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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Roster Refresher for 2016 Season

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — After a wild final week of the preseason, the Vikings roster is set. 

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending knee injury on Tuesday, leading Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman to swing a trade for quarterback Sam Bradford on Saturday.

Minnesota has nine fresh faces on its roster — five drafted rookies (Laquon Treadwell, Mackensie Alexander, Kentrell Brothers, David Morgan and Jayron Kearse), three free agent acquisitions (Alex Boone, Andre Smith and Emmanuel Lamur) and Bradford.

Here's a refresher on who the Vikings tabbed for their 53-man roster heading into Sunday's season opener against Tennessee:

Quarterbacks (2): Shaun Hill and Sam Bradford

Spielman saw a rare and unique situation to trade for Bradford, a former No. 1 overall pick who threw for 3,725 yards and 19 touchdowns in 14 games last season. Hill is a savvy veteran who brings leadership and experience to the team.

Running backs (4): Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Zach Line

This quartet of players remains unchanged from last season. The group is led by Peterson, who rushed for 1,485 yards in 2015 and led the NFL in rushing for the third time. McKinnon looks primed for an expanded role. Asiata and Line have been reliable when their numbers have been called.

Tight ends (4): Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, MyCole Pruitt, David Morgan

Rudolph led the Vikings with five touchdown receptions last season. Ellison is back after recovering this offseason from a knee injury suffered in Week 17. Pruitt is a versatile young player, and Morgan is a sixth-round pick who earned his spot on the team with a strong training camp and preseason.

Wide receivers (6): Stefon Diggs, Charles Johnson, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright

Diggs led the Vikings in catches (52) and yards (720) as a rookie and has impressed this offseason. Johnson is healthy after battling a rib injury for most of the 2015 season. Thielen's role on offense has increased this offseason. Patterson led the league in kickoff return average last season and was praised for his work ethic during camp. The Vikings used their first-round pick on Treadwell, a big and physical receiver who could be a red zone target. Wright is the most experienced of the group and has averaged 31 receptions in his first four seasons..

View images from the Sunday, Sept. 4 practice at Winter Park.

Offensive line (9): Matt Kalil, Alex Boone, Joe Berger, Brandon Fusco, Andre Smith, T.J. Clemmings, Nick Easton, Zach Kerin, Jeremiah Sirles

The Vikings are expected to plug in a pair of free agent signings — Boone at left guard and Smith at right tackle — as starting linemen. Kalil and Berger resume their spots from last season while Fusco switched from left guard to the right side. Clemmings started every game last season and provides versatility as a potential swing tackle, while Easton, Kerin and Sirles all provide quality depth.

Defensive line (8): Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd, Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter, Tom Johnson, Shamar Stephen, Justin Trattou

One of the deepest units on the roster, the line is led by Griffen and Joseph, a pair of dominant players. Floyd and Robison are playmakers themselves, while Hunter was second on the team with 6.0 sacks last season. Johnson had 5.5 sacks, and Trattou picked off a pair of passes. Stephen played well during camp after missing the majority of last season with a toe injury.

Linebackers (7): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Chad Greenway, Emmanuel Lamur, Audie Cole, Edmond Robinson, Kentrell Brothers

Barr could be on the cusp of being one of the game's best linebackers after making his first Pro Bowl last season. Kendricks led Minnesota with 105 total tackles in his rookie season. Greenway is back for his 11th season in Purple and is fourth in team history in total tackles. Lamur came over as a free agent from Cincinnati. Cole has been active in his fifth preseason, and Robinson played in nine games last season as a rookie. Brothers was Minnesota's fifth-round pick in April's draft.

Defensive backs (10): Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Terence Newman, Trae Waynes, Captain Munnerlyn, Marcus Sherels, Anthony Harris, Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse

This group features four former first-round picks in Rhodes, Smith, Newman and Waynes. Smith made his first Pro Bowl last season. Newman, who just turned 38, led the team with three interceptions. Sendejo is back to start next to Smith. Munnerlyn is tasked with covering opposing wide receivers in the slot. Sherels provides depth and is a key special teams player. Harris had two starts at safety in 2015. Rookies Alexander and Kearse were teammates at Clemson and impressed during the preseason when each nabbed a pair of interceptions.

Specialists (3): Blair Walsh, Jeff Locke, Kevin McDermott

This group also remains unchanged from last season. Minnesota's special teamers had a strong preseason as Walsh hit seven of eight field goals and was perfect on PAT attempts, and Locke averaged 45.3 yards per punt while landing nine of them inside the 20-yard line.

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