EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings released their initial 53-man roster Tuesday, but don't go etching that lineup in stone.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer told media members Wednesday to expect further changes.
"As far as the roster cuts, everything is still very fluid, so what you see right now probably isn't going to be the ending roster," Zimmer said.
Among other potential moves, Minnesota will need to make space for tight end Chris Herndon, whom the team acquired from the Jets via trade. That likely will come in the form of moving Irv Smith, Jr., to Injured Reserve after the third-year tight end underwent surgery to repair a meniscus injury Wednesday morning.
"We knew it was probably going to be a little while anyway. Those are all part of things you have to plan for," Zimmer said.
Whether or not any other players rehabbing injuries will be moved to IR remains to be seen.
Defensive end Everson Griffen was included in Tuesday's wave of cuts, but the Vikings haven't completely closed the door on a return for the veteran who recently re-joined the team.
"We'll see," Zimmer said when asked about bringing Griffen back.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 5, 2022.

1 K Greg Joseph

1 K Greg Joseph

3 P Jordan Berry

16 P Jordan Berry

7 CB Patrick Peterson

7 CB Patrick Peterson

8 QB Kirk Cousins

8 QB Kirk Cousins

11 QB Kellen Mond

11 QB Kellen Mond

12 WR Dede Westbrook

12 WR Dede Westbrook

14 QB Sean Mannion

14 QB Sean Mannion

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

17 WR K.J. Osborn

17 WR K.J. Osborn

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

20 CB Harrison Hand

20 CB Harrison Hand

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

23 S Xavier Woods

23 S Xavier Woods

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

2 RB Alexander Mattison

2 RB Alexander Mattison

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

3 CB Cameron Dantzler

27 CB Cameron Dantzler

29 CB Kris Boyd

29 CB Kris Boyd

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

31 RB Wayne Gallman

31 RB Wayne Gallman

4 RB Dalvin Cook

33 RB Dalvin Cook

35 TE Luke Stocker

35 TE Luke Stocker

41 LB Chazz Surratt

41 LB Chazz Surratt

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Josh Metellus

45 LB Troy Dye

45 LB Troy Dye

48 LB Blake Lynch

48 LB Blake Lynch

52 G Wyatt Davis

52 G Wyatt Davis

55 LB Anthony Barr

55 LB Anthony Barr

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garett Bradbury

58 DT Michael Pierce

58 DT Michael Pierce

59 LB Nick Vigil

59 LB Nick Vigil

64 T Blake Brandel

64 T Blake Brandel

69 T Rashod Hill

69 T Rashod Hill

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

78 G Dakota Dozier

78 G Dakota Dozier

83 TE Tyler Conklin

83 TE Tyler Conklin

85 WR Dan Chisena

85 WR Dan Chisena

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

92 DT James Lynch

92 DT James Lynch

91 OLB Patrick Jones II

91 DE Patrick Jones II

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

96 DT Armon Watts

96 DT Armon Watts

98 DE D.J. Wonnum

98 DE D.J. Wonnum
Another position to keep an eye on is quarterback.
As of Tuesday's roster unveiling, Minnesota retained just two QBs: Kirk Cousins and rookie Kellen Mond. The team released Nate Stanley and Jake Browning.
Zimmer fielded a question about whether he's comfortable with establishing Mond as Cousins' direct backup.
"Umm, right now," Zimmer said. "We'll see what happens in the next few days. Like I said, everything is fluid."
The head coach did acknowledge Mond's improvement after returning from a COVID-19 quarantine.
"I think he's gotten better the last two or three games," Zimmer said. "He's doing a good job with the playbook. Made some good throws. Made some mistakes, like most rookies do. We'll see. We have to keep getting him better."
In addition to a fluctuating roster, the Vikings game plan and how they utilize players at certain positions also remains indefinite.
One example is how Smith's absence will impact Minnesota's offensive approach.
With Smith out, Zimmer noted, it doesn't necessarily mean Tyler Conklin or Herndon will be asked to fill the exact role of their peer.
"It's really not so much about 'roles,' " Zimmer explained. "It's really about – Conklin is a good player – using these guys to their abilities.
"It may be we were planning on using Irv a little more on third down as a slot receiver. Probably won't do that now," he added. "Probably go with three wides. Some of those things, we'll have to adapt and change."