Making The Case For Two Players Cut By The Minnesota Vikings
After three preseason games and months of training camp, the Minnesota Vikings have finalized their initial 53-man roster.
The team originally had former first-round pick Jalen Reagor on the roster, but he was waived early Wednesday morning.
Every year, fans are disappointed to see a player they thought impressed in camp walk out the door. So who are those players this season?
Here are two individuals let go by the Vikings this week and the case for them to have made the 53-man roster.
Vikings Rookie Running Back
Minnesota selected running back DeWayne McBride in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of UAB.
In three seasons at UAB, McBride recorded 3,523 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 484 rushing attempts. 19 of those 36 touchdowns came in his final year.
In his first NFL preseason game in Seattle, McBride only had six carries for 15 yards. He followed that with an 18-yard, one-touchdown game against the Tennessee Titans.
It was the final outing against the Arizona Cardinals where McBride showed some potential as an NFL rusher. He finished the game with 37 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
McBride finished the preseason with 70 total yards on 20 carries and two scores.
Overall, I liked what I saw from McBride in the third preseason game and would have liked to see him get an opportunity behind Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu and Ty Chandler. Instead, the Vikings signed veteran rusher Myles Gaskin.
Canadian Linebacker
Another player I was heavily rooting for during the 2023 preseason was Canadian linebacker Luiji Vilain.
Vilain played 34 defensive snaps for the Vikings last season. He finished with four total tackles.
The 25-year-old had a quick start to the 2023 preseason, picking up one sack and three quarterback hits in the Vikings' 24-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Things slowed down in the final two exhibition games. He finished the preseason with five solo tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.
With the Vikings moving on from long-time linebacker Eric Kendricks this offseason, I was hopeful for Vilain to get a larger role with the club. I liked his energy and thought he had some big play potential.
Linebacker was a tough room to make this year for the Vikings, and it seems the staff has more faith in Troy Dye and Brian Asamoah.
Final Thoughts
Although I was disappointed to see McBride and Vilain leave the building, it's hard to argue with the players ahead of them on the depth chart.
Ty Chandler has been a standout for the second preseason in a row. Kene Nwangwu has been injured but has shown potential in the past. The team obviously wanted to bring in another veteran (Myles Gaskin) to a fairly young RB group.
As for Vilain, I mentioned above how competitive the linebacker group has been all camp. Jordan Hicks is a proven NFL veteran, and Ivan Pace Jr. has had one of the best camps from an undrafted free agent in recent memory.
Brian Asamoah showed potential during his 16 games played last year, and the same can be said for Troy Dye over his three seasons.
In the end, I wouldn't be surprised if we see either McBride or Vilain in Vikings Purple again soon.
Give Us Your Thoughts
Which player are you more disappointed to see not make the Vikings 53-man roster? Let us know in the poll below.
Which player are you more disappointed to see not make the Vikings 53-man roster?
Luiji Vilain
DeWayne McBride
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