By admin 
The Vikings’ training camp has begun, and the main buzz surrounding the team has been about the quarterbacks, but there are a lot more competitions happening on this depth chart, the most dramatic of which are happening on the bubble. Down at the bottom of the 53-man roster where guys have to fight and scrap for final roster spots often battling three or four other guys often with entire careers on the line, these fights are the unsung storylines that encapsulate the intensity and intrigue of NFL training camps.
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The Vikings have numerous open questions at the bottom of the depth chart, with many battles shaping up to potentially make or break the seasons or even the careers of several NFL players or prospects. The Vikings have some positions that are pretty much set in stone, so we’ll focus mostly on the final roster spot for the more fluid positions of running back, tight end, offensive line, linebacker, safety and punter. This is how some of those fights are shaping up and who should be safe and who might be in danger.
Running backs
Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will share the rock as the primary ball-carriers this season, but as I’ve mentioned before, I believe Demond Claiborne is well positioned to not just make the team as RB3 but be an impactful contributor. That leaves Zavier Scott potentially in danger depending on whether the Vikings carry four running backs, which I would think would be unlikely given that they spent a fifth-round pick on rookie fullback Max Bredeson to replace C.J. Ham on this offense which is one of the few that still utilizes a fullback. If I had to wager a guess I would assume that the rookies Claiborne and Bredeson would bump Zavier Scott off the roster.
Tight ends
T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver are basically guaranteed roster spots, which leaves Ben Yurosek and Gavin Bartholomew likely fighting for the last tight end spot on the roster and that’s a battle that I would much rather be in Yurosek’s position rather than Bartholomew who will have to fight to prove that he belongs on the roster after spending last year on the practice squad.
Offensive linemen
After the starting line and third-round rookie Caleb Tiernan, who will likely act as the line’s sixth man this year, the roster gets a lot more uncertain. Ryan Van Demark, Walter Rouse, Joe Huber, Gavin Gerhardt and Michael Jurgens will all battle for two to three roster spots. I’m not aware if there’s anybody that currently has an advantage or disadvantage amongst this group but given previous performance and the dynamics of the roster, I wouldn’t want to be Walter Rouse or Michael Jurgens on this list.
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Linebackers
This group got a lot more complicated after the recent signing of Jamal Adams, but the front end of the depth chart remains the same, with Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson and second-round pick Jake Golday as the top three players at the position. Adams provides a veteran presence and the ability to play a versatile Josh Metellus-esque role, so I would think that he’s the most likely choice for LB4. Given Ivan Pace Jr.’s familiarity and success in the defense I would think that he has an inside track to convince the coaches/front office to carry five linebackers especially given Pace’s pass rush excellence and the Vikings’ glaring need for edge depth. Pace could end up moving to more of a pass rush specialist role this season. This would push free agent addition Jacob Roberts off the final 53-man roster.
Safeties
Former starter Theo Jackson should be sweating, especially if Harrison Smith returns for a final season. Jackson will likely fall below Metellus, Jay Ward and third-round pick Jakobe Thomas on the depth chart and have to fight veteran Tavierre Thomas for the final spot at the position. Of course, if Harrison Smith comes back, both Jackson and Thomas could be on the chopping block.
Punters
This is a good old-fashioned position battle between 35-year-old four-time Pro Bowler Johnny Hekker and undrafted free agent Brett Thorson. Given the trajectory of Hekker’s career and Thorson’s success at Georgia, I would say Thorson is the favorite and Hekker is the one who should be sweating.
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This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 9:14 AM.