As all 32 NFL teams cut their rosters down to 75 players ahead of the the final game of the preseason, the Minnesota Vikings have made their cuts ahead of Monday’s deadline. One of the more surprising cuts, considering the team’s situation at his position, was linebacker Solomon Elimimian. He had an interception in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, but a more recent hamstring injury that kept him out of one preseason game prevented him from climbing the depth chart.
The Vikings lack of proven linebacker depth stands to create some interesting decisions as they cut down to the final 53-man roster prior to Week 1. Perhaps no player, regardless of position, has more to gain in the preseason finale against the Houston Texans than rookie linebacker Audie Cole as he attempts to earn a roster spot.
Cole was a seventh round pick by the Vikings (210th overall) in April out of North Carolina State, and made a splash in the Vikings’ second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills with two interception return for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Still, his biggest impact as a rookie should ultimately come on special teams as it would likely take multiple injuries for him to see much action defensively.
If the Vikings try to sneak Cole through waivers with the plan of placing him on their practice squad, it can be assumed another team would throw a wrench into that plan by claiming him. So it behooves Minnesota’s brass to give Cole a fair shot at earning a spot on the final roster, and if he emerges healthy from Thursday night’s game there is no reason he shouldn’t do just that.
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