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Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Max Brosmer (12) and J.J. McCarthy (9) look on before the start of an NFL preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug. 22, 2026.
It doesn’t sound as if the Vikings plan to play any starters against the Broncos on Friday at Empower Field in Denver.
The Vikings don’t want to risk injuring any of the best players in the team’s final exhibition, but that doesn’t mean the game will be meaningless because the NFL deadline for the final roster is 5 p.m. Sunday.
“We’re trying to work towards solidifying our 53-man roster and our practice squad,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said this week. “It’s been really cool to see our 90-man roster and how competitive it has been from top to bottom.
“I’m very much well-aware, having gone through it before as a player, that this is hard for some guys because they’re trying to do everything they can to solidify the work they’ve done up until this point. I want to give them a great plan and see the guys go out there and compete.”
Here are some players who might be playing for their job when the Vikings play the Broncos.
J.J. McCarthy
It’s still unclear whether quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be able to suit up as he continues to work through a minor ankle injury. It would behoove him to push himself to play considering he’s still competing for a spot on the depth chart.
Though his spot on the roster seems more or less solidified — despite some of the chatter circulating on social media — McCarthy is very much in a position battle with veteran quarterback Carson Wentz.
There simply hasn’t been enough consistency from McCarthy throughout training camp, and certainly in his two exhibition appearances, to pencil him in as the backup. The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has to go out and prove he can move the offense — and step up at a moment’s notice.
Zavier Scott
There’s no doubt that running back Zavier Scott can do that job. He’s a professional who has proven capable of shouldering some of the load in a pinch, and he has impressed during camp.
The biggest question with Scott might be whether he can pass through waivers safely and get to the practice squad. If there’s even a thought that somebody else might poach him, the Vikings might save him a spot on the 53-man roster.
There’s certainly some value in having Scott as an option out of the backfield, especially because it seems rookie running back Demond Claiborne might need some time to develop behind the scenes.
Jacob Roberts
The fact that linebacker Jacob Roberts is even on the bubble speaks to how impressive he has been over the past month. Not bad for a former CFL player still chasing his NFL dreams.
After consistently making an impact in practice throughout training camp, Roberts recorded an interception against the New York Giants, then tied for the team lead in tackles against the Baltimore Ravens.
If Roberts is able to put forth another solid showing on Friday, he could end up earning himself a spot on the roster. At the very least, he seems to have secured a spot on the practice squad as a consolation.
Zemaiah Vaughn
After sticking around on the practice squad as a rookie, cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn entered training camp looking to take the next step. He has made a few interceptions in practices and earned himself steady reps with the backups, but it still might not be enough.
Not only is Vaughn currently behind veteran cornerback James Pierre and rookie cornerback Chuck Demmings on the depth chart, the rise of undrafted rookie safety Jacob Thomas could make for some difficult conversations in the secondary as a whole.
Brett Thorson
Is rookie punter Brett Thorson really going to overtake veteran punter Johnny Hekker? It could happen. Thorson’s leg strength has been impressive throughout camp, and his greatest strength might be his facility with the wide variety of punts he has in his arsenal to keep returners off balance.
The only issue for Thorson has been his ability as a holder, an often-overlooked but vital skill. There’s a learning curve that comes with doing that job, and he’s still figuring it out.
It’s not insignificant that Thorson was the holder on a 52-yard field goal from star kicker Will Reichard against the Ravens. It will be interesting to see if Thorson gets more reps as the holder against the Broncos.
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