Vikings Roster Moves

The Minnesota Vikings made several roster moves yesterday. The most significant was probably the release of kicker Kai Forbath. When Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft it was pretty clear that Forbath's time on the roster was coming to an end. Carlson and Forbath competed for the kicking job through offsesaon workouts, training camp, and two preseason games. The team's decision-makers decided that they'd seen enough. Daniel Carlson is the new Vikings kicker. 

The release of Forbath was just one of several roster moves that the Vikings made yesterday. The remaining moves were forced by injuries. Players were leaving Saturday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars so frequently that the dreaded cart seemed to have a permanent spot on the field. Rookie defensive end Ade Aruna was placed on injured reserve with what looked like a torn ACL. Tackle Cedrick Lang and fullback Johnny Stanton were both injured against the Jagaurs. Stanton has already had surgery. Lang may have. Tight end Josiah Price tore an ACL during a joint practice with the Jaguars last week. Lang, Stanton, and Price were waived with injury designations yesterday. It's likely one or more will join Aruna on injured reserve. That could boost to six the number of the players that the Vikings have on injured reserve through the midpoint of the preseason schedule. 

Ade Aruna, DE

Nick Easton, G

Hercules Mata'afa, DL

and perhaps:

Cedrick Lang, OL

Johnny Stanton. FB

Josiah Price, TE

In terms of front line players, the Vikings haven't been hit too hard by injuries. In terms of numbers across the roster, the Vikings have been hit very hard by injuries.

Cornerback Mackensie Alexander sprained an ankle during the Jaguars game. He will miss some time. Hopefully, he won't miss a lot of time so a roster move isn't necessary. The Vikings have a deep, talented cornerback group. They can get by without Alexander but he's an important part of the group. He was leading the competition for the nickel corner job. The position is a backup on paper but a starter in playing time. They need him on the field. 

The release of Forbath and injury moves involving Aruna, Lang, Stanton, and Price left five openings on the Vikings roster. Two were filled yesterday.

From Vikings.com

SIGNED

PLAYER                        POS.         EXP.                          COLLEGE

Kobe McCrary.................... FB............... R........................... Minnesota

Kareem Are......................... G............... 1....................... Florida State 

McCrary (6-1, 240) joins the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota after spending rookie minicamp with the team on a tryout basis. The Chipley, Florida native rushed for 738 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Gophers, leading the team with 5.3 yards per carry as a senior. McCrary was also the recipient of the Minnesota’s 2017 Gary Tinsley Award for his underdog mentality and continual persistence. Before enrolling at Minnesota McCrary spent two seasons at Butler Community College, where as a sophomore he amassed 1,190 yards on 225 carries and led the NJCAA with 22 rushing touchdowns. 

Are (6-6, 325) joins the Vikings as a free agent after most recently spending time with the Oakland Raiders, where he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and was released at the conclusion of the 2017 preseason. Prior to joining the Raiders Are spent three seasons at Florida State, starting eight games at left guard as a junior before earning second-team All-ACC honors for a senior season spent blocking for All-American running back Dalvin Cook and ACC Rookie of the Year quarterback Deondre Francois. Before arriving in Tallahassee, the Elmont, New York native played one season at Fort Scott Community College, where he became a PrepStar Maganize JUCO All-American and was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 JUCO offensive guard. Are joins fellow Seminoles Dalvin Cook and Xavier Rhodes on the Vikings roster.

That leaves the Vikings roster at 87 players.