All NFL teams have to cut their training camp rosters to 80 players by tomorrow, and to 53 players by Sunday. Most of the players waived in the first cut-down are third- and fourth-string players, but the players who survive the first cut will have one last chance to impress the coaches in the final preseason game. Today the Minnesota Vikings cut the following players:
- S Chris Adingupu
- G Conan Amituanai
- TE Ed Barham
- QB Rhett Bomar
- S Simeon Castille
- LB Jonathan Gilmore
- WR Andre Holmes
- LB Kyle O’Donnell
- K Nate Whitaker
- DT Colby Whitlock
There were no real surprises in this list, as Bomar was not given any playing time in the first three preseason games, indicating that the Vikings were not likely to retain him. Whitaker was mentioned as a possible “project” player for long-term development, but that was rendered unlikely with Longwell signing a multi-year deal.
NFL teams have to cut down to their 53 player regular season rosters in early September. Here’s my guesses about who makes the team as starters, who are the backups, and who the team is likely to try signing to their 10-man practice squad after the cut-down:
| Position | Starter(s) | Backups | Practice Squad |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | McNabb | Ponder, Webb | |
| WR | Berrian, Harvin, Jenkins | Camarillo (?), J. Johnson, Aromashodu | Arceneaux, Iglesias, S. Burton |
| RB | Peterson | Gerhart, Booker | Davis, Robinson |
| FB | D’Imperio (?) | Asiata | |
| TE | Shiancoe, Rudolph | Kleinsasser, Dugan | Reisner |
| OL | Loadholt (RT), Hutchinson (LG), Sullivan (C), Herrera (RG), C. Johnson (LT) | DeGeare, R. Cook, Cooper, Love | Brown, Fusco |
| DL | Robison (LE), Williams (UT), Ayodele (NT), J. Allen (RE) | Griffen, Ballard, Awasom, Guion, Reed | |
| LB | Greenway (S), E.J. Henderson (M), Erin Henderson (W) | Brinkley, Farwell, Onatolu | Homan |
| CB | Winfield, Griffin | C. Cook, Sherels, A. Allen (?) | Parks, Torrence, B. Burton |
| S | T. Johnson, Abdullah | Sanford, Brinkley, Frampton, Carter | Raymond |
| K | Longwell | ||
| P | Kluwe | ||
| LS | Loeffler | ||
| KR | J. Johnson* | ||
| PR | Booker* |
An asterisk indicates a special teams player already listed on the roster in another capacity. A question mark beside a name indicates that the player is probably “on the bubble” to make the team, and might not be eligible for the practice squad.
