2023 Vikings Roster Cuts Tracker
The Minnesota Vikings have officially wrapped up their preseason, and that means we are in the thick of cut season.
This post will serve as a tracker for all the Vikings cuts as they happen, so be sure to check back on a regular basis for all the updated news.
2023 Vikings Roster Cuts
LB Tanner Vallejo
The Vikings first move of their cutdown process was to release LB Tanner Vallejo. The linebacker played in the Vikings final preseason game versus the Cardinals, appearing in 31 defensive snaps and recording 2 tackles. Now, he will look to land on a new team heading into the regular season.
LB Wilson Huber and OT Jarrid Williams
Shortly after releasing Vallejo, the Vikings also cut ties with both LB Wilson Huber and OT Jarrid Williams. Williams joined the team prior to their first preseason game. He appeared in the first and third exhibition games for the Vikings, appearing in 51 snaps over the course of the two games. He allowed three pressures and a sack in pass protection.
As for Huber, Minnesota added him as an undrafted free agent this spring. He was a teammate of Ivan Pace’s at Cincinnati, but Pace very quickly rose up the depth chart, limiting Huber’s opportunities. While in Minnesota, Huber played all three preseason games and appeared in 89 defensive snaps, amassing 9 tackles. 7 of those tackles came on Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Vikings Trade Vederian Lowe to the Patriots
A third move happened on Sunday evening when the Vikings traded OT Vederian Lowe to the New England Patriots. Lowe was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and is officially the first Kwesi Adofo-Mensah draft pick to leave the team. He appeared in all three preseason games for Minnesota this summer and performed very well, so this is an interesting move by the team.
DT Calvin Avery
The Vikings made another cut on Monday morning by releasing DT Calvin Avery. Like Lowe, Avery spent his collegiate days playing for the Illinois Fighting Illini and played five seasons in the program. He joined the Vikings this spring as part of the team’s UDFA class and should be considered a candidate to make the practice squad this season.
11 New Cuts
On Monday morning, the Vikings announced a large group of moves, including the release of 15 players.
The list of players who were released includes the four players whom we already knew about (Tanner Vallejo, Wilson Huber, Jarrid Williams, and Calvin Avery) while adding 11 new releases. This group of released players includes:
- CB Kalon Barnes
- CB C.J. Coldon
- OT Christian DiLauro
- CB Jameson Houston
- WR Garett Maag
- RB Abram Smith
- OL Josh Sokol
- QB Jordan Ta’amu
- TE Colin Thompson
- LB Jake Gervase
- CB Tay Gowan (injury designation)
A Pair of DTs Get Cut Monday Night
Late Monday night, the Minnesota Vikings cut both Ross Blacklock and Sheldon Day. Blacklock was acquired via trade last summer from the Houston Texans and played 11 games for the Vikings last season. As for Day, he has been an NFL journeyman since being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
WR Trishton Jackson
The Minnesota Vikings have waived WR Trishton Jackson. The receiver has been in the Vikings organization since he was signed onto the practice squad in 2021, but he is yet to make his regular season NFL debut. He may be a candidate for the practice squad once again.
OL Alan Ali and OLB Luiji Vilain
Both Alan Ali and Luiji Vilain were waived on Tuesday ahead of the cutdown deadline. Especially in the case of Vilain, the move was a surprising one. Hopefully, both players can be retained on the practice squad.
WR Thayer Thomas
The Vikings cut WR Thayer Thomas on Tuesday. The undrafted free agent was in the mix for the punt return spot for awhile, but that position now seems to belong to Brandon Powell unless another move happens in the coming days.
CB Joejuan Williams
Joejuan Williams was another surprising cut on Tuesday considering their youth in the secondary. Despite a lack of starting experience, Williams’ 36 games of NFL experience was by far the second-most in the Vikings CB room behind Byron Murphy. Now, that title belongs to Akayleb Evans, who played 10 games during his rookie season of 2022.
DE Esezi Otomewo
Another Kwesi Adofo-Mensah draft pick leaves the Vikings as the team cuts Esezi Otomewo. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Minnesota. With the move, Jonathan Bullard and Jaquelin Roy both seem safe.
RB DeWayne McBride
In their latest move, the Vikings waived their seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, DeWayne McBride. The running back scored two touchdowns during the preseason and should be back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Final Wave
The Vikings made one last wave of cuts right at the deadline, pushing them to 53 players. Here is the full list:
- RB Aaron Dykes
- WR Blake Proehl
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Jacob Copeland
- TE Ben Sims
- IOL Jack Snyder
- DL T.J. Smith
- OLB Benton Whitley
- LB Troy Reeder
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- CB Jaylin Williams
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.