By Craig Peters
EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Tuesday released an updated unofficial depth chart ahead of hosting the Buccaneers in Week 1 at noon (CT) Sunday.
The Vikings offense is listed in "21 personnel" with two backs (a running back and fullback) and a tight end. 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 with two defensive ends, a nose tackle, two outside linebackers, two inside linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties.
Here's a look at the Vikings unofficial depth chart with starters followed by backups listed in order as they appear on the unofficial depth chart. Positions with two spots (WR, DE, OLB, LB, CB and S) have the players listed in alphabetical order by last name.
OFFENSE (25 players)
Quarterbacks
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Nick Mullens; Jaren Hall
Running backs
Starter: Alexander Mattison
Backups: Ty Chandler; Myles Gaskin
Fullback
Starter: C.J. Ham
Wide receivers
Starters: Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn
Backups: Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor; Brandon Powell
Tight ends
Starter: T.J. Hockenson
Backups: Josh Oliver; Johnny Mundt; Nick Muse
Tackles
Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O'Neill (RT)
Backups: David Quessenberry (LT) and Olisaemeka Udoh (RT)
Interior offensive linemen
Starters: Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C) and Ed Ingram (RG)
Backups: Austin Schlottmann (C) and Blake Brandel (RG)
Roster notes: Eight of the starting 11 positions in this format were in place for Week 1 last season. The other three — running back, tight end and one of the receiver spots — feature players who were with the squad in 2022 (Mattison and Osborn from the get-go; Hockenson after his acquisition on Nov. 1). The Vikings are poised to have plenty of experience on offense and a variety of ways to try to attack opponents with different personnel groupings.
DEFENSE (25 players)
Defensive ends
Starters: Jonathan Bullard and Dean Lowry
Backup: Jaquelin Roy
Nose tackle
Starter: Harrison Phillips
Backup: Khyiris Tonga
Outside Linebackers
Starters: Marcus Davenport and Danielle Hunter
Backups: Pat Jones II and D.J. Wonnum; Andre Carter II
Linebackers
Starters: Brian Asamoah II and Jordan Hicks
Backups: Troy Dye and Ivan Pace, Jr.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Akayleb Evans and Byron Murphy, Jr.
Backups: Andrew Booth, Jr., and Mekhi Blackmon; NaJee Thompson
Safety
Starters: Camryn Bynum and Harrison Smith
Backups: Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus; Theo Jackson and Jay Ward
Roster notes: The Vikings have six players who started in the 2022 opener listed among the 11 first-teamers in this base format. Lowry, Davenport and Murphy were added during free agency; Asamoah and Evans are second-year pros. Expect new Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores to be multiple with Vikings personnel, particularly on the back end, as he implements his system.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
Starter: Greg Joseph
Punter/holder
Starter: Ryan Wright
Long snapper
Starter: Andrew DePaola
Kickoff returners
Starter: Chandler
Backup: Powell
Punt returners
Starter: Powell
Roster notes: The three specialists are back for a second year of working together. Wright is coming off a strong rookie season and benefited from the veteran experience of DePaola and Joseph. Chandler will get the first opportunity to fill in at kick returner while Kene Nwangwu is on Injured Reserve. Powell had a punt return for a touchdown (for the Rams on Dec. 26, 2021) in the previous regular-season game he played at U.S. Bank Stadium.
