3 Vikings on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

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3 Vikings on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

Garrett Kerman, ClutchPoints

Fri, Jul 31, 2026 ·

4 min read

Gavin Bartholomew needs to prove he's healthy and ready

Bartholomew entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2025, but a back injury wiped out his entire rookie season before it even started. That means this preseason marks the first real opportunity for Vikings coaches to evaluate him on the field, and the timing couldn't be more important.

Standing in his way is Ben Yurosek , an undrafted free agent who quietly carved out a role as a reliable tight end option for Minnesota for most of last year. Yurosek is the known commodity, someone the coaching staff has already seen perform under game conditions. Bartholomew, despite his higher draft pedigree, remains an unknown variable who still needs to show he can stay healthy and contribute.

The early signs from camp have been encouraging, with reports suggesting Bartholomew has been turning heads in practice. But translating that momentum into preseason production will be the real test. If he can show off the receiving upside and blocking ability that made him a draftable prospect, he could carve out a role even in a crowded tight end room. If not, Yurosek's head start could prove decisive.

Bo Richter has a path, but it's not guaranteed

Richter is entering his third season in Minnesota, and while he's appeared in 31 games, he's barely factored into the defense. Last season, he played just 5% of defensive snaps, spending most of his time on special teams rather than rushing the passer.

The good news for Richter is that the Vikings' edge depth chart behind Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner is remarkably thin, which works in his favor. In a lot of roster scenarios, Richter might make the team almost by default simply because there aren't many other proven options behind the starters.

Still, "the best of thin options" isn't a permanent security blanket. Minnesota has a history of scouring the late free-agent market for edge help, and a strong veteran addition could push Richter off the roster if he doesn't produce this preseason. Special teams value alone won't be enough this time. Richter needs to flash real pass-rush ability and show he can hold up against the run when given extended snaps, because the front office will be watching closely to see if he's worth keeping over an outside addition.

Taki Taimani must finally show up in the box score

Taimani's situation mirrors Richter's in a lot of ways. He's entering his third year with the Vikings, and despite two seasons on the roster, he's played in just nine total games and logged only 145 snaps. Production, by any measure, has been minimal.

What's kept Taimani around isn't box-score results but rather the trust he's built with the coaching staff as a dependable depth piece along the defensive line. That trust has been enough to survive two roster cutdowns, but a third pass may require more than good vibes in the building.

Veteran defensive tackles like Eric Johnson figure to push Taimani for a roster spot this summer, and unlike previous years, Minnesota may not have the luxury of stashing an unproven player without production to show for it. Taimani needs standout preseason snaps, whether that's disruptive pressure, stout run defense, or simply showing he's improved as a technician, to justify keeping his spot over a more established name.

For all three players, the message is the same: past patience from the coaching staff won't guarantee future roster spots. August performances will speak louder than draft status or reputation ever could.

3 Vikings on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

Gavin Bartholomew needs to prove he's healthy and ready

Bo Richter has a path, but it's not guaranteed

Taki Taimani must finally show up in the box score