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By Craig Peters, Vikings.com
The Vikings on Tuesday released their first unofficial depth chart of 2024, days before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders to open the preseason.
The contest between the Vikings and Raiders is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT) Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. FOX 9 KMSP and KFAN 100.3-FM will simulcast the game. NFL Network also will air the game live on national cable television.
The Vikings offense is listed in 21 personnel with two backs (a running back and fullback) and a tight end for the third consecutive season. That leaves two spots at receiver, along with a quarterback and the offensive line.
The Vikings defense is listed in a 3-4 base defense for the third consecutive season. There are three defensive linemen, two outside linebackers, two inside linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties.
Here's a look at the players in order as they appear on the Vikings unofficial depth chart:
OFFENSE (44 players listed as they appear on the unofficial depth chart)
Quarterbacks
Starter: Sam Darnold
Backups: J.J. McCarthy OR Nick Mullens; Jaren Hall
Running backs
Starter: Aaron Jones, Sr.
Backups: Ty Chandler; Kene Nwangwu; Myles Gaskin; DeWayne McBride
Fullback
Starter: C.J. Ham
Wide receivers
Starters: Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison
Backups: Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell; Trishton Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Trent Sherfield, Sr.; Lucky Jackson, Ty James, Thayer Thomas and Malik Knowles
Tight ends
Starter: T.J. Hockenson
Backups: Josh Oliver; Johnny Mundt; Nick Muse; Robert Tonyan; N'Keal Harry; Trey Knox; Sammis Reyes
Tackles
Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O'Neill (RT)
Backups: Walter Rouse (LT) and David Quessenberry (RT); Jeremy Flax (LT) and Doug Nester (RT)
Interior offensive linemen
Starters: Blake Brandel (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C) and Ed Ingram (RG)
Backups: Michael Jurgens (LG), Dan Feeney (C) and Dalton Risner (RG); Tyrese Robinson (LG), Henry Byrd (C) and Spencer Rolland (RG)
DEFENSE (43 players listed as they appear on the unofficial depth chart)
Outside Linebackers
Starters: Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel
Backups: Pat Jones II and Dallas Turner; Gabriel Murphy and Jihad Ward; Owen Porter, Andre Carter II and Bo Richter
Defensive line
Starters: Jerry Tillery, Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard
Backups: James Lynch, Jaquelin Roy and Jonah Williams; Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Taimani and Jalen Redmond; Tyler Manoa
Inside Linebackers
Starters: Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr.
Backups: Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah II; Dallas Gant and Jabril Cox
Cornerbacks
Starters: Shaq Griffin and Byron Murphy, Jr.
Backups: Akayleb Evans and Fabian Moreau; Andrew Booth, Jr., A.J. Green III and Jacobi Francis; Jaylin Williams, Duke Shelley, Dwight McGlothern and NaJee Thompson
Safeties
Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum
Backups: Joshua Metellus and Theo Jackson; Jay Ward and Lewis Cine; Bobby McCain
SPECIAL TEAMS (4 specialists)
Kicker
Starter: Will Reichard
Punter/holder
Starter: Ryan Wright
Backup: Seth Vernon
Long snapper
Starter: Andrew DePaola
Kickoff returners
Starter: Nwangwu
Backups: Chandler; Powell
Punt returners
Starter: Powell
Backups: Nailor
QUOTE ME
Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips was asked about using the I-formation, which involves a fullback and running back: "I think it fits in if you have C.J. Ham. If you don't have a fullback that's as capable and as good of a player as he is … it's one of those things where you're trying to get the best 11 on the field, and what can personnel groups do for you? 21, maybe they play base defense. Maybe they play single-high defense for the only snaps we get in the whole game where they're not putting a safety over the top of Justin Jefferson.
We do want to run the football better. We're not hiding, not shying away from that, and I think we're on the path to do that, but C.J. is a very valuable player, both blocking and coming out of the backfield. He runs great routes, is probably a little underutilized as a route runner. We are happy with him. We love C.J. Again, 21 personnel, sometimes you want base defense. Sometimes you want them to put the big guys out there and get some opportunities, whether it's pass game, or if they want to put some smaller guys out there, maybe we get a chance to hammer them."
All that to say I think the coaching staff is aware of Ham's versatility and how his presence on the field could impact defenses."
