Four draft picks, veteran OL Collins, Jones cut as Vikings get to 53

The Minnesota Vikings trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Saturday’s deadline by waiving a number of players and putting veteran linebacker Ben Gedeon on the physically unable to play (PUP) list.

Included in the cuts are four draft picks from 2020 – sixth rounders tackle Blake Brandel and safety Josh Mettelus and seventh rounders guard Kyle Hinton and quarterback Nate Stanley.

Also gone are a couple of veteran offensive linemen, including Aviante Collins, who had been battling for a starting spot. Center Ben Jones was also let loose.

The Vikings can add players to the practice squad beginning Sunday at noon. The practice squad has been increased to 16 players for the 2020 season and can include up to six veterans, regardless of service time.

During the season, two practice squad players can be activated for games on Sunday. However, each player can be recalled just twice before having to go through waivers to be placed back on the practice squad following the game.

Minnesota’s 53-man roster isn’t necessarily set either, as the team could make a waiver claim based off other teams’ cuts.

Here is the complete list of players cut by the Vikings on Saturday:

FB Jake Bargas
OT Blake Brandel
QB Jake Browning
CB Nevelle Clarke
OL Aviante Collins
WR Quartney Davis
TE Brandon Dillon
S Myles Dorn
CB Mark Fields II
TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
OG Kyle Hinton
WR Alexander Hollins
C Brett Jones
C Jake Lacina
LB Blake Lynch
CB Nate Medors
S Josh Metellus
WR Dillon Mitchell
DT David Moa
S Steven Parker
QB Nate Stanley