Another Busy Day In Minnesota

Busy is relative. 

Among some of the roster moves that the Minnesota Vikings made on Monday was a trade. They acquired defensive tackle P.J. Hall from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. It wasn't an earth-moving trade but it added an intriguing football player at a position of need. That was Monday. Tuesday brought news that Hall's stay in Minnesota would be a very short one. He failed his physical, which voided the trade. That booted him back to Las Vegas where he was released.

Last week, when nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out on the 2020 season, many wondered if the Vikings would be in the market for a defensive tackle. The trade for Hall was proof that that they are, or were. He's a young, intriguing defensive tackle. The fact that his drafting team was through with him wasn't a good sign. It was still worth a conditional seventh-round pick for the opportunity to take a look at him. Unfortunately, he couldn't pass a physical. I'm not sure if there's another young, intriguing defensive tackle out there that's available for very little. There are several older defensive tackles available but they are probably either too old or too expensive. Unless Vita Vea somehow becomes available for very little, I'd probably more inclined to go with the defensive tackles currently on the Vikings' roster. But I don't make those decisions. 

While the P.J. Hall news was news it wasn't the best news coming out of Minnesota. The best news coming out of Minnesota yesterday was that first round receiver Justin Jefferson was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Due to this hacked-up offseason, Jefferson had yet to step on a football field at the Vikings' facility. He'd yet to be seen in a Vikings uniform. He was drafted in the first round to make an impact as a rookie. He's expected to start opposite Adam Thielen. All of that was put on hold with his being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Now, he's ready to go. Jefferson wasn't the only rookie to be activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Safety Brian Cole II was also activated and can now be fitted for his Vikings uniform and get started on his Vikings career. 

It wasn't all good news. Jefferson and Cole were activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list but second-year defensive tackle Armon Watts was added to it. If he, or any player, has to go on this list, the earlier the better. Get it over with and never look back. Watts is in line to start this year. The sooner he can get back the better. 

With all this Reserve/COVID-19 activity it might good to post this description of the new reserve list from the Vikings website. 

This new reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on player's medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

So, if a player is placed on this list it doesn't mean necessarily mean that the player has COVID. A variety of circumstances can place a player on the list. The duration of the stay on the list is also varied.