Today is probably the most tense day for NFL players — it’s when all NFL teams must cut down to their final 53-man rosters. Every team in the league must cut about a third of the players who’ve been in training camp and playing in preseason games.
Some of the open questions for the Vikings were resolved yesterday with the trade of Sage Rosenfels and Darius Reynaud to the New York Giants. The quarterback situation is now clear, and including Reynaud in the deal implies that the team feels that Percy Harvin will be healthy enough to return kicks this season (still a question about who’ll be the punt returner). Other areas of interest are almost all competition for backup and special teams roles: the Vikings got all their 2009 starting players back this season, and most of them will continue to hold their top slots for the start of the 2010 season.
The sportswriters at the Pioneer Press put together their predictions on the Vikings final roster before the news broke about the trade with the Giants. Aside from that I think it’s a pretty good guess.
After the trade, the Vikings may try to bring in a cornerback to shore up that position (with two starting-quality players injured, they lack depth for the first few games of the season). It may also mean a stay of execution for one of the receivers not listed in the Pioneer Press, like Taye Biddle or Logan Payne (assuming that Javon Walker has made enough of an impression to stick with the final team).
Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins also provide their best guesses at who’ll still be with the team after 5:00 Central time today. As you’d expect, they generally agree with the Pioneer Press predictions, with a few minor points of difference.
Update: With 90 minute left before the deadline here are the players reported waived or released at the Star Tribune blog:
- DeAndre Wright, CB
- Garrett Mills, TE. A bit of a surprise here, as Mills is a solid receiver.
- Ryan D’Imperio, FB. Late draft choice, hopefully he’ll make it onto the practice squad.
- Marcus Sherels, CB. Another possible practice squad player if he makes it through waivers.
- Tremaine Johnson, DT.
- Thomas Austin, OL.
- Ian Johnson, RB.
- Chris Clark, OT. His goose may have been cooked by letting a couple of defensive linemen get past him for sacks in the preseason games.
- Freddie Brown, WR.
- Logan Payne, WR. A bit surprised he didn’t stick, but he should make the practice squad.
- Mike Montgomery, DE.
- Adrian Battles, LG.
- Rhys Lloyd, K. Signed with high hopes of improving the number of touchbacks, but only managed
onetwo during the preseason. - Javon Walker, WR. I thought he’d salvaged his position in the last preseason game. He’s a veteran, so he’s not eligible for signing to the practice squad.
- Drew Radovich, LT.
- Colt Anderson, S.
- Patrick Brown, OT.
- Marquis Hamilton, WR.
- Nate Triplett, LB.
- Taye Biddle, WR.
