Most significant move: The Vikings released running back Joe Banyard, who was on the team's practice squad in 2012, played three games in 2013 and carried 21 times for 88 yards in 15 games last year. Banyard was the longest-tenured member of the team among the initial cuts, but with Adrian Peterson back and the Vikings possessing plenty of depth at running back, Banyard became expendable. It's worth noting the Vikings kept running back Dominique Williams over Banyard, but with Peterson, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata on the roster, it's hard to imagine another running back cracking the final 53.
Injuries make decisions easier: The Vikings, whose roster was at 89, only had to relinquish control of 11 players on their way down to 75. They put cornerback Josh Robinson on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a partially torn pectoral muscle, and sent tackle Carter Bykowski and quarterback Mike Kafka to the waived/injured list with a torn pectoral muscle and a strained hamstring, respectively. Robinson will be able to return in late October, and Bykowski and Kafka could both head to injured reserve if they clear waivers, meaning the Vikings will be able to keep both players in the organization for now and make decisions on them at a later date.
What's next: The Vikings play their final preseason game on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans and will have to finalize their 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon.
Team cuts:
RB Joe Banyard
CB Jalil Carter
LB Josh Kaddu
CB Josh Robinson (physically-unable-to-perform list)
T Carter Bykowski (waived/injured)
QB Mike Kafka (waived/injured)
