for the 2025 Vikings? It’s a question without a definitive answer. Price staked his claim last Saturday for the role, but then he dropped another return on Wednesday.
Minnesota cannot afford to lose games on special teams, so betting on Price would be bold. The Vikings could also sift through the waiver wire for potential returner signings.
Dwight McGlothern, CB
Consistency. It’s the word defensive coordinator Brian Flores used multiple times when asked about McGlothern a couple of weeks ago. Flores wanted more. McGlothern hasn’t been perfect, but he did replace Jeff Okudah on the outside when Okudah left Wednesday’s practice.
McGlothern’s ball skills keep him in play. But the Vikings could benefit from more reliable backup options.
Zemaiah Vaughn, CB
The Vikings tend to lean toward undrafted players at the bottom of the roster. They’re hungry. They can be developed.
Vaughn is a Utah product who was a high school quarterback and has only been playing corner for five years. Other teams eyed him in the undrafted portion of free agency, and some are monitoring the Vikings’ decision now. Minnesota could opt for the size and trajectory with him over a player like McGlothern.
Joe Huber, OL
Like Vaughn, multiple NFL teams pursued Huber in undrafted free agency, but the Vikings won out. Huber, who played his college ball at Cincinnati and Wisconsin, has been reliable as a pass protector and run blocker.
The Vikings already have ample numbers in the offensive line room (nine, if we’re counting Justin Skule, Blake Brandel, Walter Rouse and Michael Jurgens), but the team could choose to keep another intriguing player with the potential to impact its depth.
Oscar Chapman, P
Can Chapman steal the spot from Wright? How he looks Friday night might answer that question. Wright has not had an exceptional training camp. That would be a minuscule data point, but he is emerging from two lackluster seasons.
Chapman, an undrafted signing from Australia by way of Auburn, hasn’t blown the doors off the place, either. He has, though, earned kicker Will Reichard’s trust as a holder. Put on a nice display, and the Vikings may have a new punter for the first time since 2021.
(Photo of Ty Chandler: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
