Signed to 53-man Roster:
Kyle Van Noy, OLB
Max Brosmer, QB
Reverted to Active Roster from Suspended List:
Jeshaun Jones, WR
Placed on Injured/Reserve
Josh Oliver, TE
Terminated contract:
Johnny Hekker, P
Released from Practice Squad:
Jerome Ford, RB
Jaret Patterson, RB
Jonathan Harris, DL
Signed to the Practice Squad:
Kenny Dyson, OLB
Audric Estime, RB
Devin Neal, RB
Johnny Hekker, P
Keshawn Banks, OLB
Josh Priebe, G
It’s been a busy week. The work started with the trade of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Plenty has already been said about the trade. Plenty will be said about the trade for the entirety of McCarthy’s career. The quarterback vacancy prompted Max Brosmer’s elevation from the practice squad. Speaking of practice squad elevations, the Vikings did so for each of the first three games with outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. League rules allow only three such elevations so he was signed to the active roster on Tuesday. This was a move considered inevitable when he was initially signed to the practice squad on September 2. Josh Oliver’s unfortunate bicep injury forced a move to injured reserve. Hopefully, he’ll be back later in the season. Oliver is so critical to the Vikings offense, in general, and run game, in particular.
As for the practice squad moves, the focus was on supplementing the running backs. Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson did so for a week. Audric Estime and Devin Neal will do so moving forward. The addition of Neal is especially intriguing. He was terrific in college at Kansas. That got him selected in the sixth-round of a 2025 NFL draft that was loaded with talented running backs. The Vikings run game will require a delicate balance until Jordan Mason returns from thumb surgery. Aaron Jones Sr. is being forced to carry too much of the load right now. He’s still an effective runner at 31 but his carries can’t get out of hand over multiple weeks. Punter Johnny Hekker was signed to the active roster last week to replace injured Brett Thorson in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hekker and Thorson competed for the punter job through training camp. The rookie won the job and was punting well until he tweaked a hamstring in Week 2 on the soggy home field of the Chicago Bears. It was incredibly convenient that Hekker was available as he already had familiarity with the Vikings kicking battery of kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola. It seems holding for kicks has become as important as the actual punting for the modern punter. Maintaining Hekker’s presence on the roster was important as Thorson works to return to the lineup. Keshawn Banks and Josh Priebe will supplement the depth at their respective positions.
Then we get to the almost comical case of Kenny Dyson. The Vikings initially brought him in at the latter stages of training camp. He impressed defensive coaches immediately and was a likely candidate for the initial practice squad. Whether a clerical oversight or just a procedural mistake by a new front office finding their way, the Vikings released Dyson with an injury settlement. He was then signed to the practice squad. Can’t do that. The practice squad contract was disallowed because of a league rule that says players waived with an injury settlement can’t be re-signed by that team until the length of that settlement, plus three weeks. It was a mistake/oversight that didn’t reflect well on the Vikings. The three weeks have now passed and Dyson was still available. Now, he’s on the Vikings practice squad. And it’s legal. So far.
It’s been a busy week of roster-tweaking for the Minnesota Vikings.
No comments:
Post a Comment