MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings needed to clear five spots on their 90-man roster before they were officially able to sign their 10-player undrafted free agent class. The series of cuts the Vikings made on Thursday included two players who seemed like they might have a future with the team's offensive line.
Tackles Antonio Richardson and Austin Wentworth were among the five players the Vikings waived on Thursday afternoon. Richardson, whose knee issues took him from a possible early round pick to an undrafted free agent last year, seemed like a candidate to make the Vikings' roster until he was placed on injured reserve on August 30. Richardson had surgery on both of his knees within a four-week span last fall, and the Vikings' addition of two tackles in the draft (Tyrus Thompson and Austin Shepherd) made him expendable.
Wentworth was active for seven games, and saw playing time in three at the end of last season, as an extra blocker as part of a heavy formation. He spent some time at guard last season, but he, too, became expendable with the Vikings' draft, as well as the addition of guards Jesse Somsel and Bobby Vardaro as undrafted free agents.
In addition to Richardson and Wentworth, the Vikings waived running back Henry Josey, tight end Ryan Otten and safety Ahmad Dixon.
