Minnesota Vikings Roster Moves

For the second consecutive week, the Minnesota Vikings lost players playing at an All-Pro level. Last week, it was left tackle Christian Darrisaw. He suffered a significant knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. His season is over. This week, it was kicker Will Reichard and long-snapper Andrew DePaola. In one game, the Vikings lost two-thirds of their kicking battery. Both are expected to miss a few games but should return this season. Reichard entered the Week 9 Sunday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts having made all 20 of his extra point attempts and all 14 of his field goal attempts. His rookie season couldn’t have started better. For a Vikings team plagued by a recent history of kicking woes, the perfect start to his career has been thrilling. Against the Colts, he missed his first two field goals and was laboring with an apparent leg issue after each missed field goal and each booming kickoff. He did make all three of his second half extra point attempts. It’s a quadriceps injury. There’s been mixed reports as to whether the injury happened before or during the game. Whenever it happened, he won’t be kicking for at least four weeks. The Vikings placed him on injured reserve. He is expected to return this season. The same is true for DePaola. He suffered a hand injury against the Colts. He finished the game but had a surgical procedure after the game that will sideline him for at least four games. He was also placed on injured reserve. 

The injuries forced the Vikings to make some roster moves. To fill the kicking and snapping vacancies, kicker John Parker Romo was signed to the 53-man roster and long snapper Jack McQuaide was signed to the practice squad. Romo is rejoining the Vikings after spending the 2024 offseason and the start of training camp on the team’s roster. Until Reichard was selected in the sixth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it looked like Romo was destined to be the Vikings kicker this season. Previously, he’s spent roster time with the New Orleans Saints (2022), Detroit Lions (2023), and Chicago Bears (2023) but has not appeared in an NFL game. That will change this Sunday. Having played for the San Antonio Brahmas during the 2023 XFL season he has experience with the NFL’s new kick off rule. He made 17 of his 19 field goal attempts with the Brahmas with a long of 57. At 36, McQuaide has a lot of NFL experience. He played for the Los Angeles Rams (2011-2020), Dallas Cowboys (2021-22), and Detroit Lions (2023). He was tapped for the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017. That’s a strong resume’ for a long snapper waiting for a call in the middle of a season. Additionally, McQuaide has experience with Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels from his time with the Rams (2018-19) and Cowboys (2021). Kevin O’Connell also has familiarity with his new long snapper from their shared time in Los Angeles. 

While losing Reichard and DePaola are significant losses, at least on paper, the Vikings did a strong job replacing them. If all goes as hoped, it will only be for four weeks. O’Connell even said yesterday that he hoped to get Reichard back on the field soon and ramping up for a return. Since McQuaide was signed to the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster, it appears that he’ll spend his time with the Vikings living the yo-yo existence of game day activations. 

While the Vikings were making those forced moves, they also signed defensive tackle Jalen Redmond from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. He’s appeared in five games this season. With three tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, he’s been productive when given time in the defensive line rotation. To take Redmond’s place on the practice squad, the Vikings signed defensive tackle Travis Bell. Selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, he started the season on the Bears practice squad, was signed off that squad by the Atlanta Falcons, released by the Falcons, and signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Bell remained on the Bengals roster through the offseason and training camp and waived during final roster cuts. The Bears signed him to their practice squad in September and released him a month later. Now, he has a shot with the Vikings. 

It wasn’t all bad injury news for the Vikings. On injured reserve since the start of the season, rookie outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy is returning to practice. After consistently flashing in training camp, it appeared that the Vikings had struck undrafted gold. His play was forcing tough but great roster discussions as to who was going to fill the Vikings edge rushing needs. Those discussions were tabled when he was sidelined with an injury. With his return to the field, the discussions return. 

Welcome to Minnesota John Parker Romo, Jack McQuaide, and Travis Bell. Get well soon Will Reichard, Andrew DePaola, and Gabriel Murphy.