Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings security Harrison Smith (22) teammates greet him on the sideline towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in the course of the fourth quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos
Inside all the chatter surrounding the legendary Harrison Smith, a Vikings roster battle is happening. Minnesota wants to find out who’s going to play reverse Josh Metellus at security.
These days, the place has been present process some turnover. Camryn Bynum departed following the 2024 season as a result of promise of meaty cash to operate as a Colt. Extra lately, the Smith thriller has compelled the Vikings to proceed pivoting, turning towards some in-house substitute choices forward of what’s wanting like a vital 2026 season. A cluster of a number of promising gamers are all jockeying for a single spot.
A Vikings Roster Battle at Security
Based mostly on Vikings obligatory minicamp, Theo Jackson is the chief within the clubhouse to be the staff’s different beginning security.
The veteran got here to city again in 2022, standing out as one of many success tales from that cluster of expertise. Jackson went to Tennessee within the sixth of the 2022 NFL Draft. Getting positioned on the follow squad meant being susceptible to getting poached. Minnesota did exactly that, stealing him away from the Titans for the reason that leg harm to Lewis Cine meant needing extra assist at security. He has since been prolonged on a medium-money deal.
Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings security Lewis Cine.Obligatory Credit score: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Presumably, the hope was to have snagged a strong depth possibility. In spite of everything, Jackson was a Day 3 selection who was hanging round on a rival staff’s follow squad. Minnesota my not have recognized how a lot promise he was going to indicate.
Simply primarily based on Vikings minicamp, Theo Jackson seems to be the S2. He boasts a promising construct for the job since he’s listed as being 6’1″ and 205 kilos. Watching him patrol the deep space of the sector means seeing any individual who seems very lengthy and who strikes properly. These are promising attributes for an air-traffic controller who’s trying to shutdown the skies. Jackson is the participant almost definitely to start out if a sport acquired performed tonight.
The problem? Merely that Theo Jackson acquired overshadowed by Jay Ward on the finish of final season.
Ward got here out of LSU in 2023 as a flexible defender. He acquired work all around the secondary earlier than settling in once more as a security. I requested Josh Metellus what he has seen in his teammate, resulting in an optimistic response from the veteran that started with a easy declaration: “Confidence.”
Metellus went on: “You could see especially after getting those reps at the end of the season when I went down, you could see his confidence build. And that’s leading into this year.” The capability to “be able to be more decisive” permits Ward to “use his athletic ability and his talent.”
So, don’t neglect about Mr. Ward. He, too, is lengthy and rangy. What’s promising about him, although, is that he’s a contact youthful and gives nice aggression, proving able to blitzing successfully.
Minnesota Vikings security Theo Jackson (26) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the course of the first half towards the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 14, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The turnover helped swing momentum early for the Vikings at house. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
The wild card within the combine is Jakobe Thomas, a rookie who acquired snagged within the third. Seeing him within the beginning lineup for Week 1 must be thought of a much less doubtless possibility, however he cares about ball and gives a really sturdy construct. Fairly presumably, Thomas will grow to be a rugged security who calls for starter snaps earlier than too lengthy.
As of mid-June, a lot stays to be decided for the Minnesota Vikings. Seemingly everybody is concentrated on the quarterback battle. Honest sufficient. A repeat of final 12 months’s incompetence below middle might result in a regime change, a minimum of among the many teaching ranks, however the Vikings’ roster battles transcend simply who’s tossing the pigskin.
Josh Metellus returns as a locked-in starter. Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, and Jakobe Thomas are all trying to demand that different beginning place. If Harrison Smith returns, then issues get much more fascinating.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. E-mail: ok.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
