And without a doubt, the 53-man will continue to evolve over the next 12 days, leading up to the Vikings’ Monday Night Football opener in Chicago on September 8. On Wednesday, many of the cuts made one day earlier cleared waivers and landed on the 16-man practice squad.

Some of the recent cut victims from Tuesday who will be back at TCO Performance Center reporting for practice squad duty later this week include camp darlings like (OLB) Gabe Murphy, (CB) Zemaiah Vaughn, (TE) Nick Vannett, (WR) Lucky Jackson and (DL) Taki Taimani.

Oscar Chapman fumbles MN Vikings International designation

Veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau — who the Vikings brought in midseason last year — was also added, along with late preseason signee, (RB) Xazavian Valladay. Outside of those two making the list, there wasn’t much in terms of shock value… except for the one player below with an asterisk next to his name.

The #Vikings have signed 16 players to the practice squad.

📰: https://t.co/jDVDetsQFb pic.twitter.com/0vADW7McWc

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 27, 2025

Related: MN Vikings Were Sniffing Around Another WR

That asterisk indicates the player Minnesota selected to occupy its lone international practice squad designation. As you may have noticed, that is not Australian UDFA punter, Oscar Chapman, written in for the Vikings. Instead, they selected Italian offensive lineman, Max Pircher to hold down their International Player Pathway designation.

For those who have been paying attention, Chapman was previously thought to be a lock for Minnesota’s international designation. In fact, this time last week it was widely believed Oscar had a better chance of beating out incumbent Ryan Wright, and making the Vikings’ 53-man outright, than not being on the team at all.

The botched hold that cost Chapman his practice squad spot

That was until the MN Vikings final preseason game, in which Chapman fumbled this hold attempt for Will Reichard, resulting in the second-year placekicker’s first and only miss of the preseason. On Monday, the rookie punter out of Auburn was waived… and now it appears he may not be back.

The hold by Oscar Chapman 😬 pic.twitter.com/lr0TZSXZlD

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) August 23, 2025

Related: MN Vikings Wide Receiver Went Under the Knife

The questions surrounding Oscar Chapman during training camp and the preseason never revolved around his punting ability. It was always about the trust, or lack thereof, that the Minnesota Vikings had in his holding abilities.

It goes mostly unnoticed during the course of an NFL season, but a holding job in football has to be one of the most thankless, pressure-packed position in all of sports. If they do their job properly, nobody notices they exist.

On the other hand, if they bobble a snap and it causes a botched field goal attempt, the holder will immediately become the fanbase’s easiest punching bag. Even worse, as Oscar Chapman found out the hard way, it can cost someone their professional football career. Hopefully, that is not the case for this Aussie punter.

That’s what happens every year, as NFL front offices attempt to predict which of their depth players they can clear waivers and be snuck onto a practice squad vs those who will be claimed by opponents, for their 53-man roster.

And that brings us to Wednesday, where hundreds of NFL players are currently traveling through the waiver market. A few of the players who were cut yesterday have found their way to the MN Vikings practice squad already, and more names will continue to trickle in, as the day goes by.

Minnesota Vikings practice squad additions – 2025

Every NFL team is allotted 16 practice squad spots, along with one international exemption, which Minnesota plans to use on Australian punter, Oscar Chapman. Here are the players who have reportedly cleared waivers and plan to sign on the Vikings practice squad. As more names come out, they will be added.

It’s a bit surprising that Gabe Murphy cleared waivers, but the fact he did allows insight into why they decided to cut him on Tuesday. The preseason standout saw lots of reps with the first team during training camp, and until the past 48 hours — seemed like a lock to make the final roster. Now, we know why he didn’t

Taki Taimani clearing waivers is a bit surprising too. Like Murphy, he has already logged NFL snaps, during his UDFA rookie season. The Minnesota Vikings were high on him, coming into camp, but the additions of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen during the offseason, made him expendable.

Nonetheless, Brian Flores & the defensive coaching staff has to be pretty happy they’re getting all three of Murphy, Vaughn and Taimani back at TCO Performance Center.

While Wright has left plenty to be desired, during his first three years as MN Vikings punter and even during 2025 training camp and preseason, he continues to hang on for his NFL life. Since his competition was cut on Monday, however, reporters have revealed more details behind the Vikings’ thinking.

Oscar Chapman still has a path to Minnesota Vikings practice squad

After kicking for the Auburn Tigers for five seasons, Chapman signed with the Minnesota Vikings, with the hope that he’d be able to unseat Wright, who the Vikings have been (not-so-quietly) been interested in replacing.

Unfortunately, a botched field goal hold in the Vikings’ final preseason game cost him that opportunity. According to the Star Tribune’s Emily Leiker, though, if the Aussie right-footed punter passes through waivers, he’ll be back at TCO Performance Center in short order.

As long as Chapman clears waivers and is not signed by another team, the Vikings are likely to add him to the practice squad, where he would have a designated spot as a part of the International Player Pathway program.

