3 veterans who won't make Vikings roster Week 1

Kene Nwangwu, RB

Running back is one of the more polarizing positions for the Vikings at the moment. After Minnesota opted to cut veteran Dalvin Cook, it should have made things a little clearer. Well, for a few players, it did. But, Kene Nwangwu could wind up being the odd man out of this group.

Alexander Mattison has the starting gig locked down. The former Boise State standout now gets his opportunity as a full-time workhorse in the wake of Cook, a fan favorite, seeing his time come to an end. So, Mattison is the one, with Ty Chandler behind him for now.

But, rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride could make some noise during training camp. The kid ran for over 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns last year at UAB and comes in as a possible sneaky player to earn some time on the field as a rookie.

The Vikings will also keep C.J. Ham as a fullback, giving them four backs in total. Nwangwu could also end up on the practice squad. The 2021 fourth-round pick just doesn't give the VIkings much more than return ability, which can be found elsewhere on the roster, too. Chandler and McBride have more cut-out skillsets than he does, and those are just the facts.