The Vikings are getting a head start on cutting players before the NFL’s deadline to trim rosters to 53 players hits at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31.
Wide receiver Jordan Taylor and cornerback Bene Benwikere were released Tuesday, the first of what will be 37 cuts this week.
Taylor, 27, was long considered in the mix to win a job as a depth receiver behind Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, but he caught just three passes for 24 yards in three preseason games.
At this point, it appears that Chad Beebe and rookie seventh-round pick Olabisi Johnson are locks to make the 53-man roster. That leaves a handful of guys competing for the fifth wide receiver job, namely Laquon Treadwell and Brandon Zylstra.
Benwikere, 27, signed with the Vikings Aug. 3. His release comes just 24 hours after 2018 first-round pick, cornerback Mike Hughes, was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
The Vikings’ roster purge began early this week, as two veterans in receiver Jordan Taylor and cornerback Bene Benwikere were released on Tuesday. It’s unclear how much, if at all, Hughes will play when the Vikings host the Falcons Sept. 8 in the regular season opener.
The Vikings wrap up the preseason Thursday in Buffalo.