Emily Leiker – Star Tribune

Going into Friday’s preseason game, the Minnesota Vikings made it very clear, in their deployment of Chapman and Wright alone, what each punter needed to prove. The UDFA — who’s biggest issue at camp has been consistency catching and holding footballs for Will Reichard during field goals — was the holder.

How Chapman lost Vikings punter battle to Ryan Wright

The incumbent veteran, who had a bounceback 2024 season — 73.1 PFF grade, 6.8 YPR, 28 punts downed inside the 20 yd line — has struggled to coffin teams inside the 10 yard line and consistently flip the field, since his impressive rookie year. didn’t punt during the game and instead just had holder duties.

Wright didn’t steal the special teams show against the Titans, but he did down two balls inside the 20 yard line. Unfortunately for Chapman, he bobbled a snap that Reichard ultimately kicked wide-left, the sophomore placekicker’s only miss of the preseason. Here’s the bobble that sealed the rookie’s fate.

The hold by Oscar Chapman 😬 pic.twitter.com/lr0TZSXZlD

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) August 23, 2025

There doesn’t appear to be much concern about whether Chapman can punt. He has a big leg and interesting style that makes it difficult for returners to settle under the balls he kicks. But in order to succeed as a punter with the Minnesota Vikings, he needs to hone his holding skills.

Related: Minnesota Vikings End Special Teams Competition

Should he clear waivers, Chapman would be able to come back to the Vikings, as a member of the practice squad. Because he is from Australia, Minnesota would be able to use their international player exemption so that he does not use up one of 16 practice squad spots allowed for each NFL team.

After Tuesday’s 53-man roster cut down (3 p.m. CDT today), we’ll have a much better indication of whether or not Chapman impressed enough to make another team’s active roster, or if the MN Vikings will get a chance to develop him further in Eagan.

Wright has been the starting punter in Minnesota for three seasons. His numbers are ok. He averaged 46.5 yards per punt in 2024, and put 48.2% of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, a career high. Chapman started 59 games as Auburn’s punter. He averaged 43.5 yards per punt during his five-year college career.

Oscar Chapman waived by MN Vikings, Ryan Wright wins job

On Monday, in a surprise move by the Vikings, Chapman was waived. As a result, the presumed winner of Minnesota’s punter competition is Wright, who now enters his fourth regular season as this team’s punter.

The #Vikings have waived P Oscar Chapman and T Leroy Watson IV.

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 25, 2025

From all accounts, Oscar Chapman was a better punter than Ryan Wright throughout training camp and during the preseason. He can punt the football multiple different ways, and his punts are hard for returns to catch, as was made evident throughout the preseason.

But punting duties in the NFL these days usually go beyond kicking a dropped football a few times per game. Most punters, including those playing for the Vikings, must also be able to catch and hold footballs for placekicker, Will Reichard, to kick through the uprights during field goal attempts.

Unfortunately for Chapman, after a clean preseason to that point, he made one costly mistake during the Minnesota Vikings’ third exhibition game in Tennessee, bobbling a snap that forced Reichard’s timing to be slightly off. It was Will’s only miss of the preseason.

The exact moment Oscar Chapman lost the punting competition.

Fully expect Vikings P Ryan Wright to win the battle now and make the 53-man roster.
pic.twitter.com/Zf01CbvEF3

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 23, 2025

Related: Adam Thielen Wants to Come Home; Vikings Trying…

Wright’s 46.5 yards per punt last season was a career low. His 40.5 net yards per punt was too. His touchback number did drop slightly in 2024 (8.9%), better than his 11.9% in 2023. Still, what happened to the Ryan Wright who posted a 1.4% touchback number as a rookie? We want that kid back…

Confusing decision on Chapman for MN Vikings

Because of the international player exemption allotted to all NFL teams, the Vikings could have kept Chapman on the practice squad without putting him through waivers or counting him against the 53-man roster.

Instead, the Vikings decided not to exercise that exemption, and straight waived him instead. That’s what makes this move odd. If holding was truly his issue, that seems like something they could have worked on developing trust and chemistry throughout the year.

Chapman has a unique punting style that often presents odd rotation patterns for return men to key in on. He appeared to be a superior punter in comparison to Wright, and Minnesota has seen the incumbents skills decline the past two years.

PUNT APPRECIATION POST.

This one goes in the books as a 74-yarder for
Oscar Chapman. @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/zAKptYqVtT

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 30, 2023

Related: Another Sensible MN Vikings Reunion Just Got Easier

This represents the second-straight season in which the Minnesota Vikings have brought in punting competition for Wright. Last year he bested Seth Vernon to hang onto the job. Maybe Minnesota will regret this move, or choose to bring Chapman back down the road? Time will tell.

The Minnesota Vikings also released depth offensive tackle Leroy Watson IV. That puts their roster at 77, meaning there are an additional 24 cuts yet to come.

