The Vikings’ Roster Maintenance Continues as 2 Players Get Shown the Door
The Vikings’ roster is a living and breathing organism, constantly adjusting and adapting to the needs of the season.
Accordingly, the recent update about subtracting a pair of players shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The team’s official social media provided the update. Depth center Vershon Lee alongside veteran tight end Nick Vannett were both subtracted from Minnesota’s roster, suggesting that help is soon to arrive for the team more broadly.
The Vikings’ Roster Maintenance Update
First, a brief word to clarify the precise nature of Minnesota’s moves.
Consider what got said: “The #Vikings have waived G Vershon Lee and released TE Nick Vannett.” Astute readers will see that the words are different for each player; Lee has been waived while Vannett has been released. In other words, Lee — a young fella — is going to pass through waivers, meaning an NFL team can claim him. Meanwhile, Vannett — a well established veteran — can freely choose his next step since the NFL’s teams can’t scoop him up in a similar manner.
On an individual level, the decision to move on is bad news for Vershon Lee and Nick Vannett. On a team level, the decision to move on is good news. After all, the suggestion is that players are getting healthy.
In moving on, the Vikings’ roster sees a pair of spots opened up. Minnesota can respond by filling those openings, moving the team from the current 51 players up to the capacity of 53.
In particular, there’s the possibility of activating Blake Cashman off the IR. Putting the top linebacker back into the mix is going to be a major boost, better allowing Brian Flores to get creative and multiple.
So, too, could rookie edge rusher Tyler Batty get tossed into the lineup. Expecting the rookie UDFA to be someone who moves mountains would be foolish. Instead, the Vikings may gain someone who can be sturdy in the trenches, helping to clog running lanes. He’s a huge guy, even among NFL players.
Seeing players such as center Michael Jurgens, left guard Donovan Jackson, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, tight end Ben Yurosek, and/or right tackle Brian O’Neill step onto the field again doesn’t do anything to the roster. None of these players were shuffled to the IR, meaning the team carried them on the 53-man roster while they recovered.
Once healthy, it’s simply putting them in shoulder pads (a helmet, too) and allowing them to step into normal jobs.
Nick Vannett has the nickname Baby Gronk. He stands at 6’5″ and weighs 257 pounds. Sitting on 0 catches for 0 yards in 2025, Vannett has been leaned on for 4 snaps on offense alongside 20 snaps on special teams.
Vershon Lee hasn’t been involved a ton, spending most of his time on the practice squad. He did, however, get tossed into the mix for 4 snaps on specials. Seeing him retained in Minnesota won’t be surprising. He was leaned on in Week 5 due to the center depth being so depleted; quite possibly, the Vikings will look to keep developing him on the practice squad.
At 3-2, the Vikings are entering the bye as weary travellers who are happy to return to familiar shores. Getting several players back will function as a major boost.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
