As the Minnesota Vikings moved through training camp and the first two preseason preseason games, one position battle seemingly became crystal clear. After months of easily being mentioned as a roster bubble player, Ty Chandler was clearly being usurped by Zavier Scott for the No. 3 running back job behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
Through those first two preseason contests, Scott averaged an even four yards per carry to Chandler's 2.1. But the real differentiator was in the passing game, as Scott showed significantly more juice with 55 yards on four catches.
Friday night's preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans felt like an opportunity to showcase Chandler for a trade, as there may even be a market for his services. Scott unsurprisingly got the start, and he all but sealed up the RB3 spot with a 23-yard run in the first quarter.
.@zavierslight breaks free for 23!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 23, 2025
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/dcNHhATyb5
After the game, amid praising the young running back, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed Scott suffered a right ankle injury during that run.
Meanwhile, as might have been easy to miss without looking at the box score immediately after the game, Chandler did not play against the Titans.
Chandler not playing in the preseason finale could mean any of a few things. Maybe he's dealing with some sort of injury, so he was held out. Maybe, however unlikely, he's considered a lock to make the 53-man roster, and there was no sense in risking injury by having him play.
Or maybe his health was being preserved in case there is a trade market for him as roster cutdown day approaches.
Could the Minnesota Vikings still find a trade market for Ty Chandler?
In his 53-man roster projection after the game against the Titans, Alec Lewis of The Athletic had Scott making the cut as long as his ankle injury checks out, and he is trusted in pass protection.
That would obviously leave Chandler off the 53-man roster, and Lewis had a note on that front.
"If this were to happen (Scott being the choice at RB3), the Vikings could potentially net a return for Chandler, whom other teams might be interested in."
The return in a trade for Chandler would not be great, most likely a sixth or seventh-round pick. But getting something (anything) for him is better than cutting him outright, as has been done with many other members of the awful 2022 draft class for the Vikings.
Once Chandler is gone, almost surely in the coming days, one way or the other, just one of the 10 players from that 2022 draft class will be left, as they would be headed into the final year of their rookie contracts (Jalen Nailor).