The Vikings close out the preseason against the Eagles in Philadelphia on Saturday (noon, Fox 9), and after a scrimmage game on Thursday, many of their top players will get a rest day. Here are five things we’ll be watching for as roster cuts come Tuesday:
1. Jaren Hall lays out his arguments
The Vikings have an interesting decision to make regarding the second-year quarterback before the 3 p.m. roster cut deadline on Tuesday afternoon: He was certainly more efficient this preseason, and the fact that teams can now promote a third quarterback from the practice squad in an emergency means the Vikings could try to get him through the waivers list and keep him on the practice squad if they’re not afraid another team will claim him.
Hall’s disastrous start Sunday night in a must-win New Year’s Eve game against the Packers last year will likely linger in critics’ minds, but the lack of solid quarterbacks in the NFL means Hall could be in demand elsewhere, especially if he makes a positive impression in the preseason.
2. Dwight McGlothern can finish the preseason strong
McGlothern, the undrafted free agent the Vikings signed out of Arkansas, looked strong in training camp and was perhaps their best cover corner in the preseason. Last week, he intercepted a pass at the Vikings’ 1 in the third quarter and returned it to the Browns’ 8 before being forced out of bounds. The Vikings need young cornerbacks, and McGlothern has looked capable enough in training camp and the preseason to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. He could get another chance to show he’s ready for the job against the Eagles.
3. Watch the sidelines
These days, teams are generally more cautious about using regulars in the preseason, and the Vikings used their regulars sparingly in the tryout season under O’Connell, so an absence from the final preseason game is probably less of a sure indicator that a player has made the roster than it once was. Still, it’s worth paying attention to which players aren’t playing in protective gear for the Eagles game, especially role players and key backups. If the Vikings take those players out of the game, it could be because they’ve seen enough to know those players are on the team. Some of their decisions about whether to use players in the Eagles game or bench them could be telling.
4. Last chance for Lewis Cine?
After trading back 20 spots in the first round of the draft in a deal with the Lions two years ago, the Vikings made Cine the first overall pick under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Cine’s open fracture of his left leg in London ended his rookie year after five games, but when healthy he wasn’t a big enough factor to earn a roster spot.
