Ex-Vikings Defender Auditions for Texans Roster
Dustin Baker
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NFL teams welcome back players this week as 32 organizations prepare for the 2023 regular season at training camps.
The transaction wire went wild Monday, with general managers adding and releasing players to fill out 90-man rosters.
Ex-Vikings Defender Auditions for Texans Roster
And down in Houston, a former Viking tried out for the Texans roster, hoping to fetch a contract and earn a roster spot or eventually join the team’s practice squad — safety Myles Dorn.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noted the tryout Monday, “Texans sign veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson, released Ian Swenson, work out D.J. Scaife, Breeland Speaks, Myles Dorn. Dorn (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) is a safety from North Carolina who was previously with the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings. He has five career tackles.”
Dorn was last a member of the Carolina Panthers, signed by general manager Scott Fitterer in January but was released about four weeks ago. If he plays his cards right, he could end up in Houston for training camp and the preseason.
The son of retired NFL cornerback Torin Dorn, the defender joined the Vikings via undrafted free agency in 2020 and stayed linked to the organization for three seasons. In 2022, Dorn lived on the practice squad for most of the year. The North Carolinian played 14 total games in Minnesota, tallying 208 special teams snaps but no defensive appearances.
Dorn would’ve played for the Vikings if injuries arose to Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, or Theo Jackson. But aside from Lewis Cine’s broken leg in London, Minnesota’s safeties remained upright, for the most part, in 2022.
The North Carolina alumnus stood out as a positive for the Vikings throughout preseason last August. He appeared in all three games and started one of them. Dorn recorded 13 tackles during the appearances and had a pair of passes defended.
The Texans safety room — which will change tremendously in the next five weeks — currently looks like this:
- Jalen Pitre
- Jimmie Ward
- M.J. Stewart
- Eric Murray
- Brandon Hill
- Grayland Arnold
- Tyree Gillespie
Before switching head coaches from Lovie Smith to DeMeco Ryans earlier in the year, the Texans defense struggled mightily in 2022, ranking 22nd leaguewide per DVOA, 27th in yards allowed, and 30th in points allowed. We shall see if Ryans turns the group around immediately.
The Texans also employ former Vikings Mike Boone (RB) and Case Keenum (QB).
Dorn turned 25 one month ago.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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