That said, it doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty to keep an eye on. Sam Howell has looked horrible as a backup quarterback option, and Max Brosmer has looked anything but. We don’t know if that will be enough to elevate him to QB2 status, but he can make a final mark in Nashville.

When it comes to starting roles though, it’s the specialists that should draw your eyes. Return duties are still up in the air, and punter Oscar Chapman is looking to unseat veteran Ryan Wright.

Oscar Chapman coming for Minnesota Vikings punter role

Ryan Wright has been the MN Vikings punter for each of the past three seasons. After a standout rookie campaign he has taken steps backwards the past two seasons. Oscar Chapman went undrafted out of Auburn, but he’s looking to stick on the final 53-man roster. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis sees a real possibility that it could.

Can Chapman steal the spot from Wright? How he looks Friday night might answer that question. Wright has not had an exceptional training camp. That would be a minuscule data point, but he is emerging from two lackluster seasons.

Chapman, an undrafted signing from Australia by way of Auburn, hasn’t blown the doors off the place, either. He has, though, earned kicker Will Reichard’s trust as a holder. Put on a nice display, and the Vikings may have a new punter for the first time since 2021.

The Athletic

As a rookie Wright had a touchback rate of just 1.4%. It then ballooned to 11.9% and was still at 8.9% last season. He has a big leg, but the field position game is something that Wright hasn’t had dialed in since his first season in the league.

Chapman punted for five seasons with Auburn. His career average was 43.5 yards per punt, and in the SEC, he clearly handled some hostile environments. The NFL is a new beast entirely, but developing a cohesion with kicker Will Reichard was always going to be a smart move.

The #Vikings are signing former Auburn P Oscar Chapman. Here is a clip of him BOOMING a 74 yard punt:pic.twitter.com/kzrCA3JHss

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) April 26, 2025

Minnesota leaning into Chapman’s abilities as a holder may get him on the roster. If he can elevate Reichard’s game too, that would be a bonus. Minnesota used a sixth round pick on the former Alabama kicker last season. In 13 games as a rookie, Reichard hit 80% of his field goals and was good from 58 yards out.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Trade Starting Lineman to Jets

The Vikings haven’t had a substantially-tenured punter since Chris Kluwe held down the role for eight seasons from 2005-2012. Wright was already tested last training camp when the team brought in Seth Vernon to compete with him. Chapman repeats the practice, but may actually have the upper hand.

Kevin O’Connell won’t be watching J.J. McCarthy on Friday night against the Tennessee Titans. He, and special teams coach Matt Daniels, should be locked in on Chapman though.

John Parker Romo was initially (and begrudgingly) cut before resurfacing as the team’s kicker when Will Reichard went down. Seth Vernon came in to challenge Ryan Wright as a punter after the incumbent had a poor 2024 season.

Reichard is beyond locked in as Minnesota’s kicker this season, and John Parker Romo actually played against the Vikings in a kicking competition for New England on Saturday. Wright is again being pushed, this time by Auburn’s Oscar Chapman.

Ocasr Chapman coming for MN Vikings punting job

Last year the competition for Ryan Wright was not all that stout. It didn’t matter how far Vernon could boot the ball because he couldn’t control it. Wright wound up having a better season, but that doesn’t mean the MN Vikings are satisfied. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis even believes the undrafted Chapman is making things interesting.

Last year, the Vikings signed punter Seth Vernon as competition for Ryan Wright. Vernon could boot the ball a mile, but his accuracy and holding ability prevented him from winning the job.

Chapman, an undrafted rookie from Auburn, appears to be a more capable competitor. He averaged 52.5 yards on two punts Saturday and held for three of kicker Will Reichard’s field goal makes. The holding has given Wright a leg up in past seasons, but Chapman is making a push.

The Athletic

While punting is the primary responsibility for the role of a punter, their greatest impact may be on holding kicks. As a rookie last season, Will Reichard went 24-of-30 on kicks (80%) and nailed 8-of-11 from more than 50 yards.

Will Reichard makes the kick pic.twitter.com/Konb4snXk9

— Afro (@coolwolvesfan) August 5, 2025

Those long kicks are where holders have no room for error. The ball must come off the ground at a lower trajectory to go through the uprights, and the holder must make sure it’s positioned optimally. If Chapman can carve out an advantage there, and Reichard did nail three of Reichard’s makes against New England of Sunday, his path to the roster gets clearer.

Chapman punted in 59 games across five seasons for the Auburn Tigers. He averaged 43.5 yards per punt, and had to operate in extremely tense environments while playing in the SEC.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Sending Mixed Signals on Vikings QB Competition

This would be Wright’s fourth year punting for the Vikings after leaving Tulane. He posted a strong rookie season with a 47.4 yards per punt average, and just a 1.4% touchback rate. He was awful in 2023, but rebounded slightly last year. It will be interesting to see how much rope the Minnesota Vikings let him play with.