Week 2 of the preseason was an interesting one for the Minnesota Vikings. The team traveled to Ohio and played a well-rounded game to defeat the Cleveland Browns on their way to a 2-0 record in exhibition play.
There is still one preseason game left, but most of the decisions about who will make the 53-man roster and who will be released before the kickoff of the Vikings' regular season opener and left to look for a different outcome.
By now, fans and the team should have a pretty good guess as to who has a great shot to make the 53-man roster for Minnesota and who is on the outside looking in, even though that could change during the final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
4 Vikings who locked up roster spot after Preseason Week 2
Here are four Minnesota Vikings players who will not be released heading into the 2024 NFL season but were previously in danger of losing a roster spot.
Player No. 1: Kene Nwangwu, running back
The top of the Vikings' depth chart at running back is written in ink. Aaron Jones is the clear No. 1 and young rusher Ty Chandler is expected to be his primary backup. Past that, there is some interesting competition for a roster spot.
In previous seasons, Kene Nwangwu was a lock to make the roster based on his ability as a kickoff return specialist, but the fact he started the second preseason game at running back at got a solid number of carries while gaining a healthy number of yards is a great sign he will make the 53-man roster.
Player No. 2: Jaren Hall, quarterback
If you had asked 10 days ago, it was unlikely that Jaren Hall would make the 53-man roster of the Minnesota Vikings. With Sam Darnold as the team's starter and Nick Mullens as the primary backup with J.J. McCarthy learning behind them, there were too many bodies to mathematically make the team.
An injury to McCarthy has paved the way for Hall to be the team's QB3 and the second-year passer put on a good show against the Browns to solidify his spot on the team unless new arrival Matt Corral can do something amazing before cut day.
Player No. 3: Bo Richter, edge
Edge rusher Bo Richter seems to have come out of nowhere this preseason, but the undrafted free agent out of the Air Force made a name for himself in the first exhibition game against the Raiders and continued that momentum to have a solid game against the Browns.
Richter will likely see action in the team's final preseason game, but has done enough to be a major contender for a roster spot. Past Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner, the competition is wide open for edge rushers to earn roster spots this year.
Player No. 4: Lewis Cine, safety
There might not be a player who is on the roster bubble more than Lewis Cine. The former first round pick of the Minnesota Vikings has struggled to stay healthy and make a regular impact, making this training camp and preseason essential for him to impress the coaches and staff.
Cine did just that in an extended audition during Saturday's preseason game against the Browns. He isn't going to take a roster spot from Camryn Bynum, Harrison Smith, or Josh Metellus, but he is definitely playing his way into a spot on the 53-man roster.
