While Friday brought renewed hope with an additional day of practice, the game designations for multiple starters has been clarified. Unfortunately, the outcomes are not positive.

Defense loses two starters for MN Vikings

Last week Christian Darrisaw worked out pregame with a desire to be back on the field. Ultimately he was announced as out. Even now, the additional week of practice won’t give him time to get ready as he’ll miss a second straight game. This time, he’s being joined by starting defenders Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah.

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell with some game status vs. Falcons:

Christian Darrisaw, Jeff Okudah and Andrew Van Ginkel are OUT. All are progressing.

Harrison Smith is QUESTIONABLE.

Ryan Kelly is ACTIVE.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 12, 2025

Okudah has been talked up all throughout training camp and operated as a starter during Week 1. He was carted off at the end of the game and is now in concussion protocol.

The Vikings cornerback depth was already incredibly thin, and now the 53-man roster has just three players at the position. Fabian Moreau is on the practice squad. The veteran played multiple games for the Minnesota Vikings last year so an elevation for him makes sense.

The Vikings front seven has been the key to the defense thus far. Van Ginkel being removed from that group is a significant blow. Like Okudah, he too is progressing through concussion protocol.

That will force Dallas Turner to step up in a big way. With Blake Cashman going on injured reserve yesterday, the linebacker position and edge rushing group is now in quite a state of flux.

McCarthy back at Minnesota Vikings practice

Thursday J.J. McCarthy missed practice for the Vikings as he and his fiance, Katya Kuropas, welcomed their baby boy to the world. While O’Connell is constantly providing great messaging for his young leader, he did have some words of wisdom for him to take to the hospital

KO is always coaching his QB 🤣 pic.twitter.com/H4MdeLhcqS

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 12, 2025

Not only will McCarthy be under center to reprise his award-winning performance from Week 1 on Sunday Night, but now he’ll be doing it with the added benefit of dad strength.

Veterans are key for Vikings on Sunday

It remains to be seen if Harrison Smith can go Sunday night. He has been out with an undisclosed illness, and it sounds as though the hurdle now is conditioning. His presence on the back end of the defense would be a boost to the group, and help to mitigate the cornerback situation.

Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly did go into the medical tent on Monday night, but he has no injury designation and will be good to go.

Ty Chandler was also placed on injured reserve earlier this week, meaning Myles Price will have increased return duties. Undrafted rookie running back Zavier Scott could also see some action there.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Wasted No Time Delivering Legendary Message

The Vikings are set to square off against the Atlanta Falcons in a second-straight primetime game. J.J. McCarthy will battle against Michael Penix Jr. and look to best him as he did during the National Championship two years ago.

It has been obvious since the moment Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks that this team was going to be quarterbacked by McCarthy. There has been an influx of new talent, but the team still has weaknesses, entering the season… at least on paper.

They still seem light at cornerback, even if those in the building disagree. Up until last week, they were extremely thin at wide receiver, too. Adam Thielen saved the day there, but nonetheless, Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings still had a few interesting developments for the team’s first official depth chart of the season.

Week 1 depth chart reveals new wrinkles for Minnesota Vikings

When the Minnesota Vikings cemented their initial 53-man roster, it included a boatload of undrafted free agents. They cut some veterans, and that meant young talent would have a pathway to playing time. Now seeing how they are positioned, there are definitely some notable names to key in on.

Despite being a late addition, it’s Wentz who will backup McCarthy ahead of everyone’s hero Max Brosmer. That could change as the year goes on, and will be a competition to watch. But it’s interesting that, after just one week on the roster, he’s already listed as QB2

It’s not necessarily shocking that Chandler would be the third running back behind the starting tandem. However, he was definitely outplayed in the preseason by Zavier Scott, and looked like a potential cut candidate for much of training camp. Also, the Vikings are clearly serious about Jones and Mason splitting carries near 50/50.

Adam Thielen just got back into town last week. He’s still ahead of Nailor on the depth chart, and that should continue once Jordan Addison returns from his suspension as well.

The usage of safeties by the Minnesota Vikings is a unique wrinkle to Brian Flores’ defense. Theo Jackson is going to see plenty of reps, but Metellus is listed as the starter, alongside Harrison Smith, who hasn’t practiced in nearly a month. Yet, there he is listed at the top of the depth chart for free safeties week one.

Related: Former MN Viking Fought the Law and Lost Again

Matt Daniels is rolling out an entirely new return team. Undrafted free agent Myles Price will handle punt return duties. He had 23 attempts for Indiana last season in college, and he averaged 12.6 yards per return.

