Vikings Say Goodbye to 11 Players
On Tuesday, all 32 NFL teams have to get under the 53-player limit after spending the summer with 90. The Minnesota Vikings had 91 on the roster due to the roster exemption for punter Oscar Chapman, who doesn’t count towards the limit because of the International Pathway Program.
Vikings Say Goodbye to 11 Players
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah began on Sunday by parting ways with 11 players, the team announced.
2 Contracts Terminated
- OLB Cam Gill
- QB Brett Rypien
Among the released players are two veteran players. Quarterback Brett Rypien and linebacker Cam Gill had their contracts terminated, and because they have spent more than four years in the league, they count as veterans and do not have to go through the waiver process. Both players instantly become unrestricted free agents.
Rypien was part of a four-man quarterback group that was shaken up on Sunday. The Vikings added free agent Carson Wentz to be J.J. McCarthy’s backup, and Sam Howell was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Back to four players, another passer had to be axed.
Between Max Brosmer and Rypien, the rookie had the better preseason, and the franchise decided to go with him as QB3. Rypien is 29 years old and hopes to either get a chance elsewhere or get a spot on the practice squad.
Gill was acquired primarily for the preseason. A former Tampa Bay pass-rusher and special teamer was never a strong candidate to make the 53-man roster. He played in the final two preseason games.
9 Players Waived
- OL Zach Bailey
- DL Travis Bell
- WR Silas Bolden
- T Logan Brown
- CB Keenan Garber
- WR Robert Lewis
- S Mishael Powell
- CB Reddy Steward
- RB Tre Stewart
Perhaps the most noteworthy cut is offensive tackle Logan Brown. He was signed after the draft and received some buzz as potentially Adofo-Mensah’s next UDFA steal. In the preseason, however, he was buried on the depth chart, and there was little movement.
Silas Bolden was viewed as a potential punt returner, but he couldn’t claim that role. He was an explosive returner at the University of Texas, but his tiny frame was too much to overcome.
Tre Stewart is the first running back to be axed. The club still has top guys Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, as well as RB3 candidates Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott. Stewart was remarkably productive at Jacksonville State, but the NFL is a different animal.
Corner Reddy Steward has shown some flashes as a slot defender, but last year’s preseason standout (with the Bears) didn’t do enough to usurp the young backup group around Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, and Zemaiah Vaughn.
Zach Bailey is a former Vikings blocker who returned to provide depth for the final preseason game. Defensive tackle Travis Bell was part of the deep defensive line. The Vikings were his fourth NFL team.
Keenan Garber, Robert Lewis, and Mishael Powell are undrafted rookies and were long shots to make the team in their rookie seasons.
All these players have to go through waivers now. If they clear that process, they become unrestricted free agents. The Vikings could add them to the practice squad at that point.
There will be more roster cuts in the upcoming days, and some of them will be more surprising than those 11.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.