Minnesota Vikings

Caleb Tiernan

OT

Tiernan was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday because of an ankle issue, but he managed a full practice Friday and is on track to suit up in Week 1. The rookie third-rounder will be a depth option at tackle to start his pro career.

Jacob Thomas

S

Thomas was limited at practice by an ankle injury Wednesday and Thursday, but he was a full participant Friday and will be available in Week 1. It's hard to imagine the rookie seeing very many defensive snaps Sunday, if any.

Jakobe Thomas

S

Thomas missed some practice earlier in the week due to an illness, but he was a full participant Friday and should be available in Week 1. Exactly how much playing time he'll get, if any, is still up in the air.

Harrison Smith

S

Smith was a limited participant in Friday's practice as the safety rested and recovered from the conditioning he has been regularly performing since signing with the team Sept. 5. The 37-year-old defensive back's role Sunday will likely be limited as the team eases him back into action.

J.J. McCarthy

QB

After losing out in the battle with newcomer Kyler Murray for the starting job prior to the preseason opener, McCarthy will plummet all the way to third on the depth chart heading into Week 1, with Carson Wentz settling in as Murray's top backup. O'Connell said that he considers the No. 2 quarterback "a week-to-week thing," so McCarthy could leapfrog Wentz on the depth chart in future games depending on how he performs during practice. In any case, the fact that the 23-year-old McCarthy has to battle for the No. 2 job less than three years after being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is an indiction Minnesota doesn't view him as its long-term solution under center.

Carson Wentz

QB

Wentz gets the QB2 nod over J.J. McCarthy, who will likely be inactive as the emergency third quarterback. O'Connell said this will be a week-to-week thing. Murray is expected to have a long leash as the Vikings' starter this season.

Ben Yurosek

TE

Though the nature of Yurosek's injury isn't known, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune relays that the second-year tight end isn't expected to face a long-term absence. Yurosek will have to miss at least four games as a result of his move to IR, making the Vikings' Oct. 11 game in New Orleans as the earliest date for his potential 2026 debut. The 24-year-old mainly handled a blocking and special-teams role for the Vikings in 2025, recording just two catches for 14 yards on three targets over 12 games.

Kyler Murray

QB

After completing two of his three pass attempts for 10 yards against the Giants in the preseason opener, Murray took a seat and parked it for the remainder of the exhibition season. Coach Kevin O'Connell settled on Murray as the Vikings' starter before training camp, and he's expected to have a long leash under center this season after J.J. McCarthy continued to look overmatched throughout the 2025 campaign. Murray has big upside in this quarterback-friendly scheme and has arguably the best supporting cast of his career. He's an ideal late-round fantasy target at quarterback.

Jauan Jennings

WR

Signed to a one-year, $8 million deal in May, Jennings is locked in as the Vikings' No. 3 receiver and didn't need to compete for a job during the preseason. With San Francisco last season, Jennings primarily operated as the "X" receiver and turned in a 55-643-9 line on 90 targets over his 15 appearances. Since Justin Jefferson typically occupies the X spot for Minnesota and Jordan Addison mainly works as the "Z" receiver, Jennings could end up seeing most of his time out of the slot with his new squad. While a slot role can often lead to catchable, higher-percentage targets, Jefferson remains the unquestioned No. 1 option in the passing game regardless of where he lines up, and Addison is capable of bumping inside and seems likely to play ahead of Jennings in two-wide formations. Moreover, Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray hasn't had an extensive track record of supporting more than one fantasy viable pass catcher during his seven-year career, so Jennings could struggle to attain consistent week-to-week volume while he's vying with the likes of Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson for the remaining targets that don't go to Jefferson.

T.J. Hockenson

TE

Hockenson played just five snaps in the Vikings' preseason opener and was rested for the final two exhibition tilts, but he's been getting in reps with the first-team offense throughout camp. After a delayed start to the 2024 campaign while he completed his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, Hockenson mostly stayed healthy in 2025 but was a middling fantasy option at tight end with a 51-438-3 receiving line on 66 targets over 15 games. Though Hockenson should benefit from upgraded quarterback play in 2026 after drawing targets from the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer a season ago, the closest Murray has come to supporting two fantasy relevant pass catchers was in 2024, when tight end Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 line in 16 games) and wideout Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 in 17 games) both had some utility. Justin Jefferson is locked in as the clear top weapon in the passing game and should dominate the targets, but Hockenson could struggle to see consistent volume while he's vying with the likes of No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison and No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings for the remaining looks that don't go to Jefferson.

Jordan Addison

WR

Along with most of the Vikings' other key starters, Addison was rested for the final two preseason contests, but he was taking regular reps with the first-team offense throughout camp and will be ready to go for Week 1 against the Packers. As was the case for nearly every Minnesota pass catcher last season, Addison saw his production crater as a result of suspect quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer, but his fantasy outlook should be improved heading into 2026 while Murray steps in as the Vikings' new starter under center. Over his first two NFL seasons, Addison averaged 4.2 receptions, 55.8 yards and 0.6 touchdowns per game while Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold served as the Vikings' primary quarterbacks.

Jordan Mason

RB

The 49ers dealt Mason to Minnesota in March 2025, and the pairing of him and Jones meant a split backfield last season, with the former getting 173 touches to the latter's 160 along the way. Jones did play in four fewer games than Mason (12 vs. 16), but Mason handled far more goal-line carries (29 vs. 14), finishing with six TDs to Jones' three. A similar breakdown of work is expected for the duo in 2026, meaning Mason may have the safer fantasy floor of the two.

Aaron Jones Sr.

RB

Jones and Mason effectively split Minnesota's backfield in 2025, with the former earning 160 touches in 12 regular-season games and the latter getting 173 in 16 such appearances. Mason's goal-line work (29 rushes inside the 5-yard line) helped him total six TDs, while Jones (14 such carries) ended up with only three end-zone visits, which matched the lowest of his career for a campaign. The duo should have a similar breakdown of reps this season, but Jones' age (31) and injury history seemingly make him the riskier of the two to roster for fantasy purposes.

Justin Jefferson

WR

Though most of the Vikings' key starters ended up sitting out Friday's 34-6 loss to the Broncos in the preseason finale, Jefferson and Murray displayed a strong connection while sharing the field together for the last time in front of assembled media before the Sept. 13 season opener versus the Packers. During red-zone work, Murray made a strong anticipation throw over the middle to Jefferson that went for a touchdown, and on the very next play, the wideout hauled down a one-handed touchdown grab on a throw Murray made while facing heavy pressure. While it may be ambitious for Jefferson to return to the great heights he displayed over his first three years in the NFL when he averaged 108 catches, 1,608 yards and 8.3 touchdowns per season, the upgrade in quarterback play that Murray is expected to provide should help Jefferson handily outperform the 84-1,048-2 receiving line he posted over 17 games in 2025 with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer throwing passes to him.

Michael Jurgens

C

It's not immediately clear what type of issue Jurgens is dealing with, but he'll need to sit out at least the first four games of the campaign. Minnesota claimed Nick Samac off waivers Monday to fill the backup center role in Jurgens' stead.

Brett Thorson

P

Thorson spent four collegiate seasons at Georgia before signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in April 2026. After a quality preseason, he will serve as Minnesota's punter during the 2026-27 campaign, beating out veteran Johnny Hekker for the job.

Tyler Batty

LB

Batty suffered a torn ACL during Friday's preseason loss to the Broncos and will now be forced to miss the upcoming season. He logged 12 tackles (nine solo) across 12 games with Minnesota last season and will now shift his focus to getting healthy for the 2027 campaign.

Will Reichard

PK

The third-year kicker wrapped up a perfect preseason with his pair of successful kicks Friday. Reichard went 5-for-5 on field goals, including two from 50-plus yards, and knocked home his only PAT across three preseason games, and he'll now turn his attention to a Week 1 divisional home showdown against the Packers on Sept. 13.

Demond Claiborne

RB

The rookie sixth-round pick drew the start and carried the ball on the Vikings' first two plays from scrimmage. Claiborne was given ample opportunity this preseason, rushing 28 times for 73 yards and adding a seven-yard reception on his only target. While Claiborne found running room at a premium, he did average 25.2 yards on his five kickoff returns, and special teams may be his ticket to a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

Jeshaun Jones

WR

Jones signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota in January and has been using training camp to try to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The suspension will make him ineligible to see game action until Week 4, though Jones may ultimately end up on the Vikings' practice squad.

Jamal Adams

LB

ir

Gavin Bartholomew

TE

Joshua Metellus

S

Elijah Williams

DE

Jay Ward

S

Ward played 50 percent of the defensive snaps for the Vikings on Saturday. The strong safety relieved Josh Metellus early on in the game, managing 27 snaps now that he is concussion-free. Ward will likely see similar volume during next Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens.