Minnesota Vikings Roster Tweaks

The Minnesota Vikings kicked off the week with a few roster tweaks. Unfortunately, another injury preceded these tweaks. On Monday, defensive lineman Dean Lowry was placed on injured reserve after suffering a pectoral injury in Sunday night’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Topped by Kirk Cousins, Jordan Hicks, and Marcus Davenport, the Vikings injured reserve now numbers nine players. 10 players, if Justin Jefferson is included. To take Lowry’s place on the 53-man roster, offensive lineman Chris Reed was activated from the Non-Football Injury list. Reed had been on the long road to recovery from that non-football injury since the offseason. 

Lose a player to injury. Gain a player from injury. Hopefully, Jefferson soon follows Reed back to the roster. 

Yesterday brought more roster tweaks. 

To help supplement the defensive line after the loss of Lowry, the Vikings elevated defensive lineman Sheldon Day from the practice squad. Over the past week, Vikings fans have made a social media plea for free agent defensive lineman Akeem Hicks. The plea reached and was appreciated by Hicks. At least for now, the Vikings are going with a player they know to provide defensive line depth in the absence of Lowry. Day has been in the building since last season. To make room for Day on the active roster, the Vikings released receiver Trishton Jackson. I expect Jackson to be signed to the practice squad as soon as he clears the league’s formalities. 

The cascade of roster tweaks continued.

The Vikings had another pass rusher plucked from their practice squad by another team. Earlier this season, the Carolina Panthers stole outside linebacker Luiji Vilain. Yesterday, the New York Giants stole outside linebacker Benton Whitley. Earlier in the day, the Vikings had made a practice squad swap of outside linebacker Austin Bryant for receiver Dan Chisena. The addition of Bryant may have been made in anticipation of losing Whitley. A fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Bryant is a player with potential. He spent four years in Detroit with a 4.5 sack season in 2021. He played in a couple games with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this season. While he hasn’t played to his fourth-round status, Bryant is a player with potential. At 6’6” and 261 lbs, he has intriguing size. 

The Vikings have room for a player on the practice squad. I expect Trishton Jackson to be that player. 

I know it’s a big ask but NO MORE INJURIES.