Minnesota Vikings Roster

This week’s weekly tweaking of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster focused on the cornerback position. Mark Fields II was promoted from the practice squad. Again. Chris Jones was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Lions. Jones was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2018, didn’t make the team, signed by the Arizona Cardinals, spent the 2018 and 2019 bouncing between the active roster and practice squad, made three starts, the Lions signed him off the Cardinals practice squad in September. Now, he’s in Minnesota. The addition of two corners to the active roster is due to the injury issues of Mike Hughes and Holton Hill. Hughes is dealing with a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve yesterday. He’s now out for at least three weeks. Hill has been dealing with a foot injury for about a month. To further stress the Vikings’ cornerback situation, Cameron Dantzler was placed on the COVID reserve list this week. Rumor has it that it’s for contact tracing rather than a positive test. Hopefully, he clears the necessary hurdles and can play tomorrow. Otherwise, it’s Jeff Gladney, Kris Boyd, Harrison Hand, and Mark Fields against Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and friends. 

Linebacker Todd Davis scored a positive COVID test and is now on that reserve list. 

The Vikings also designated guard Pat Elflein and linebacker Troy Dye to return from injured reserve. Both returned to practice this week. They can be activated at any time. If they are game-ready, they could play tomorrow. Dye might even start in base defense in place of Todd Davis. 

Safety Curtis Riley was signed off the Cardinal practice squad. He provides a veteran presence at the position after George Iloka was lost for the season with a torn ACL. 

Center Brett Jones was released and signed to the practice squad. 

The Vikings play @ Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and @ Chicago Bears the next three weeks. As division games, each is a must-win game. After a 1-5 start to the season, every game is a must-win game. The Vikings must get this season on track and it starts with the Packers. Here’s a look at Minnesota’s roster in advance of the first of 10 must-win games. 

Minnesota Vikings Roster

Offense (25 Players)

Quarterbacks (2)
 8 Kirk Cousins
 4 Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison

31 Ameer Abdullah
23 Mike Boone

Fullbacks (1)
30 C.J. Ham

Receivers (7)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe
11 Tajaé Sharpe
17 K.J. Osborn
85 Dan Chisena

Tight Ends (3)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin

Offensive Tackles (4)
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
74 Oli Udoh

Guards (3)
78 Dakota Dozier

73 Dru Samia
72 Ezra Cleveland

Centers (1)
56 Garrett Bradbury

Defense (23 Players)

Defensive Ends (4)
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
57 D.J. Wonnum

90 Jalyn Holmes

67 Jordan Brailford

Defensive Tackles (4)
93 Shamar Stephen
96 Armon Watts
94 Jaleel Johnson
66 James Lynch

Linebackers (4)
54 Eric Kendricks
50 Eric Wilson

57 Ryan Connelly

47 Hardy Nickerson Jr.

Cornerbacks (7)
20 Jeff Gladney
24 Holton Hill
27 Cameron Dantzler
29 Kris Boyd
38 Harrison Hand

32 Mark Fields II

26 Chris Jones

Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris

44 Josh Metellus

     Curtis Riley

Special Teams (3 Players)

Kicker
 5 Dan Bailey

Punter
 2 Britton Colquitt

Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting

Practice Squad

  3 Jake Browning, QB
  7 Nate Stanley, QB
15 Alexander Hollins, WR
86 Brandon Dillon, TE
40 Jake Bargas, FB

61 Brett Jones, G/C
76 Aviante Collins, G/T
68 Kyle Hinton, G
64 Blake Brandel, T

52 Eddie Yarbrough, DE 

51 Hercules Mata’afa, DT

66 Abdullah Anderson, DT

48 Blake Lynch, LB

     Marcus Sayles, CB

35 Luther Kirk, DB

  7 Chase McLaughlin, K

Here are the players that have been placed on the various reserve lists: 

Reserve Lists

Reserve/Injured; Designated to Return

65 Pat Elflein, G

45 Troy Dye, LB

Reserve/Injured

99 Danielle Hunter, DE

55 Anthony Barr, LB

21 Mike Hughes, CB

79 Kenny Willekes, DE

43 George Iloka, S

46 Myles Dorn, S

Reserve/COVID-19
40 Todd Davis, LB

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

42 Ben Gedeon, LB

Reserve/Non-Football Illness
59 Cameron Smith, LB

Reserve/Opt-Out
98 Michael Pierce, DT