The Minnesota Vikings wrapped the preseason with a 23-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and now the tough decisions begin: roster cuts. Vikings 2022 fifth-round draft pick and running back Ty Chandler, one of many players who exited the preseason on the roster bubble, is in jeopardy.
Chandler was the No. 169 overall pick of the 2022 draft, and he has spent his entire career with the Vikings after showcasing his dynamic skill set at the University of North Carolina.
Unfortunately for Chandler, that skill set has not flashed enough with the Vikings.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and The Athletic’s Alec Lewis both projected Chandler to lose out on a roster spot, with the Vikings choosing former Indianapolis Colts undrafted free agent (2023) Zavier Scott in their hypothetical scenarios.
Scott rushed 22 times for 96 yards during the preseason with the Vikings.
Chandler posted an 8-17-0 line. The Vikings replaced Chandler as RB2 behind Aaron Jones with a trade for Jordan Mason this offseason.
Vikings RB Ty Chandler Odd Man Out in 53-Man Roster Projection
Chandler rushed for 182 yards on 56 carries in 2024, when the Vikings initially replaced him in the top role behind Jones by reuniting with Cam Akers, whom they acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans.
Chandler, 27, ran for 461 yards and 3 TDs on 102 attempts in 2023.
“Jones and Mason will get the majority of carries, probably nearly a 50-50 split. So the third position will be depth or injury replacement only,” Seifert wrote on August 22. “Scott far outperformed Ty Chandler, a 2022 fifth-round draft pick who had multiple opportunities to establish a bigger role over the years.”
Seifert noted the Vikings could also look for outside options to fill their RB3 role with more experience and productivity.
Lewis suggested Chandler could still return value for the Vikings in a trade.
“Scott’s size and pass-catching prowess earn him the nod,” Lewis wrote on August 23. “He injured his ankle in Friday’s game, but as long as that checks out — and as long as [head coach Kevin] O’Connell and the Vikings’ staff trusts him in pass protection — he makes sense as the pick. If this were to happen, the Vikings could potentially net a return for Chandler, whom other teams might be interested in.”
Vikings Zavier Scott Converted From College WR to NFL RB
Before joining the Vikings this offseason and pushing Chandler for a roster spot, Scott initially signed with the Colts and converted from playing wide receiver at Maine to running back in the NFL. He began his collegiate career at UConn from 2017 through 2019.
Scott transferred from the Huskies to the Black Bears as a redshirt junior in 2020, and he made his first appearances for his new school in 2021.
He has performed well with the Vikings during the preseason.
The Vikings are navigating significant injury and suspension concerns at wide receiver, and their cornerback room remains a source of intrigue. Scott could give the Vikings some flexibility, but it could also make it more apparent that Chandler is the odd man out, reducing his trade value.
