The Vikings Have Released Their First Unofficial 2022 Depth Chart
With their first preseason game now just four days away, the first unofficial Minnesota Vikings depth chart has been released. The Vikings will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Vegas on Sunday August 14th. Obviously, training camp is just getting underway, so this grouping of starters and backups is not set in stone by any means. However, there are a few interesting notes to take away. Let’s break this depth chart down.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1072383″ player=”26279″ title=”About%20the%20Vikings%20Achilles'%20Heel” duration=”820″ description=”Dustin Baker chats about the Vikings “Achilles’ Heel,” as described by ESPN.” uploaddate=”2022-08-09″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1072383_th_1660069204.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1072383.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Offense
QBs
- Starter: Kirk Cousins
- Backups: Kellen Mond OR Sean Mannion
RBs
- Starter: Dalvin Cook
- Backups: Alexander Mattison; Kene Nwangwu; Ty Chandler; Bryant Koback
FBs
- Starter: C.J. Ham
- Backup: Jake Bargas
WRs
- Starters: Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson
- Backups: K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette; Bisi Johnson and Myron Mitchell; Trishton Jackson OR Jalen Nailor and Dan Chisena; Albert Wilson; Thomas Hennigan and Blake Proehl (Active/PUP list)
TEs
- Starter: Irv Smith Jr.
- Backups: Johnny Mundt; Ben Ellefson; Zach Davidson; Nick Muse; Shaun Beyer
OTs
- Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Brian O’Neill (RT)
- Backups: Blake Brandel (LT) and Olisaemeka Udoh (RT); Vederian Lowe (LT) and Timon Parris (RT)
Cs/Gs
- Starters: Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C) and Jesse Davis (RG)
- Backups: Chris Reed (LG), Austin Schlottmann (C) and Ed Ingram (RG); Kyle Hinton (LG), Josh Sokol (C) and Wyatt Davis (RG)
It’s largely chalk in terms of starters the offensive side of the ball for now, but things could change soon. Garrett Bradbury is still listed as the starting center, but we shall see if that remains the case once the season arrives. Some emerging backups are Blake Brandel, who is currently listed as LT2, amd Myron Mitchell is WR6 ahead of guys like Dan Chisena, Jalen Nailor, and Albert Wilson.
Defense
DEs
- Starters: Dalvin Tomlinson, Armon Watts
- Backups: Jonathan Bullard and James Lynch; Jaylen Twyman and Esezi Otomewo; Jullian Taylor
DTs
- Starter: Harrison Phillips
- Backups: T.J. Smith; T.Y. McGill, Jr.; Tyarise Stevenson
OLBs
- Starters: Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith
- Backups: Pat Jones II and D.J. Wonnum; Luiji Vilain and Janarius Robinson; Andre Mintze and Zach McCloud
MLBs
- Starters: Eric Kendricks (MLB) and Jordan Hicks (WLB)
- Backups: Troy Dye (MLB) and Brian Asamoah II (WLB); Chazz Surratt (MLB) and Blake Lynch (WLB); Ryan Connelly (MLB — on Active/PUP list) and William Kwenkeu (WLB)
CBs
- Starters: Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler
- Backups: Chandon Sullivan and Andrew Booth, Jr.; Kris Boyd and Akayleb Evans; Parry Nickerson and Harrison Hand; Nate Hairston and Tye Smith
Ss
- Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum
- Backups: Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus; Myles Dorn and Mike Brown
Some may be upset to see first-round pick Lewis Cine listed as a backup right now, but let’s put a positive spin on this. Cine can still be a spectacular player, but Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum are just better right now. There’s nothing wrong with having three starting caliber safeties on the team, especially as Smith continues to get older.
Special Teams
K
- Starter: Greg Joseph
P/holders
- Starter: Jordan Berry
- Backup: Ryan Wright
LS
- Starter: Andrew DePaola
KRs
- Starter: Kene Nwangwu
- Backups: K.J. Osborn, Ty Chandler
PRs
- Starter: Smith-Marsette
- Backup: Jalen Nailor
The only true battle on special teams seems to be at punt returner. Ihmir Smith-Marsette has never fielded an NFL punt in his young career, but he is getting the first chance to win the job this weekend. Meanwhile Jalen Nailor, the self-proclaimed fastest dude on the team, looks like the second option for now. This limits the odds of veteran Albert Wilson making the final roster.