Which LBs make the roster?

[jackal]

I would say Dean, McKenzie are probably out plus the camp fodder guy ..

Cole might get sent to the practice squad for a year ? if he clears waviers

[Eli]

According to NFL.com, the Vikings didn't release LB Nathan Williams outright. He was waived/injured, then placed on IR after clearing waivers.

Minnesota Vikings 8/7
Nathan Williams (OLB) Reserve/Injured from Waived/Injured; Not Against 90 (reserve/injured from waived/injured; not against 90).

[Krulik]

Wasn't Marvin listed as #1 on the latest depth chart?

[PurpleHalo]

Who needs Manti when we have Mauti

I dunno if it means much at this point, but Teo got owned last night.

[King James]

I dunno if it means much at this point, but Teo got owned last night.

Yeah Te'o played pretty terrible. I think he may end up being draft bust of the year.

[Demi]

I'll take a guy who can play linebacker over a "special teamer" any day of the week. We've ran these "special teamers" as our depth guys year after year. Fat lot of good it did us.

[allday1991]

I believe it will go
1. Henderson
2. Mauti
3. Cole

[Demi]

That would mean that only one of Mitchell, McKenzie and Dean will make the team.

I'd bet it would be Dean. Everything I heard they love him on special teams. McKenzie isn't great on special teams, and isn't getting snaps on defense, Mitchell is WLB now but that's only because they can, the minute it matters Bishop is ahead of him. And haven't heard the special teams talk I have about Dean. They love those linebacker special teams demons even if they can't really play linebacker all that well.

[jackal]

Mauti is going to make the team Im betting after watching him play ..

Dean is a special teams guy he is in

Cole is a maybe .. McKinzie and the rest are out..

I watched the preseason re broadcast and Rick Spielman was interviewed.. his Quote,"
We have nine LB's that deserve to be on a NFL roster" I think we keep one more LB than
last season on our roster..

[Mercy Percy]

No way does Mauti get sent to P.S he would get picked up for sure. I hope its Greenway, Henderson, Bishop, Hodges, Dean, Mauti potentially keeping Cole, and putting Mauti on the pup for 6 weeks into the season or 7 I forget.

[mondry]

No way does Mauti get sent to P.S he would get picked up for sure. I hope its Greenway, Henderson, Bishop, Hodges, Dean, Mauti potentially keeping Cole, and putting Mauti on the pup for 6 weeks into the season or 7 I forget.

Can you even do that if the guy is physically able to perform (since he seems to be playing...)

[Eli]

No way does Mauti get sent to P.S he would get picked up for sure. I hope its Greenway, Henderson, Bishop, Hodges, Dean, Mauti potentially keeping Cole, and putting Mauti on the pup for 6 weeks into the season or 7 I forget.

After watching Mauti run around the field in the first preseason game, I agree. He's close to 100%, and I think he's already shown his talent at MLB. If Mauti were to be injured again in camp or during the season, then it will be a totally different story. The Vikings would place him on waived/injured, and I doubt that anyone would touch him. They could then sign him to the PS after he clears waivers.

I don't see them keeping less than seven LBs, especially if Mauti and Bishop are on the roster, both with recent injuries. They can't put Mauti on the PUP - you have to be on the PUP at the start of training camp. There's also no way they'll use the IR 'designated for return' on him. Number one, he has no major injury at the moment, and number two, that desgnation will be reserved in case of an injury to a valuable starter.

[Mercy Percy]

Can you even do that if the guy is physically able to perform (since he seems to be playing...)

Say he is injured and cant play maybe but I dont know if that takes a spot on the active roster? Maybe hes a canidate for IR then be activated again?

[Eli]

Say he is injured and cant play maybe but I dont know if that takes a spot on the active roster? Maybe hes a canidate for IR then be activated again?

See my reply above. A player can't be placed on the PUP list after training camp starts. He must be placed on the Active/PUP list at the opening of training camp. Then at the end of camp, he can be placed on the INACTIVE/PUP list for the regular season, from which he can be reinstated after six weeks.

Teams get only a single 'IR/Designated for Return' player during a season. There's very little chance the Vikings would use it on a backup just to keep him on the roster. They'd be better off placing him on IR for some feigned reason and lose his services for the season.

[Eli]

Andrew Krammer ‏@Andrew_Krammer
Michael Mauti is the only rookie in with the first team kickoff unit, joined by DE Jackson, Johnson, RB Asiata as wedge busters.

Sounds like they really want Mauti to make it as a special teamer.