Following the team's first preseason win since 2019, the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster is getting closer and closer to becoming finalized for the 2024 regular season.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like J.J. McCarthy is going to be among the 53 players selected by the Vikings to be on the team's final 2024 roster, as a recently torn meniscus will probably result in the rookie quarterback either beginning the regular season on the physically unable to perform list or missing the entire 2024 campaign altogether.
Either way, McCarthy's expected absence from Minnesota's final 2024 roster will open up a spot for someone who was on the bubble. Who will fill that spot, and what other players will be selected for this year's final Vikings 53-man roster?
Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster Prediction: Post-Preseason Week 1
Quarterbacks (2)
Sam Darnold
Nick Mullens
Even with J.J. McCarthy unable to play during the start of the season due to his knee injury, second-year quarterback Jaren Hall doesn't end up doing enough during Minnesota's final two preseason games to earn a spot on the team's final 2024 roster.
Running Backs (4)
Aaron Jones
Ty Chandler
Kene Nwangwu
C.J. Ham (FB)
Kene Nwangwu shined in the Vikings' recent preseason win over the Raiders, while Ty Chandler delivered an underwhelming performance. Hopefully, Chandler can shake off whatever struggles he had this past weekend and turn things around in Minnesota's next preseason contest against the Cleveland Browns.
Wide Receivers (6)
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jalen Nailor
Brandon Powell
Trent Sherfield Sr.
Trishton Jackson
Following an outstanding performance in the Vikings' first game of the 2024 preseason, Trishton Jackson will finally make a 53-man roster in the NFL for the first time since entering the league in 2020.
Tight Ends (4)
Josh Oliver
Robert Tonyan
Johnny Mundt
Nick Muse
T.J. Hockenson will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list and the tight ends probably won't be much of a strength in Minnesota's passing attack until he returns to the field.
Offensive Linemen (9)
Christian Darrisaw (Starting LT)
Blake Brandel (Starting LG)
Garrett Bradbury (Starting C)
Ed Ingram (Starting RG)
Brian O'Neill (Starting RT)
Dalton Risner (G)
Dan Feeney (G/C)
Walter Rouse (OT - Rookie)
David Quessenberry (OT)
Dalton Risner is unable to win a starting job this summer, but he will prove to be a valuable backup for the Vikings during the 2024 regular season.
Defensive Linemen (5)
Harrison Phillips
Jerry Tillery
Jaquelin Roy
James Lynch
Levi Drake Rodriguez (Rookie)
Levi Drake Rodriguez had a bit of a coming-out party in Minnesota's preseason win over Las Vegas, and despite being a seventh-round pick earlier this year, the Vikings will make sure he's on their final roster for the 2024 season.
Edge Rushers (6)
Jonathan Greenard
Andrew Van Ginkel
Dallas Turner (Rookie)
Pat Jones II
Gabriel Murphy (Rookie)
Bo Richter (Rookie)
Even after the departure of Danielle Hunter a few months ago, Minnesota's edge rushers might be the deepest position group on the team's entire roster heading into the regular season.
Inside Linebackers (3)
Ivan Pace Jr.
Blake Cashman
Kamu Grugier-Hill
A need for space in other position groups results in the Vikings parting ways with Brian Asamoah II less than three years after selecting him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cornerbacks (6)
Byron Murphy
Shaq Griffin
Fabian Moreau
Akayleb Evans
Nahshon Wright
Dwight McGlothern (Rookie)
As disappointing as Mekhi Blackmon's season-ending injury is, it opened up a spot for undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern, who will be out to prove that he should have been selected in the 2024 NFL Draft earlier this year.
Safeties (5)
Harrison Smith
Cam Bynum
Josh Metellus
Jay Ward
Theo Jackson
A little more than two years after he was selected by Minnesota in the first round of the 2022 draft, Lewis Cine's time with the franchise will come to a close before the start of the 2024 regular season.
Specialists (3)
Will Reichard (Kicker - Rookie)
Ryan Wright (Punter)
Andrew DePaola (Long Snapper)
After some early hype surrounded Seth Vernon at the start of training camp, the Vikings decide to stick with Ryan Wright as their punter for the third season in a row.
Physically Unable to Perform List (3)
T.J. Hockenson - TE
J.J. McCarthy - QB
NaJee Thompson - S