As the Minnesota Vikings head into their final game of the 2025 preseason, they're getting closer to finalizing their roster for the upcoming regular season. The Vikings are also figuring out who they want to play in the preseason finale and who they want to keep sidelined to avoid injury.
Based on a move that Minnesota reportedly made on Monday, it seems like the majority of the team's top running backs won't be taking part in the final matchup of the preseason on Friday.
Instead, it could be newcomer, Xazavian Valladay, getting a bunch of snaps in the Vikings' offensive backfield after the team reportedly signed the free-agent running back on Monday, according to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo.
New Minnesota Vikings RB Xazavian Valladay is an elite athlete
This offseason, Minnesota's front office has added a bunch of young players who possess elite athletic traits. Based on the formula used to determine a prospect's relative athletic score, the Vikings selected the second-most athletic draft class in the NFL in 2025.
Minnesota has continued this approach with the signing of Valladay, who has a relative athletic score of 9.47 (out of 10). Based on his traits alone, the Vikings' newest playmaker's athleticism is comparable to some former NFL running backs like Reggie Bush and Tevin Coleman.
Obviously, Valladay's athleticism hasn't led him to achieving anything close to the success that Bush or Coleman had in their careers, especially since he's never even had a rushing attempt in a regular season game.
But his arrival will give Minnesota something to scout during this week's practice and preseason final on Friday. If Valladay plays well during the next few days, then the Vikings might consider signing him to their practice squad before the start of the regular season.
Minnesota's new running back doesn't have much time to impress the team's coaching staff and front office, so whatever opportunities he's given in practice and in the exhibition game, he absolutely needs to take full advantage of them if he wants to continue to be part of the Vikings past Friday.