Cutdown Day is upon us. Teams must reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. CST. From a player’s perspective, it is one of the worst days on the NFL calendar, as over 1,000 of them will be released. HBO documentary series Hard blows shows how difficult this part is for players and front offices. The silver lining is that with the roster reduced to 53 players, we are very close to the regular season.

Before I get to the final 53, I’m going to take a leaf out of Alec Lewis’ playbook and place TJ Hockenson and Dalton Risner on the injured list. Each team can place up to two players on the injured list who can return and do not have to be on the final roster.

Hockenson is the obvious choice. His rehab seems to be going very well, as noted by reporters and head coach Kevin O’Connell. Risner suffered a back injury a few weeks ago.

Let’s go to the last 53.

attack

Quarterbacks: 3

• Sam Darnold
• Nick Mullens
• Jaren Hall

No surprises here. Darnold is the starter and Mullens is the backup. Hall lasts another season because JJ McCarthy is on the injured list, but his performances against the Browns and Eagles were encouraging. This time next year he could be competing for the QB2 spot.

Running back: 3

• Aaron Jones
• Ty Chandler
• Kene Nwangwu

Another position group that seems set is the running backs. Myles Gaskin played quite well in August and almost made the draft, while Dwayne McBride also showed progress. Both will likely be on the practice squad if they make it through the waivers list. Jones and Chandler will handle the running backs, and Nwangwu will be the kickoff returner.

Full-back: 1

Ham is one of the best fullbacks in the league, a special teams ace and a longtime captain. O’Connell has talked all offseason about how to incorporate Ham into the offense.

Wide Receivers: 6

• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Addison
• Jalen Nailor
• Brandon Powell
• Trishton Jackson
• Thomas B.

Jefferson and Addison are perhaps the most dynamic duo in the league and will be a key help to Darnold. The other four players should all have a role and be a wide receiver three by committee.

If he’s healthy, Nailor should be the one with the most snaps, but that’s a big if. Powell is trusted by the coaching staff and stepped in when needed last year. Jackson had an incredible training camp and preseason, and Sherfield is the best blocker.

Tight Ends: 4

• Josh Oliver
• Johnny Mundt
• Nick Muse
• Robert Tonyan

Although the Vikings had four tight ends last season, few expect them to do that again. Oliver and Mundt are set, and Muse looks the part. He impressed enough last year to be the 53, and at least while TJ Hockenson is out, he should be back on the roster.

I’m betting Tonyan made enough of an impression during OTAs and minicamp and can be healthy by Week 1. If he can do that, he and Muse should be battling for the job when Hock returns.

Offensive Line: 8

• Christian Darrisaw
• Blake Brandel
• Garrett Bradbury
• Ed Ingram
• Brian O’Neill
• David Quessenbery
• Walter Rouse
• Daniel Feeney

This is one of the positions that I think the Vikings will be paying particular attention to in the coming days. The team is well positioned on the outside with an excellent starting duo and two very solid substitutes. However, the inside is shaky.

Bradbury has improved since O’Connell’s arrival, but has never become the center everyone hoped he would be in 2019. The coaching staff loves Brandel, but he’s an unknown. Ingram didn’t have the best preseason and Feeney is injured. Risner can return from the injured list by Week 5.

defense

Defensive Tackle: 5

• Harrison Phillips
• Jonathan Bullard
• Jerry Tillery
• Jonah Williams
• Levi Drake Rodriguez

Phillips and Bullard should be the starters if the Vikings employ a base defense, while Tillery is the primary pass rusher. Jonah Williams is another former Rams player coming to the Vikings who is versatile enough to earn a spot on the roster. Rodriguez is already a fan favorite and should get some action during the season considering how he has played so far.

One of the most painful cuts I made during this exercise was to Taki Taimani. He played exceptionally well in preseason and could make the final selection, but Hall and Lewis Cine finished in the final spots ahead of him.

Edge striker: 5

• Jonathan Greenard
• Andrew Van Ginkel
• Dallas Turner
• Patrick Jones
• Jihad District

Officially they are listed as outside linebackers, but I hate that distinction between OLB and DE. Just call them edge rushers, NFL, please.

Whatever the case, Greenard was brought in as a key player after a stellar year with the Texans. Van Ginkel has played under Flores and could be the versatile “Josh Metellus” of the starting seven, as he is one of the best edges in coverage.

Turner was drafted in the first round and has the potential to be a mix of both. Patrick Jones’ spot on the roster is fairly secure, as none of the remaining backups have taken off in the preseason. The same goes for Jihad Ward, who can slide inside on passing attempts.

Linebackers: 3

• Stefanie Boettcher
• Blake Cashman
• Kamu Grugier Hill

The player I’m most excited about this season is Pace. He played great last year and reports say he’s even better now. With him calling the plays on defense, it’s safe to assume he’ll be the starter ahead of Cashman.

Speaking of which, he suffered a finger injury a few days ago and hasn’t returned yet, but he should be ready to play in two weeks. Three linebackers may seem small, but Josh Metellus plays in a quasi-linebacker role. Asamoah may have had his last chance in Minnesota, with Grugier-Hill taking the final spot.

Cornerbacks: 6

• Stephen Gilmore
• Byron Murphy
• Shaq Griffin
• Fabien Moreau
• Akayleb Evans
• Dwight McGlothern

The only two players who may not make the squad are Evans and McGlothern. Gilmore, Murphy and Griffin will take on the bulk of the action, and Moreau is a player who could step in if he gets injured.

Evans has been consistently inconsistent throughout his career, but I don’t think the Vikings are ready to part ways with him just yet. However, he could be a surprise release or a trade target and help the team recoup some much-needed draft capital.

McGlothern is an undrafted rookie, so it wouldn’t be unusual for him to go down, but the chances of him going through waivers are extremely slim, and I bet Brian Flores wants him on the team.

Fuses: 6

• Martin Schulz
• Cam Bynum
• Josh Metellus
• Theo Jackson
• Lewis Cinema
• Jay Ward

The Vikings are keeping the safeties room unchanged here for 2023, the only change being the lineup. The starting trio remains the same, and the player with the most at stake is Cam Bynum, who is playing for a contract extension.

This could also be Harrison Smith’s last year in the league, which is why I’ve again chosen to go with six safeties. The Vikings should check to see if his replacement is already on the roster or if they need to look elsewhere.

Theo Jackson had a stellar training camp and should be the primary backup. Cine has shown some glimpses of what he could be, so I think he stays. Ward may be the underdog here, but his versatility earns him a spot on the roster.

Special teams

• Will Reichard, footballer
• Ryan Wright, player
• Andrew DePaola, Long Snapper

I’ll summarize the three for the sake of time. I’m afraid to say anything about Reichard because I don’t want to bring him bad luck, but the reports are out of this world.

You know DePaola is good when you hear his name at the Pro Bowl. Wright, however, makes me a little uneasy. I think he won the job over Seth Vernon because he was the better holder, not necessarily the better punter. This could be a position the Vikings keep an eye on after the final cuts.