Vikings waive three players after preseason finale

The Vikings waived three players on Saturday.

Minnesota has to get its roster to 53 players by Aug. 31.

Now that the preseason is over, the Vikings have made several roster decisions to help the team eventually get there.

Minnesota waived C Cohl Cabral, DT Zeandae Johnson and RB Ito Smith.

Cabral had a chance to be a platoon linemen for the team. However, Mason Cole and Wyatt Davis both have the ability to play center, so depth at that position wasn’t necessary.

Smith was signed last week and had to try to make the cut in a crowded running back room. Running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are locks to make the team. Running back Kene Nwangwu would have been a very surprising cut, on account of him being a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. Also, undrafted free agent running back A.J. Rose shined in the preseason this year.

Johnson had to compete with a defensive line corps that was filled with depth as well. He was a long shot to make the team after all the free agency additions this offseason.