https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/opinion/trio-vikings-roster-lose-26

Opinion: A Trio of Vikings Roster Losers So Far in the 2026 Season

Truthfully, I hate the idea of listing football “losers.” The descriptor is an unsettling mixture of mean and insufficient, lacking in nuance and too dismissive.

Alas, the Vikings roster losers nevertheless.

Not everybody on Minnesota’s roster has played well. Far from it, in fact. Of course, there’s still the majority of the season to play, so each guy below has a chance to turn things around. Consider a trio of Vikings who came into the season facing some expectations but who haven’t yet lived up to the standard.

3 Vikings Roster Losers

Wide Receiver Jauan Jennings

The WR3 hasn’t yet been unlocked in the Twin Cities. He’s sitting atop 2 catches for 9 yards, a modest total that does see some alarm bells going off. Many have therefore been speculating about a trade.

What’s important to recognize, though, is that football is always about the future. Most commonly, that future-oriented approach gets articulated in the “next snap” mentality. More broadly, though, the idea remains that the only thing that matters is what takes place in the future since that’s all that can be controlled.

My guess: Mr. Jennings remains and ends up being a key weapon. Don’t write him off.

Safety Jakobe Thomas

At safety, the Vikings aren’t yet at a settled strategy. Or, at least, that’s how things look from an external perspective.

Harrison Smith is playing a modest role, a job that he’s probably going to continue. Otherwise, the team has been leaning on Josh Metellus for full-time work alongside Theo Jackson and Jacob Thomas.

Someone who hasn’t been playing has been safety Jakobe Thomas. At the very least, he should be active to help on specials since he’s a young defensive back who boasts good size and who moves well. Shouldn’t he be doing damage on punt and kickoff coverage? Instead, he has been inactive across the team’s opening five games of the season. Note that GM Nolan Teasley wasn’t in charge when Thomas got drafted.

Right Guard Will Fries

Signing Mr. Fries to a five-year contract worth close $88 million (OTC) means that Minnesotans had high expectations. So far, these expectations have yet to be met.

He has been better than last year but not dominant. What Minnesota wants to see is somebody with snarl, grit, and ruggedness. Offer up all of those attributes while keeping Kyler Murray’s jersey clean and while making a dent in the line of scrimmage in the ground attack.

If the current level of play continues, the Vikings are likely to move on with a cut following the 2026 season.