The Minnesota Vikings were busy yesterday. The big news was the return of defensive end Everson Griffen. He was at the team’s facilities last week for a chat and a tryout. The chat may have been more important than the tryout. Griffen and the team’s decision-makers had some things to discuss and it wasn’t the particulars of a contract. Some might say that he burned a few bridges over the past 18 months. Everything seems to be okay between player and team as Griffen has officially returned to the Vikings. He even went through a practice and a media interrogation.
While the signing of Everson Griffen might’ve been the most noteworthy transaction yesterday it wasn’t the only transaction. The Vikings had to reduce the roster from 85 to 80 players by this afternoon. They completed that task a day early. The roster-trimming kinda got started last week when linebacker Cameron Smith decided that his body has had enough. He announced that he’s retiring from football. That move was made official yesterday when the Vikings placed him on the Reserve/Retired list. Smith’s difficult decision became an unforeseen part of the roster-trimming process. The rest of the moves were of the more traditional variety. On Sunday the following players were waived.
Dylan Mabin, CB
Warren Jackson, WR
Yesterday the following players were waived.
Christian Elliss, LB
Danny Etling, QB
Injuries forced two more moves.
Defensive end Janarius Robinson was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
Defensive tackle Jordan Scott was waived with an injury designation.
Perhaps Robinson landing on injured reserve was part of the reason for bringing back Griffen.
The Vikings also signed running back Ito Smith. While he had some nice moments in Atlanta, the signing of Smith is a little puzzling. I suspect that he was a numbers addition. The final preseason game is Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Dalvin Cook probably won’t play. Alexander Morrison may not play. Rookie Kene Nwangau is hurt. Ameer Abdullah and AJ Rose are the only other backs on the roster. Maybe Smith was added to lighten the load that Abullah and especially Rose might be getting on Friday. Rose had 25 carries in the first preseason game. That’s a lot of carries for a preseason game.
After the dust of the busy day cleared, the Vikings had moved seven players off of the roster and two players onto the roster. The roster is now at 80 players.
Next Tuesday is the big cutdown to 53 players.
Welcome Back Everson Griffen!
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