Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
After the Minnesota Vikings relegated J.J. McCarthy to backup quarterback duties this week, much of the training camp and preseason hype from the summer was removed. This, despite the assumption that the QB1 job was Kyler Murray’s to lose from the beginning.
Still, there are 53 players on a regular season active NFL roster, and despite what the news cycle might lead you to believe, each team have 11 guys on the field at a time. In other words, while the QB battle may be over, there is still a ton to watch for during the MN Vikings’ upcoming three preseason games.
This weekend, the Vikings will get their game uniforms dirty for the first time this this year, in New Jersey, against the set the New York Giants. On Wednesday, the team released its first depth chart so far this summer, lending somewhat of an idea to how each position stacks up, to this point.
Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart (PreSZN – Wk 1) – OFFENSE
Quarterback
For the time being, as head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned on Tuesday, J.J. McCarthy’s name was the first one listed among the backup quarterbacks, behind Kyler Murray.
We’ll see if that changes once we get into the regular season, where the Minnesota Vikings are likely to have only two active quarterbacks on game days, with the third available only in case of emergency.
For now, McCarthy remains QB2 and claims he wants to stay with the Vikings, as planned.
Running Back
Wide Receiver (1)
Backups: Tai Felton; Dontae Fleming; Marcus Sanders, Jr.; Terrill Davis
Wide Receiver (2)
When looking at the backup wide receivers, though, there was one thing that jumped out. As expected, Tai Felton is listed ahead of Dillon Bell and some of the other depth wide receivers who have splashed throughout camp.
However, he is not listed ahead of Jeshaun Jones, who is standing out on a daily basis out in Eagan, for the second straight training camp. The undrafted Bell was a standout throughout early summer workouts. But since the full team got to TCO Performance Center, he’s largely gone missing behind Felton and Jones.
Wide Receiver (3)
At the tight end position, it’s Ben Yurosek listed ahead of 2025 draft pick Gavin Bartholomew. That’s worth noting for sure. Yurosek carved out a spot last season while Bartholomew sat out for the year with a leg injury.
Left Tackle
There was plenty of ambiguity from the Vikings initial depth chart release. Rather than listing which player would assume each backup role, there were lots of commas and conjunctions, lots of “OR’s”. When it came to listed starters, however, there are very few surprises on both sides of the roster.
On the defensive side of the ball, neither rookie interior lineman Caleb Banks or Dominique Orange is listed as a starter to this point. Jalen Redmond is the only down-lineman on that side of the ball who is essentially guaranteed a starting role in 2026.
Even beating out Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Indram-Dawkins could be more difficult than either first year player expected, as both have reportedly enjoyed incredibly training camps.
#Vikings rookie DL Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange at the Lynx game together. pic.twitter.com/bJ8Orq8tzy
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) June 21, 2026
Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart (PreSZN – Wk 1) – Defense
Defensive line
Starters: Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Backups: Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange and Isaiahh Loudermilk; Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani and Eric Johnson II; Smith Vilbert; Jahvaree Ritzie
Starters: Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel
Backups: Tyler Batty and Bo Richter; Cam’Ron Stewart and Chaz Chambliss; Arden Walker
Starters: Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson
Backups: Ivan Pace, Jr., and Jake Golday; Jacob Roberts and Josh Ross; Bangally Kamara
Cornerback (1)
Cornerback (2)
Safety (1)
Safety (2)
In the back of the secondary, Jamal Adams is listed as a backup safety to Jay Ward. There has been some talk regarding Adams’ usage, after he was signed as an outside linebacker but has recently switched to a number that allows him to play safety, his original position in the NFL.