The hope is that Tai Felton develops into a starting caliber wideout, but he’s behind Nailor in that regard at this point. He’ll handle kick return duties. That’s a role he hasn’t held since 2022 (as a sophomore) with Maryland. He turned six kicks into 150 yards (25 yards per attempt).

There are more roster decisions to be made and the 53-man deadline is August 26 at 3pm CDT. So far Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have made 11 cuts. They still have 26 more to go.

Things have looked bleak for running back Ty Chandler virtually all preseason, but an injury may help pave the way to a roster spot.

Ty Chandler may stick with Minnesota Vikings after all

Aaron Jones returned to lead the backfield. Minnesota traded for Jordan Mason to provide a solid tandem. Ty Chandler checks in third on the depth chart, but he’s failed to cement his role for some time now. Outside of acting as a return man, there just wasn’t much reason to believe he’d be around.

This preseason Zavier Scott has looked like the best backup runner on the Minnesota Vikings roster. It appears O’Connell has tipped his hand in that direction as well. Unfortunately he didn’t make it through the Tennessee game unscathed and the Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling wonders if that doesn’t open a door for Chandler.

Scott carried 22 times in the preseason and gained 96 yards, while Ty Chandler carried only eight times for 17 yards. Chandler didn’t play Friday night and Scott left with an ankle injury, so the Vikings could put Scott on injured reserve to start the year and keep Chandler if they don’t believe Scott is healthy enough for Week 1.

Star Tribune

On one hand it’s painfully obvious that Goessling believes Chandler is not long for this roster. On the other, this would be a way for Minnesota to keep both backs around for the short term.

Scott showed serious burst and operated well in open space for the Vikings this preseason. He was undrafted and worked last season on Minnesota’s practice squad. In January he earned a futures contract, and now he is knocking on the door of his first NFL regular season action.

Really dope deception used by Zavier Scott… for a guy coming out of Maine and his first action, really seems like he has a lot of poise & intelligence about his game. Great manipulation on that screen selling the block and then the twist. A lot of movement nuances to his game pic.twitter.com/NlKbR9C1nS

— 𝓡𝑜𝓈𝓈 𝒞𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 (@CoachRC23) August 9, 2025

The ankle injury carrying any level of severity would be disappointing for Scott. He wasn’t likely to see a ton of opportunities behind Jones and Mason, but special teams would have provided an opportunity for immediate playing time.

Related: MN Vikings Set Quarterback Room, Release Veteran Favorite

If this does result in Chandler making the roster, his time to prove worthy of sticking should be brief.

Ty Chandler not long for MN Vikings roster

Minnesota used a fifth round pick on Chandler during the 2022 NFL Draft. It seemed as though the North Carolina product could provide some upside from the backfield.

Despite playing in 37 professional games, he has just four starts and only 663 yards on 164 carries. Chandler has three touchdowns, but the vast majority of his production came two seasons ago.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Make First Wave of Roster Cuts

Last year with Jones leading the backfield, Chandler turned 56 touches into just 182 yards (3.3 yards per carry), and he was leapfrogged by veteran Cam Akers. Minnesota could bring Akers back for the third straight season if they want to finish this storyline in arguably the most comical way possible.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 5 Matchup vs Jets

Minnesota Vikings release Myles Gaskin, sign Robert Tonyan to active roster

On Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they’ve released running back Myles Gaskin from the active roster. In a corresponding move, the Vikings have signed Robert Tonyan Jr, from their practice squad to the active roster. Tonyan is expected to fill the third tight end role on Sunday, spelling Josh Oliver and Josh Mundt.

The #Vikings have signed TE Robert Tonyan to the active roster and released RB Myles Gaskin. pic.twitter.com/mpmIenFj8c

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 3, 2024

Since the move leaves the Vikings with just two running backs on the 53-man roster, expectations are that Gaskin will return to the team in some capacity, likely on the practice squad. In that scenario, he’d simply be swapping places with Tonyan. The Vikings also have running back Zavier Scott on the practice squad, though the second-year undrafted pro has never appeared in an NFL game.

T.J. Hockenson’s practice window was opened on Wednesday. However, he won’t be playing on Sunday. He’ll have 21 days to get up to full speed, and the Vikings can activate him to the roster at any point. Yet, Tonyan’s promotion to the active roster suggests it could be another week or two before the Vikings’ Pro Bowl tight end returns.

With a bye coming up after the Jets, Hockenson could be targeting a return for Sunday, October 6, in a revenge matchup versus the Detroit Lions.

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