Vikings Say Goodbye to 14 Players
The Minnesota Vikings and all other teams will axe a bunch of players until they finalize their 53-man roster on Tuesday. On Monday, with just over a day before the deadline arrives, the Vikings have made their first roster cuts, parting ways with 14 players, primarily depth pieces and camp bodies. But some names are notable.
Vikings Say Goodbye to 14 Players
Of those 14 players, 13 have been waived, the team announced on the official website.
- QB Matt Corral
- RB DeWayne McBride
- RB Mo Ibrahim
- TE Sammis Reyes
- TE Neal Johnson
- WR Justin Hall
- OL Chuck Filiaga
- OL Doug Nester
- OL Matt Cindric
- OL Spencer Rolland
- DL Tyler Manoa
- OLB Owen Porter
- CB Jaylin Williams
- CB A.J. Green (contract terminated)
Quarterback Matt Corral arrived in the Twin Cities ahead of the second preseason contest. With Sam Darnold on ice and J.J. McCarthy on IR, the Vikings needed another passer to take some reps behind Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall. Corral, a former third-rounder, played in two preseason games, but the results were underwhelming. With only a few days in the building, he was an underdog to make much noise, but it was time to end the experiment nevertheless.
Running back DeWayne McBride was selected in the seventh round in 2023 but has yet to make his NFL debut. He has failed to earn a roster spot in both preseasons, which is quite concerning considering Minnesota’s lack of depth at the position.
Fellow running back, Gophers legend Mo Ibrahim was brought in to take a handful of carries in the final preseason game, so his exit isn’t surprising.
Sammis Reyes is an international pathway player and didn’t count toward the 90-man roster. Neal Johnson is the second tight end off the team. He was acquired via waiver claim last week.
Just before Johnson, the Vikings signed former Raiders wideout Justin Hall. He caught a pass in the final preseason game, but like a few of the previous players, he wasn’t expected to stick around.
Among the four offensive linemen, Chuck Filiaga and Matthew Cindric were also signed exclusively for the final preseason game. Spencer Rolland and Doug Nester spent the entire training camp with the Vikings. They joined the club as undrafted free agents after the draft.
Defensive lineman Tyler Manoa got outplayed by fellow UDFA Taki Taimani. Cornerback Jaylin Williams failed to protect his spot in the lineup against the various new arrivals at the position. He was a practice squad player last season, but it remains to be seen if the Vikings want to repeat that.
Owen Porter might be the biggest surprise among the first wave of cuts, as the linebacker out of Marshall had a couple of decent preseason games and earned some buzz in training camp. He could be an intriguing candidate to return when the club finalizes the practice squad roster.
Cornerback A.J. Green had his contract terminated. Unlike the other 13 players, he is past his rookie contract after spending some years with the Browns. He is a true free agent now, avoiding the waiver process.
On Tuesday, the Vikings will part ways with another 24 players. Among those are usually some real surprises.
The Vikings Will be Making a Mistake if they Cut a Particular Player
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt