Vikings Make Roster Changes as Season Approaches

As the Minnesota Vikings gear up for the upcoming NFL season, they have made significant roster changes to strengthen their team. The franchise’s new toys flip it, as quarterback Carson Wentz was seen quietly acclimating in the Vikings’ locker room. This decision comes a mere nine days before the Vikings’ season opener. On a broader level, it signals an important strategic shift as the team attempts to build more impressive quarterback depth behind J.J. McCarthy.

>In a troubling string of moves, the Vikings moved cornerback Mekhi Blackmon next. Blackmon battled back from a torn ACL that sidelined him for all of 2024. Still, he had a hard time moving the needle as an operator while on the turf. The team’s only going to keep four cornerbacks on their 53-man roster, it seems. This decision is indicative of their elite strategy to maximize defensive performance.

Fabian Moreau remains on the Vikings’ practice squad. Having him around provides the coaching staff with added flexibility while they continue to prepare for the regular season. As always, the Vikings defensively did things to try and throw the signal caller off. They turned a lot of heads with their signing of longtime Panther wide receiver Adam Thielen. Thielen’s return makes all the difference. He’s one of the few players in the league who truly fits the profile the Vikings want to use him, but he’s all over the just-leaked depth chart.

In perhaps the most interesting twist, the Vikings sent Sam Howell to the Eagles. Howell was the third-round pick that was traded for him from the Seattle Seahawks. This trade continues to show the Vikings’ strategic foresight with their ongoing efforts to reshape their roster to better suit their evolving needs.

Coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the recent changes, stating, “We’ve got some experience with bringing in some quarterbacks that had previous experiences elsewhere and finding a way to maximize in a short amount of time a level of comfort in the system.” He emphasized that the team is focused on ensuring players can perform effectively if called upon during games.

This signing of Wentz as insurance quarterback depth shows the Vikings are all in on trying to figure out a strong offensive core. Under McCarthy’s direction, Wentz’s experience should be an asset during come-from-behind moments that will inevitably arise over the course of a season.

Thielen expressed his surprise at returning to Minnesota, stating, “I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility.” His sentiment is a testament to the emotional bond that players, past and present, feel toward the Players Association and their union brothers. Thielen’s familiarity with the team’s culture and play style may provide an immediate boost to both his performance and team morale.

This past offseason, the Vikings exhibited new-found aggressiveness by trading for four players. They traded away 11 draft picks, making it clear that they are all in on winning now. As they get ready for their inaugural match, these roster moves underscore an aggressive, flexible mindset to finding the right mix to maximize an impressive roster.