The Minnesota Vikings’ Week 2 preseason drop against New England spotlighted the bubble players who could shape the 53-man roster. Max Brosmer displayed command and composure in his reps, repeatedly threading drives and closing with accuracy on extended plays. The performance nudges him toward a real shot at making the active roster behind the top quarterbacks this season.

Myles Price flashed his value as a return specialist, logging two punt returns for 33 yards and a kickoff for 81, building a case for primary return duties after Rondale Moore’s season-ending injury. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins flashed as a disruptive defender, timing a tackle-for-loss and pressuring Josh Dobbs on a critical 4th-and-goal play. On the downside, Sam Howell sputtered, and the rest of the camp standouts—Lucky Jackson and Ty Chandler—showed mixed returns, fueling debates about depth at wide receiver and running back as rosters shrink.

The Vikings face a meaningful WR depth question after Saturday’s 20-12 loss to New England, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison sidelined and Jalen Nailor inactive. Myles Price, an undrafted rookie, flashed speed on returns but battled drops and a confusing line call penalty that wiped an 18-yard grab. Minnesota is evaluating several receivers—Lucky Jackson, Tim Jones, Jeshaun Jones—as potential roster contenders while Price works to lock down a role. With Addison suspended three games and Jefferson dealing with a hamstring issue, depth behind the top two is imperative for Week 1.

Price supplied a jolt on special teams, including an 81-yard kickoff return, but the coaching staff remains unsure who steps into the Week 1 target share. The Vikings also rotated through returners as coach Kevin O’Connell praised Reichard’s kicking and noted Felton’s upside with experience. Meanwhile, Patriots veterans with Minnesota ties—Stefon Diggs’ return to U.S. Bank Stadium, and ex-Vikings linemen Bradbury, Lowe, Tonga making returns—added context to a game that underscored depth questions for Minnesota and the ongoing evaluation ahead of the Aug. 26 cutdown.

Two teams, two practices, one loud day at the TCO Performance Center as Minnesota and New England mixed energy with discipline. Mack Hollins punctuated the mood by sending a TD punt into the stands, a move that sparked the crowd without spiraling into trouble. Donovan Jackson’s downfield blocks fueled a standout sequence in the move-the-ball drill, highlighted by Aaron Jones breaking through the first level with help along the way. Minnesota plans to re-check Justin Jefferson’s workload after a mild hamstring issue, while Rondale Moore’s season-ending injury looms large, prompting Isaiah Rodgers to re-enter punt return rotation. Several Vikings veterans rested while Christian Darrisaw returned from ACL/MCL rehab, signaling progress toward a hopeful Week 1 status. The day included a late cherry: Jay Ward’s interception return in the two-minute drill, capping a competitive but controlled session. Off the field, Brian Asamoah II’s waiver to the Titans underscored the ongoing roster churn as teams ready for the next preseason tilt against the Patriots.

Rondale Moore will miss the 2025 NFL season with a season-ending left knee injury suffered in the Vikings’ preseason game against Houston. Moore, who also spent last year on injured reserve, was placed on IR after his first and only snap of the exhibition. Minnesota now faces the challenge of filling the punt-return role he was expected to compete for, a spot that could reshape the team’s special-teams dynamic early in the year.

Key roster moves accompany the setback. Minnesota moved backup center Zeke Correll to the waived/injured list after an ankle fracture and waived veteran linebacker Brian Asamoah II, saving cap space that could be redirected toward a Moore replacement. Internal punt-return candidates—Lucky Jackson, Jalen Nailor, Silas Bolden, and Myles Price—have taken reps, while Brandon Powell remains a free agent with punt-return pedigree. Kevin O’Connell called Moore’s injury heartbreaking, underscoring how quickly an offseason plan can shift on a single play.

Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract with $250,000 guaranteed in March, a deal that looked to support Minnesota’s depth on return duties and fringe roster spots. The Vikings’ tight cap situation makes any replacement a careful balance of upside and cost, and the team will likely explore options to stabilize punt return production while rethinking the 2025 pass-game plan in Moore’s absence.

Moore's season-ending knee injury blindsides Minnesota, wiping out a return specialist and part-time contributor who had fought back from a previous major knee setback with Atlanta. The injury occurred on a punt return in the Vikings’ preseason tilt vs. Houston, described as a “pretty significant” injury by Kevin O’Connell, ending Moore’s 2025 season before it starts. Moore, a 2021 second-round pick by Arizona, had 135 catches for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns in 39 games across three seasons, but he hadn’t played since last being with Atlanta after a 2023 trade. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Minnesota in March, hoping to parlay health into a meaningful late-career impact.

Jefferson delivered a message to Vikings fans that hinted at a return “real soon,” underscoring Minnesota’s need to navigate the WR room without Moore. The injury compounds Moore’s prior back-to-back season-ending issues and reinforces durability questions that have followed him since entering the league. With Moore sidelined, Jefferson remains the keystone of the pass game, while Minnesota will lean on the depth of its WR corps and personnel moves to fill the gap. The Cardinals originally drafted Moore in 2021, later sending him to Atlanta before he landed with Minnesota, a journey that colors how fantasy managers weigh his replacement options. The Vikings’ move to add depth underlines the volatility and opportunity awaiting fantasy rosters as the season looms.