https://vikesnow.com/depth-chart/2026/vikings-53-man-roster-numbers-games/

5 Numbers Games That Will Determine the Vikings’ 53-Man Roster

The Minnesota Vikings will reveal their regular season roster in about two weeks – – after three preseason games. And while players on the bubble are ultra-fascinating, here’s a look at the math that accommodates those decisions.

The depth chart currently has 91 players; it will be trimmed to 53 before you know it.

Peep the Vikings’ Tricky Roster Math

3 or 4 Tight Ends?

Locks:
T.J. Hockenson | Josh Oliver

Wait and See:
Ben Yurosek | Gavin Bartholomew

This boils down to Yurosek versus Bartholomew. Yurosek is currently listed as the TE3 on the first 2026 depth chart, but Bartholomew has played wonderfully at training camp, and he missed his entire rookie season with a back injury. He actually feels like a rookie in 2026.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis tweeted last month, “Semi-random Vikings camp takeaway, but I thought TE Gavin Bartholomew looked really good. Made two impressive over the middle catches. Moved well. First time really seeing him out there after back injury happened last year.”

Minnesota will either keep four tight ends (five – – if one includes Max Bredeson) or the loser of Yurosek v. Bartholomew will hit the practice squad.

3 or 4 HBs?

Locks:
Aaron Jones | Jordan Mason

Wait and See:
Demond Claiborne | Zavier Scott

The Vikings usually keep three halfbacks – – and C.J. Ham at fullback. The aforementioned Bredeson will likely fill the FB role in 2026, but fans now wonder if the RB room will be four deep. If it is not, Claiborne versus Scott is the pressure point. Minnesota obviously won’t cut Claiborne, a promising rookie, so this really comes down to Scott.

Will Scott be relegated to the practice squad, or will head coach Kevin O’Connell keep four tailbacks?

Zone Coverage‘s Zac Scholl noted in July, “Scott and his tantalizing versatility in an offense can be a huge asset, and we saw some flashes of that last season. But that Swiss Army knife role might have some unexpected competition from another rookie. Like Claiborne, Dillon Bell is getting early hype, and he has experience playing running back.”

5 or 6 WRs?

Locks:
Justin Jefferson | Jordan Addison | Jauan Jennings | Tai Felton

Wait and See:
Myles Price | Jeshaun Jones | Dontae Fleming | Dillon Bell

Price is likely safe as the Vikings’ return man on kicks and punts. That would make five wide receivers. Keeping six is possible but rare in Vikings speak. When the dust settles, the WR room will probably be Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Felton, and Price, but there’s a chance that Jones, Fleming, or Bell sneak onto the depth chart.

O’Connell said about WR roster spots in June, “And that’s where special teams comes into play, where clearly Tai Felton and Myles Price have defined roles there. But what else and how else can we make this competitive?”

“We’ve got some young guys we’re excited about, and we’ll let those guys compete and battle, go get a ton of work … in the preseason games. It’s about preparing yourself right now to attack that.”

4 or 5 ILBs?

Locks:
Blake Cashman | Eric Wilson | Jake Golday

Wait and See:
Ivan Pace Jr. | Jamal Adams (S-LB)

When the Vikings signed Jamal Adams, they quickly insinuated that he was a linebacker. Now, the tide has turned – – along with Adams’s jersey number from 54 to 32 – – and Adams could, indeed, be a safety. He’s the swing piece. Adams counts only once on the 53, of course, but if Brian Flores trusts him for linebacker snaps while technically carrying him as a safety, Minnesota could get away with keeping only four true inside linebackers.

The inside linebacker question is simple: Will Minnesota for sure keep Pace Jr.? They would incur no dead cap funds by releasing him.

10 or 11 DBs?

Locks:
Byron Murphy Jr. | Isaiah Rodgers | James Pierre | Josh Metellus | Jay Ward | Jakobe Thomas | Charles Demmings | Jamal Adams (S-LB)

Wait and See:
Theo Jackson | Dwight McGlothern | Zemaiah Vaughn | Tavierre Thomas | Kahlef Hailassie | Jacob Thomas

Some have pounded the table for UDFA Jacob Thomas to make the 53-man roster. Tavierre Thomas is a special teams asset. The Vikings reportedly like Hailassie. And the developmental corners, McGlothern and Vaughn, could help deepen the cornerback room. Theo Jackson started last year, but now Minnesota has a few extra safeties, especially if Harrison Smith returns.

Here’s the deal: Minnesota cannot keep all those corners and safeties. Something’s gotta give.

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VikesNow Verdict: Every extra tight end, receiver, or defensive back costs another position a spot. The preseason will reveal which players are good enough – – and versatile enough – – to make the 53-man calculation work.