Minnesota Vikings release first unofficial depth chart of 2021

(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart of the summer as they prepare for their preseason matchup with the Denver Broncos.

Heading into this summer’s training camp, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have a ton of holes to fill when it came to figuring out which players would begin the 2021 season as starters.

Most of the Vikings‘ position battles this year have been for spots that are a little lower on the depth chart.

For the starting roles that actually are up for grabs, however, some leaders for the openings are beginning to emerge. The first big test for some of these Minnesota players that are currently in the middle of a position battle will take place on Saturday when the team takes on the Denver Broncos in a Week 1 preseason contest.

Minnesota Vikings share first unofficial depth chart of the year

As the team continues to prepare for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Broncos, the Vikings released their first unofficial 2021 depth chart on Tuesday.

Here’s how the depth chart unofficially looks heading into Saturday’s preseason matchup.

Quarterbacks

Starter:

  • Kirk Cousins

Reserves:

  • Jake Browning
  • Nate Stanley
  • Kellen Mond
  • Danny Etling

Running Backs

Starter:

  • Dalvin Cook

Reserves:

  • Alexander Mattison
  • Ameer Abdullah
  • Kene Nwangwu
  • A.J. Rose, Jr.

Fullback

Starter:

  • C.J. Ham

Reserve:

  • Jake Bargas

Wide Receivers

Starters:

  • Adam Thielen
  • Justin Jefferson

Reserves:

  • K.J. Osborn
  • Chad Beebe
  • Dede Westbrook
  • Ihmir Smith-Marsette
  • Blake Proehl
  • Dan Chisena
  • Whop Philyor
  • Myron Mitchell
  • Warren Jackson

Tight Ends

Starter:

  • Irv Smith, Jr.

Reserves:

  • Tyler Conklin
  • Brandon Dillon
  • Zach Davidson
  • Shane Zylstra

Offensive Tackles

Starters:

  • Rashod Hill – LT
  • Brian O’Neill – RT

Reserves:

  • Christian Darrisaw – LT
  • Brandel – RT
  • Evin Ksiezarczyk – LT
  • Zack Bailey – RT

Interior Offensive Linemen

Starters:

  • Ezra Cleveland – LG
  • Garrett Bradbury – C
  • Olisaemeka Udoh – RG

Reserves:

  • Dru Samia – LG
  • Mason Cole – C
  • Dakota Dozier – RG
  • Kyle Hinton – LG
  • Cohl Cabral – C
  • Wyatt Davis – RG

Defensive Ends

Starters:

  • Danielle Hunter – LE
  • Stephen Weatherly – RE

Reserves:

  • Jalyn Holmes
  • D.J. Wonnum
  • Hercules Mata’afa
  • Kenny Willekes
  • Jordan Brailford
  • Patrick Jones II
  • Janarius Robinson

Defensive Tackle

Starters:

  • Michael Pierce – NT
  • Dalvin Tomlinson – DT

Reserves:

  • Armon Watts – NT
  • Sheldon Richardson – DT
  • James Lynch – NT
  • Zeandae Johnson – DT
  • Jordan Scott – NT

Linebackers

Starters:

  • Anthony Barr – SLB
  • Eric Kendricks – MLB
  • Nick Vigil – WLB

Reserves:

  • Blake Lynch
  • Troy Dye
  • Cam Smith
  • Ryan Connelly
  • Tuf Borland
  • Chazz Surratt
  • Christian Elliss

Cornerbacks

Starters:

  • Patrick Peterson
  • Bashaud Breeland

Reserves:

  • Mackensie Alexander
  • Cameron Dantzler
  • Harrison Hand
  • Kris Boyd
  • Dylan Mabin
  • Tye Smith
  • Parry Nickerson
  • Amari Henderson

Safeties

Starters:

  • Harrison Smith
  • Xavier Woods

Reserves:

  • Myles Dorn
  • Camryn Bynum
  • Josh Metellus
  • Luther Kirk

Kickers

Starter:

  • Greg Joseph

Reserve:

  • Riley Patterson

Punter/Holder

  • Britton Colquitt

Long Snapper

Starter:

  • Andrew DePaola

Reserve:

  • Turner Bernard

Kick Returners

Starter:

  • Ameer Abdullah

Reserves:

  • Kene Nwangwu

Punt Returners

Starter:

  • Ameer Abdullah

Reserves:

  • K.J. Osborn
  • Chad Beebe
  • Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Schedule